Speaking Practice
Lesson 1 – Meeting Someone New
Social English
B1–B2
Situation: David and Kathy meet at a neighborhood gathering. They begin talking about their backgrounds, work, and experiences living in the United States.
David: Hi! I don’t think we’ve met before. I’m David.
Kathy: Hi, David. I’m Kathy. It’s nice to meet you. Have you lived in this neighborhood long?
David: Actually, I moved here about six months ago. I’m originally from Italy, so everything is still a little new to me.
Kathy: Oh, really? What part of Italy are you from?
David: I’m from Florence. Have you ever been there?
Kathy: Yes! I visited a few years ago. I absolutely loved it. The architecture and the food were incredible.
David: I’m glad you enjoyed it. Sometimes I miss the food, especially when it comes to good pasta and fresh bread.
Kathy: I can imagine! Have you found any Italian restaurants around here that you like?
David: I’ve tried a couple, but honestly, they don’t quite compare to the restaurants back home.
Kathy: That’s probably true! So, what brought you to the United States?
David: I was offered a job with an international company. It was a great opportunity, so I decided to give it a try.
Kathy: That’s exciting! What do you do there?
David: I work in marketing. My responsibilities include managing projects and communicating with clients.
Kathy: That sounds interesting. Do you enjoy working with an international team?
David: Yes, I do. It can be challenging sometimes because people have different communication styles, but I’m learning a lot.
Kathy: I can understand that. It must also be a good opportunity to improve your English.
David: Definitely. I can understand most conversations, but sometimes I struggle to find the right words when I’m speaking.
Kathy: Don’t worry. That happens to a lot of people. The more you practice, the more comfortable you’ll become.
David: That’s what I’m hoping! Anyway, how about you? What do you do?
Kathy: I’m a project manager for a local company. I’ve been working there for almost eight years.
David: That’s quite a while! Do you enjoy it?
Kathy: Most of the time! It keeps me busy, but I like working with different people.
David: Well, it was really nice talking with you. I hope we run into each other again.
Kathy: I’m sure we will! Enjoy the rest of the evening.
Vocabulary & Expressions
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Originally from | Born or raised in a particular place |
| Give it a try | Attempt something new |
| Bring you to | Explain why someone came to a place |
| Compare to | Examine similarities or differences |
| Responsibilities | Tasks someone is expected to complete |
| Communication styles | Different ways people communicate |
| Struggle to | Have difficulty doing something |
| Get comfortable | Become more confident or relaxed |
| Run into someone | Meet someone unexpectedly |
| Quite a while | A fairly long period of time |
Comprehension questions
- Where is David originally from?
- Why did David move to the United States?
- What does David do for a living?
- What does David find challenging about communicating in English?
- How long has Kathy worked for her company?
Conversation Practice
Answer these questions using complete sentences and additional details.
- Where are you originally from, and how would you describe your hometown?
- What brought you to your current location?
- What do you find most challenging about communicating in English?
- Have you ever had an experience where you had difficulty understanding someone?
- What do you enjoy most about meeting people from different cultures?
Useful American English Expressions
These are expressions worth learning as complete phrases rather than translating word for word.
- Give it a try. – Try something new.
- I can imagine. – I understand how that might feel.
- That makes sense. – I understand your reasoning.
- I’m still getting used to it. – I’m still adjusting to something.
- It was nice catching up. – It was nice talking and exchanging updates.
Role-play
Imagine meeting an American coworker at a company social event.
You should:
- Introduce himself.
- Explain where he is from.
- Describe his professional background.
- Ask the coworker about their job.
- Find something they have in common.
- End the conversation politely.