Small Talk & Practising Conversation: Skiing
Here are some good ways to practice conversation using the information and phrases from the article you've just read:
Starting Off:
Think of topics that might relate to or lead into discussing skiing. The example used in the article was the weather. Talking about the weather is such a common and informal way to start conversation that the phrase "to talk about the weather" has actually come to mean plaudern.
A few ways to start off include:
- "There hasn't been much snow this year… "
- "
It certainly is cold, isn't it?"
Leading In
After talking about the weather, lead into the topic with a question:
- "Have you had the chance to go skiing this year?"
- "
Do you know whether there is any snow on the (ski)slopes?"
Conversing:
At this point, the hard part is over. To continue the conversation (to keep it going), think of things from the article. Discussing the differences between American and European skiing can be easy to discuss. Use phrases and words found in the article to create questions or comments that can be used in conversation. For example:
- "I've heard that snowboarding is more popular among the youth in the US. "
- "Is it true that lift tickets are rather expensive in the US? "
Responding:
Try to imagine how the other person might answer your question or reply to your comment. As practice, create a few answers or replies using information from the text. For example:
- "Yes, actually snowboarders now slightly outnumber skiers on the slopes."
- "Yes, actually tickets can cost up to eighty or ninety dollars."
Now try to create your own responses. Writing them out is a good way to begin feeling comfortable with thinking in the language. Once you’ve written a few, try creating some by simply speaking.
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