Starting and Ending Conversations- Simplest Responses
A LESSON PLAN FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHERS
Beginning and closing conversations phrases review starting with a fun quick reactions game, with students then trying to remember and classifying the start and end of conversations language.
Lesson Plan Content:
Starting and Ending Conversations- Simplest Responses
Warmer
Roleplay starting and ending a conversation. Before you start, decide how long the whole
conversation will be and how long you will spend smoothly ending it, e.g. five minutes, with
the last one minute smoothly ending. Roleplay that conversation, discuss if it went well or
not and why, then try again with the same or different time limits.
Simplest responses card game
Without looking below, listen to your teacher read out phrases and hold up your “Starting”
card or your “Ending” card depending on when you think each phrase is used (or type
those words into the Zoom chat box).
Label the sections below with S for Starting or E for ending. Phrases in the same section
always belong to the same category.
Check your answers as a class, then test each other in pairs or small groups with the
same holding up cards game.
Ask about any phrases that you aren’t sure about.
Without looking above for now, brainstorm phrases into the categories below. Many
phrases not above are also possible.
Look above for ideas and brainstorm more. Then check your extra phrases as a class and/
or with the big list from page 348.
Test each other on the phrases:
- Play the same holding up cards game
- Say the name of one section in the brainstorming, then say phrases with one word
missing from each for your partner to complete
- Say the name of one section and help your partner make suitable phrases
- Say one phrase and see if your partner can reply
- Say a phrase, listen to the reply, then roleplay the rest of the conversation together
- Roleplay whole conversations, from starting to ending
p. 1
Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com © 2022
300 pages of other social English materials:
Hi.
Hello.
Good morning.
Bye.
Goodbye.
See you at three o’clock.
See you on Monday.
See you next week.
See you later.
See you then.
See you, then.
See you soon.
Have a good journey.
Have a nice day.
It’s very nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you too, (name).
It was really nice to meet you.
Nice meeting you too.
It was a pleasure to meet you.
It’s been really interesting talking to you.
It was lovely to see you again.
How do you do?
It’s a pleasure to meet you, William.
Pleased to meet you too.
I’m Alex.
My name is Alex.
I’m Alexander but please call me Alex.
My name is Alex Case. I work for Language Linkage.
p. 2
Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com © 2022
300 pages of other social English materials:
I have an appointment with John Smith. Is that you?
Are you John?
Can I ask your name?
I hope we have the chance to meet again soon.
I look forward to meeting you again soon.
Is this seat free?
Is anyone sitting here?
Can I introduce myself?
May I introduce myself?
I don’t think we’ve met, have we?
I don’t think we’ve been introduced.
How’s it going?
How are you doing?
How are you?
Do you have any plans for this evening?
Do you have any more meetings after this?
What’s your schedule for (the rest of) today?
Anyway, as I said I’ll check with my boss and…
I’ll email you about…
I’ll be in contact about…
I’d love to hear more about that but…
I have another meeting, so…
I’m afraid I must go and…
I’m sorry but I really have to…
p. 3
Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com © 2022
300 pages of other social English materials:
Brainstorming stage
Starting conversations
Greetings at the beginning of the conversation
Introductions/ Talking about names
Polite things to say when you meet for the first time (like “Nice to meet you”)
Small talk questions at the beginning of the conversation
Ending conversations
Smoothly finishing conversations (giving reasons for ending the conversation, etc)
Polite and friendly things to say at the end of the conversation (like “Nice to meet
you”, but at the end)
Small talk questions at the end of the conversation
Good wishes for something that the other person will do
Talking about future contact (next meeting, etc)
Greetings at the end of the conversation
p. 4
Written by Alex Case for UsingEnglish.com © 2022
300 pages of other social English materials:
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