Giving Encouragement

1. Repeat some of the information the other person gives you. e.g.:

A: Have you heard that the price of phone calls is going to fall dramatically?
B: Dramatically?
A: Yes, you see…

2.· Ask for more information using the following phrases: "What do you mean?", "So, what are you saying ( about …)?
Tell me more...".
3. Use short phrases like "Oh, do you?" to show you are interested, e.g.:

A: I come from Los Angeles.
B: Oh, do you?

Give positive feedback by using such expressions as: Fine, Of course, Sounds interesting, Right, Really, That's interesting, Sure, Yes, mmm, I see, Me too, Great, Good idea, OK, That would be nice.

To show surprise you can also use: How strange. I can't believe that. Is that right? I didn't know that. You must be joking, e.g.:

A: I prefer to spend weekends out of town.
B: Me too.

A: We are going to the country this Saturday.
B: Great.

Use emphatic words and strong word stress to make conversations more positive. Here are some emphatic adjectives and adverbs:

e.g.:

A: We went to a Chinese restaurant last night.
B: Oh, really, was it good?
A: It was fantastic.

Soften your negative remarks by using words like:
a little (dirty), a bit (noisy), rather (difficult), pretty (awful).

e.g.:

A: The room is a bit cold.
B: Oh, is it? I'll turn the heating on.

Practice 1.4.2.

Ex.7.1.10 Complete the conversation with appropriate phrases to show your interest or surprise:

A: Did you know that scientists are developing ways of building skyscrapers out of diamonds.
B: ___________________
A: It's true.
B: ____________________
A: Well, it's nanotechnology.
B: ____________________
A: The science of very small things. Scientists are learning how to manipulate individual atoms to create new kinds of material.
B: ____________________
A: So, in theory, you see, there's nothing to stop people building skyscrapers out of diamonds.

Please, write down your answers to this exercise and mail them through course-email to your tutor!

Ex.7.1.11 Complete the following dialogue with some encouraging expressions for Role A:

A: Did you take a holiday last year?
B: Yes. We went on one of those activity holidays in the Pyrenees.
A: ___________?
B: Yes, it was very good. So well-organised and not expensive.
A: ___________?
B:
A: Yes. It's difficult to find a holiday to suit all the family.
B: Personally, I like to get away from people.
A: Mmm.______.
B: But the children prefer lots of organised activity.
A: ___________.
B: We may do the same sort of thing but in Greece this year.
A: ___________.
B: I've always liked the idea of water sports holiday.
A: ___________.
B: What about yourself? What did you do last year?

Please, write down your answers to this exercise and mail them through course-email to your tutor!

Ex.7.1.12 Change the words in bold so that the dialogue below sounds more positive. (More than one answer is possible.)

A: We went to see that new film last night.
B: Oh, what was it like?
A: Quite funny.
B: Mmm.
A: Then we went to the Thai restaurant for a meal.
B: Oh, really, was it good?
A: It was OK.
B: Yes?
A:Quite a friendly atmosphere. Reasonable service.
A: What about the food?
A: So so. Try it yourself sometime.
B: Maybe. It's a bit pricey though, isn't it?
A: No, actually, it's fairly cheap.

Please, rebuild the expressions and write down your variants to this dilogue and mail them through course-email to your tutor!

Ex.7.1.13 Modify the remarks below to make them less direct.

1. It's cold.
2. The room is dirty.
3. The view is awful.
4. The crossing was rough.
5. The traffic was slow.
6. The weather is disappointing.
7. The service was poor.
8. The sound was awful.
9. It's noisy here.
10. The food is strange.
Please, write down your remarks and mail them through course-email to your tutor!

Thank You!!!!