BC: Across culture

The topic of this lesson is appropriate conversational topics. You will:

• discuss and present on appropriate topics for casual conversations
• listen to students act out and discuss role plays around conversations
• develop listening for gist and detail skills.

Scenario 1

ME: OK, Marry and Ivy, would you like to start? Let’s begin with the scenario and what advice you’d give me. Then the role-play and after that we’ll discuss it.

Marry: Sure. Our scenario’s about … A has been xxxing and xxxing in Taipei for six years. A says he doesn’t feel comfortable talking to the native, which is a bit of a problem considering he’s xxxing there! He says that when he talks to Taiwan people he feels like he’s talking to the police or something – they just ask him lots of questions like, where do you come from, what do you do, where do you live, etcetera.

Ivy: So, our advice to A is that he needs to take more control of the conversation. Instead of just giving basic or short answers to questions, he needs to give more information and also ask questions back. People don’t mean to sound like the police: they’re just trying to find common ground with him.

Marry: Yeah. By common ground, we mean interests or experiences that they share with him, things that they can both talk about and are interested in.

[How to be leader to lead in a role-play?]

How to take more control of the conversation? – Strategy of the 3As – answer, add and ask –  it makes the conversation much more interactive!

ME: So, in the conversation, Marry will be A and I’ll be a neighbour, B, meeting him for the first time. OK. So, A, where do you come from?

Marry: I’m from HK. Actually, I had been living there for 18 years before I come here. Have you ever been there, B?

ME: No I haven’t. I haven’t really travelled much in Asia. Would you recommend it?

Marry: Well, sure, of course I would, it’s where I’m from! It’s a big country with a long history and many things to see. You know about the Great Wall, don’t you?

ME: Yes, I’ve seen it on TV. Have you ever been?

Marry: Yes, a couple of times. (幾次啦) It’s really long so I’ve seen it in a few different places.

ME: Thanks Marry. That was a good example. I see what you did there. Did you notice the strategy you used? Not bad! You didn’t just answer the questions. You also asked questions about the same topic.

Marry: Great, it seems that I have understood why you tried to highlight the strategy of the three As – answer, add and ask. That way one person doesn’t ask all the questions and make the other person feel like they’re being interviewed.

Scenario 2

[How to be leader to lead in a role-play?]

ME: OK, let’s present one more scenario. Ivy, do you want to introduce it?

Ivy: Our scenario’s about Dave from HK again. Dave’s also an overseas student but this time living in Australia. He says that he doesn’t know what conversation topics to talk about when he meets people. He gives an example of a situation at a party where he asked the wrong question – about how much someone earned – and the person got offended.

ME: So, my advice is to try and find common ground. I think the easiest things to talk to people about are things around you – the place where you are, the event, things you can see and hear. Nothing too personal when you first meet.

Ivy: Yes. We often remind ourselves about what not to talk about, you know ‘taboo’ topics like politics, money, religion …

[enter to the scenario]

ME: That’s right! …Well, Nice to meet you Dave. Great music, isn’t it?

Ivy: Yes, it’s a little loud for me but I like some of the songs they’re playing. What kind of music do you like?

ME: Um, mostly pop but I listen to all types of music. I listen to a lot of British pop but I also like bands from the US. What’s the music scene like in HK?

Ivy: Pretty cool. There’s lots going on in the local scene but we get a lot of Western music too. I don’t listen to a lot of pop though because I prefer more traditional music. Have you ever listened to any traditional Chinese music?

ME: No, I can’t say I have. But I’ve eaten HK-style food. Do you know the 茶餐廳 on ABC Street?

Ivy: Um, yes. It’s a great restaurant: great food and pretty decent prices. What’s your favourite dish there?

ME: Yes, well we thought not everyone wants to talk about music so we looked for a way to change the topic. We all eat, so food seemed like something we could have in common.

Ivy: Yes, and it’s a pretty safe topic. We want to talk about common things and we also want to keep the conversation quite general, not too personal. At least until you know the person better.

Marry: Yeah, but what’s too personal? I think that varies between individuals and cultures. I mean, the example in your scenario about asking how much someone earns might be quite OK for some people.

Remember : The three As strategy: Ask, answer, add! Nobody likes a one-sided conversation.