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ESL TOPIC 252 GOING DEEPER IN CONVERSATIONS 6 NOVEMBER 2026FIND US: Look for a furry animal toy on a table in the City Cross, Adelaide CBD. At this time on Friday evenings the food court is fairly quiet - good for talking. It is free.
ABOUT ADELAIDE ENGLISH CONVERSATION PRACTICE: This group is an informal English conversation meetup for people who speak English as a second language. It is held once every two weeks. The idea is to challenge your English a little beyond the topics and words you use every day. The host, Thor, has taught English in 7 countries.
TOPIC BACKGROUND
CONVERSATIONS are really about relationships, and flip between topics. DISCUSSIONS are about one topic and the relationship between the speakers is only background noise. Most people prefer conversations to deep discussions. A few people (like Thor) actually enjoy long discussions. Thor tries to run a discussion group called "Interesting Topics". It is not popular.
A conversation can be super safe. That is called small talk (e.g. about the weather). It can be about common interests or things that are happening. Or it might be driven by a wish to develop a friendship more deeply (e.g. in dating).
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SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT CONVERSATION
1. What is your favourite way to begin a conversation a) with someone you know; b) with a stranger.
2. When you first start to learn a language, many books, courses and videos will give you a list of "starter questions" to learn in that language. The starter questions are for basic small talk. What are some questions like this in English?
3. The most common way to go deeper in a conversation is to be more personal. This is tricky. There are cultural rules about how to ask personal questions. Individuals also differ. Men and women differ in this. What personal questions and topics do you avoid with people you don't know well?
4. Every time you express an opinion you take a risk. The other person might not like your opinion. They might even be offended. How can you show your view without being personal? (Cultures differ in how direct you can be).
5. Sometimes when you talk to another person you can see that they have an agenda. Maybe they want to sell something. Maybe they want to control or impress you. Or maybe they can only think about themselves (a narcissist ). How do you manage conversations like this?
6. When someone keeps interrupting you, what can you say without being rude?
7. Imagine that you decided to make a podcast. How would what you put in the podcast be different from what you say to your friends?
8. Some kinds of people don't seem to talk to each other at all, except when it is necessary. In your experience, what are some non-conversation groups like this? (For example, I am an older Australian man. I live in the same house, renting a room, with a Malaysian Chinese woman whom I have known for 10 years, and a young Indian woman. Neither of them will ever speak to me unless I speak first. I don't know if this is a cultural pattern, or just personal. What do you think?)
9. Imagine you are writing a book called "The Art of Conversation". What would you put in the book?
10. Thinking back, what have been some of the most interesting conversations in your life?
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Adelaide English Conversation Practice https://www.facebook.com/groups/1678127882281980
Convenor: Thor May
text: 0479 154 831
[email protected] ;
https://www.facebook.com/thor.may.7 ;
https://independent.academia.edu/ThoroldThorMay
https://thormay.net
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Event venue
City Cross Food Court, Adelaide,SA,Australia
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