Today is the second in a two-part intermediate Business English Pod series on the basics of socializing and networking. Last time you learned ways to start and finish a conversation appropriately. Today you’ll be studying how to keep a conversation going by maintaining interest.

The listening continues on from dialogue 1 from last time: Penny, an HR officer from Kuala Lumpur, has struck up a conversation with George, the regional learning and development manager. Penny had just used a tag question – “Interesting speech, wasn’t it?” – to help get the conversation started.

Premium Members (Sign up for access):		Online activities:
BEP 45: Study Notes	Phrases & Practice	BEP 45: Keeping a Conversation Going – Quiz BEP 45: Keeping a Conversation Going – Gap-fill

Listening Quiz: (Click a question to see the answer)
BEP 45 INT – Socializing: Keeping a Conversation Going

Today’s Business English Pod episode is the first in a two-part series on the basics of social English: starting a conversation, keeping it going, and finishing it appropriately. Successful conversation is an important part of networking – the skill of building up a network of contacts and relationships.

In this episode, you’ll be learning skills and language for starting and finishing a conversation appropriately. In the next, you’ll practice how to keep a conversation going.

You’ll hear two dialogues. In the first, Penny, an HR officer from Malaysia, strikes up a conversation with George, the Asia-Pacific learning and development manager. “To strike up a conversation” means to start a conversation, usually with someone you don’t know too well. In the second dialogue, Pat, an HR officer from Australia, then tries his best to strike up a conversation with George.

Premium Members (Sign up for access):		Online activities:
BEP 44: Study Notes	Phrases & Practice	BEP 44: Striking Up a Conversation – Quiz BEP 44: Striking Up a Conversation – Gap-fill

Listening Quiz:BEP 44 INT – Striking Up a Conversation (Click a question to see the answer)