Real-Life Conversations in English: Learning From Authentic Situations
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Having a conversation with a friend might sometimes be even more challenging than small talk with a stranger. And don’t get us wrong – we believe you and your bestie can discuss things for hours. But in some cases, you can simply run out of discussion topics, especially if you spend a lot of time with the same person. Luckily, there is no need to worry. In today’s article, you will find an example of a conversation in English and many valuable tips to help you master it.
Common Challenges in Daily Conversations and Ways to Overcome Them
Communication is an essential part of our daily life, and conversation between two friends in English can be both fun and challenging. And how can it be difficult, you may ask? After all, who can be more engaged in a conversation than friends? Well, no matter how much you know the person, therestill might be some challenges. Here are some of them:
- Language barriers. If English is not your first language, you may struggle to keep up with the conversation or express yourself fluently. One way to overcome this is by practicing your English skills through reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
- Differing opinions. Your friends may have polar thoughts on certain topics, leading to disagreements and tension. To overcome this, it’s essential to listen to your friends’ opinions without judging or dismissing them. You can also share your view respectfully and seek common ground.
- Distractions. In today’s digital age, getting distracted by your phone or other devices during a dialogue is easy. Such situations can hurt the conversation flow. Stay present and focused during the discussion, keep your phone silent, and avoid multitasking to prevent this.
- Awkward silences. Sometimes, a conversation between two people may halt, leading to uncomfortable quietness. The best way to overcome this unpleasant challenge is to ask open-ended questions, share a personal story, or discuss a common interest or hobby.
- Dominating the conversation. One person dominating the dialogue can make others feel left out or disinterested. If you don’t want this to happen, try to listen actively and give others a chance to speak. You can also redirect the conversation to include everyone’s interests.
Also, if you feel anxious even when talking to your friends due to a lack of fluency, you need to try practicing at home to boost your confidence. And remember that your real friends won’t judge you for mistakes, pauses, or stumbling on words. Instead, they will do their best to help you and make you feel comfortable.
10 Informal Conversation Examples Between Friends
The tips provided above can be helpful in any conversation. But we believe that nothing is better than actual practice. Therefore, we’ve collected some casual and simple dialogue examples for 2 people. You can use them to practice your reading and speaking skills or learn interesting ideas to discuss with your friends.
Catching Up After a Long Time Apart
James: Hey, buddy! Long time no see!
Jordan: Hello, James. Can’t believe we’ve finally met. How long has it been since the last time?
James: Oh, I can’t even remember. A year? Two? Maybe even more.
Jordan: Well, I’m glad to see you right now. What’s new?
James: I can assure you there are many things to discuss. Did you know that I got married?
Jordan: Shut up! I don’t know what else to expect if you start with this fantastic news. Congratulations.
James: Thank you very much. Why don’t we go to this small bar down the street and share a beer or two?
Jordan: Great idea. Let’s go.
Discussing Recent Movies or TV Shows
Nicole: Did you finally see that movie I told you about?
Jane: I’m sorry, which one? You tell me about new movies every day, geek!
Nicole: I’ll just ignore that. Anyway, I’m talking about The Menu.
Jane: Oh yeah, I indeed saw this one. And honestly, I’ve been pretty impressed.
Nicole: Well, not gonna lie – I’m impressed that you’ve watched it. But what did you like about the movie?
Jane: Firstly, as a huge Harry Potter fan, I was thrilled to see Ralph Fiennes and his new role.
Nicole: I agree – his acting skills are fantastic!
Jane: And also, you know that I like everything dark – humor, style, etc. I can tell you that this movie is now officially on my top-five list.
Planning a Trip Together
Keira: Oh, I can’t wait for this vacation. I’m so tired; these two weeks will be a blessing.
Jessica: I believe you, girl. We are in the same boat.
Keira: So, where do you think we should go?
Jessica: Okay, according to our budget and all the nuances, I’ve narrowed it down to three options.
Keira: Wow, I’ve expected much less. Tell me!
Jessica: For starters, we always have Florida – we both need to relax, and some lazy beach time won’t hurt. And I’ve already asked Mom – we can’t stay at her hotel for free.
Keira: That sounds fantastic. I’ll stick with this option for now.
Jessica: Yeah, I’ve started with my favorite one. Do I have to tell you about the last two options?
Keira: Actually, no. I was thinking about a beach vacation. And when I heard the hotel room would be free – I immediately knew we should go there.
Discussing Future Goals
Mark: I can’t believe we are already so old. Do you have any plans?
Sarah: Well, I have a few goals in mind. Firstly, I want to finish my degree and graduate with honors.
Mark: Oh, wow! It sounds wonderful, and I’m sure you will do it.
Sarah: Yeah, I hope so. After that, I want to start my own business in the beauty industry.
Mark: Wow, that’s a big goal. Do you have any specific ideas or plans for the business?
Sarah: I want to create a brand focused on sustainable and eco-friendly beauty products. I think there’s a gap in the market for that, and I’m passionate about positively impacting the environment.
Mark: That’s cool. Have you started working on any business plans or research yet?
Sarah: Not yet, but I’ve been reading and researching online. I’m also considering taking some courses or workshops on entrepreneurship to help me develop my ideas and skills.
Mark: That’s a smart move. Learning as much as possible before diving into a new venture is always good. I’m excited to see where this takes you.
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Asking a Friend Out
Alex: Hey, do you have any plans for this weekend?
Emma: Not really, why do you ask?
Alex: I was wondering if you’d like to go out with me on Saturday night. There’s a new Italian restaurant that I’ve been wanting to try, and I thought it would be great to have some company.
Emma: That sounds like fun. I’d love to go with you.
Alex: Great! I’ll make a reservation and pick you up at 7 pm. Dress nicely!
Emma: Okay, I’m excited about it. Thanks for inviting me.
Alex: No problem. I’m sure we’ll have a good time.
Meeting in a Restaurant
Rachel: Hi, Alex! Thanks for meeting me here.
Alex: Hey, Rachel. It’s great to see you. How have you been?
Rachel: I’ve been good, thanks. How about you?
Alex: Not bad. So, what are you thinking of ordering?
Rachel: I’m not sure yet. I’m deciding between the chicken Caesar salad and the grilled shrimp.
Alex: Both sound good. I think I might go for the burger, though.
Rachel: Oh, that sounds tempting. Maybe I’ll go for the same.
Alex: Great. And do you want anything to drink? They have a good selection of craft beers here.
Rachel: Hmm, I think I’ll just stick with water for now. I have an early morning tomorrow.
Alex: Sure, I understand. I might try one of the IPAs they have on tap.
Waiter: Hi, what can I get for you today?
Alex: I’ll have the burger with a side of fries and an IPA, please.
Rachel: And I’ll have the same, but with water instead of beer.
Waiter: Okay, great. I’ll get those orders in for you right away.
Conversation Example for Unexpected Meeting
Sarah: Hey, Emma? I didn’t expect to see you here. How are you doing?
Emma: Hi, Sarah. I’m doing well, thanks. It’s great to see you too. What brings you here?
Sarah: I just needed to grab a few things from the store down the street. What about you?
Emma: I was just on my way to meet a friend at a coffee shop nearby.
Sarah: That sounds fun. Mind if I join you guys?
Emma: Not at all. The more, the merrier, right? Let’s go.
Sarah: Great, thanks. So, how have things been with you lately?
Emma: Pretty good, actually. I just started a new job a few weeks ago, and it keeps me pretty busy.
Sarah: That’s exciting. What kind of job is it?
Emma: I’m working at a marketing agency as a content writer. It’s been challenging, but I’m enjoying it so far.
Sarah: That sounds like a perfect fit for you. You’ve always been great at writing.
Emma: Thanks, Sarah. I appreciate the support. So, why don’t you tell me more about you over a coffee?
Supporting a Friend During a Difficult Time
Samantha: Hey, how are you holding up?
Emily: To be honest, not great. My mom just got diagnosed with cancer.
Samantha: Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry to hear that. What do you feel about it?
Emily: I’m just really scared. I don’t know how to handle this.
Samantha: It’s completely understandable to feel scared and overwhelmed right now. Just know I’m here for you and will support you through everything.
Emily: Thank you, that really means a lot. I just don’t know how to be strong for my mom.
Samantha: You don’t have to be strong all the time. It’s okay to let yourself feel the emotions and process everything. And when you’re ready, we can talk more about ways to support your mom and family.
Emily: Thank you, I appreciate it.
Debating Current Events
Nina: Hey, did you see the outfits at the Met Gala last night?
Sara: Yeah, I did. Some were impressive, while others were too weird for my taste.
Nina: I know what you mean, but I loved the bold and avant-garde looks. It’s supposed to celebrate fashion as art, after all.
Sara: I see your point, but I also think some outfits were impractical. Can you imagine yourself in that Jared Leto’s horrendous cat suit?
Nina: Well, that’s part of the fun, right? And also, Karl Lagerfeld was the theme of this year’s Met Gala. Jared had just worn a costume of Choupette, Karl’s cat.
Sara: Oh, I didn’t know that. But most were still trying too hard to be edgy and outrageous.
Nina: Fair enough, but I still think pushing boundaries and taking risks is better than playing it safe and boring. It’s a once-a-year event, after all.
Sharing Personal News
Mike: Hey, Emily, I have some news to share with you.
Emily: What’s up? You sound serious.
Mike: Well, you know how I’ve been working on my startup for the past year, right?
Emily: Yeah, I remember. You’ve been putting in a lot of hours and hard work into it.
Mike: Yes, and it finally paid off. We got an offer from a venture capital firm, and they’re willing to invest $1 million in our company!
Emily: Wow, that’s terrific news! Congrats, Mike! I’m so happy for you.
Mike: Thank you, Emily. It’s been a long and tough journey, but this is a huge step forward for us. And you know what the best part is? We can finally start hiring more people and expanding the business.
Emily: That’s awesome. I’m excited to see where this takes you and your startup.
Mike: Yeah, me too. It’s a dream come true, and I couldn’t have done it without your support and encouragement.
You Can Nail Any Informal Dialogue With Promova
The best way to practice conversations with friends is to talk to them. But what if English is not your mother tongue, and you don’t have any friends who can practice it with you? You can try to do it by yourself – read books aloud or exercise by repeating lines after movie characters. And we invite those who seek help to our international language-learning platform Promova. Here you can find enough options to nail any conversation.
- Free Conversation Club. If you are satisfied with your fluency level but still need a company to practice spoken English, this is the best option. Here you can discuss dozens of interesting topics with students from all over the world.
- Speaking classes. For those who might need some help, Promova offers special speaking classes to practice your conversational skills with professional tutors. You can start by passing a quick fluency test to determine your English level, and immediately start studying. And if you are not sure about that, you can book a free trial lesson.
- Personal and group lessons. This option is great for students who want to practice not only speaking but other essential language skills. Our team of professional tutors always do their best to create a safe and engaging environment for people with different levels and needs.
Of course, that’s not all! If you prefer studying alone, you can install a convenient Promova application on any iOS or Android device and access dozens of unique and valuable lessons. And don’t forget about our free blog. Here, you can regularly read interesting articles about anything related to English – from the latest trends to learning the language with your favorite TV shows. The choice is up to you – give Promova a try and find what’s best for you.
Conclusion
To sum up, we can say that there is nothing better than seeing two friends talking. Such conversations always include loud voices, shining eyes, and expressive gestures. And we hope this article will help you feel more confident in such situations and always have topics to discuss with someone. By the way, what was the last thing you discussed with your friends? Spill the tea in the comments!
FAQ
What are some common topics friends can discuss in their conversations?
We can say that friends can talk about a wide range of discussion ideas. Some general topics include movies, careers, food and cooking, the latest news, current events, business, politics, hobbies, etc. And for more deep conversations, you can talk about personal goals, motivation, dreams, love, etc.
How to initiate a conversation with a friend?
There are many ways to start a dialogue with a friend, depending on different circumstances. For example, if you haven’t seen the person for a while, you can start by asking them about their life in the past few years/months. If you regularly see the person, you can start with a simple “What’s up?” and follow the natural flow of the conversation. The same words you can use as a dialogue writing between two friends examples – they are also a great way to start an online conversation.
How can I politely disagree with my friend’s opinion without offending?
Firstly, you need to remember that it is okay to have polar views on the same things. The best way to stay polite is to accept the differences in your opinions and be respectful no matter what. You can say that you have another perspective. Yet, don’t try to convince your friend they are wrong (because there is no right or wrong in personal thoughts and experiences).
Is it rude to interrupt two people having a conversation?
Yes, it can be considered rude in some situations, especially, when you interrupt someone who is deeply engaged in a conversation without any reason. Yet, sometimes it might be okay. For example, when there is an emergency or professional situation. Also, it might be alright to interrupt a rude person, or someone being offensive. But you need to remain polite and respectful.
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