Daily English listening practice | Improve Listening & Writing Skills | Learn English with podcast

hello and welcome to today's episode have you ever found yourself struggling to follow a conversation in English do you ever wish you could speak more confidently and understand more easily well you're in the right place in this episode we'll help you improve your listening and speaking skills by sharing real life stories and examples listening to real life situations is one of the best ways to improve your English as you hear how people naturally speak you'll also pick up new words phrases and patterns that can help you communicate more effectively plus listening carefully will help you

with your writing skills too you'll learn how sentences are formed and how to structure your ideas let me share a personal story to show you how this works in action just last week I was chatting with a friend at a coffee shop we were talking about our plans for the weekend she asked me what are you doing this Saturday I answered I'm meeting some friends for lunch and we're going to watch a movie afterward what about you that simple exchange helped me practice ice using future tenses and learn how to keep the conversation going smoothly

these kinds of everyday conversations are a great way to build your language skills so as you listen to today's episode think about how you might use these phrases and expressions in your own life how would you answer these questions if someone asked you just listen closely and pay attention to the details this will help you improve your English in real practical situations let's get started all right let's dive into another example from my daily life a few days ago I went to a grocery store while I was picking out some apples another Shopper asked me

excuse me do you know where the milk is I replied yes it's in the refrigerated section near the yogurt this short interaction reminded me how often we use Simple directions and polite language in Daily conversations here's a question for you if someone asked you for help in a store how would you respond think about the phrases you might use like it's over there or I think you'll find it in Isle 3 practicing these small exchanges can make you more confident when speaking now let's imagine a slightly different situation last week I had to call a

friend to confirm a meeting time I started the call by saying hi I just wanted to check if we're still meeting at 3 p.m. tomorrow my friend responded Yes 3 p.m. works perfectly for me thanks for checking this type of conversation is common in daily life and learning how to confirm plans politely is an essential skill think about your daily routine how often do you need to ask someone a question or clarify something these are golden opportunities to practice your English for example if you're at work and need help you could say can you explain

this to me or I just need a little more clarification on this task these phrases are easy to remember and very useful listening to how people phrase their sentences the tone they use and the way they respond can give you a deeper understanding of how English works in real life settings let me share another real life story to inspire you a few days ago I went to a cafe to grab a coffee when I reached the counter the Barista greeted me with a cheerful good morning what can I get for you today I replied good

morning can I have a cappuccino please she asked would you like it with regular milk or almond milk I said almond milk please thank you this simple conversation not only made my morning brighter but also reminded me how important polite expressions are in everyday English now here's a question for you how would you place an order at a cafe imagine you're there right now what would you say if the Barista asked anything else maybe you'd respond with no that's all for now thank you or yes I'll also have a muffin practicing these phrases helps you

prepare for real life situations let's move on to another common scenario introducing yourself to someone new last month I attended a small gathering where I didn't know many people when I met someone I said hi I'm Alex nice to meet you the person replied nice to meet you too Alex I'm Sarah from there we started talking about where we're from and what we do conversations like this are an excellent opportunity to practice asking and answering questions think about how you'd introduce yourself what would you say after nice to to meet you perhaps you could share

something about your hobbies or your job for example I enjoy hiking in my free time or I'm an IT specialist what about you practicing these responses will help you feel more confident the next time you meet someone new listening carefully to how people interact in these scenarios will help you pick up natural expressions and using them in your own conversations will make your English sound more fluent and relaxed here's another story from my week that you might find relatable I was at a bus stop waiting for my bus and someone approached me to ask for

directions they said excuse me do you know which bus goes to the city center I thought for a moment and replied yes you can take bus number 25 it should arrive in about 5 minutes they smiled and thanked me and I said no problem have a good day situations like this are common in daily life if someone asked you for directions how would you respond you could say something like take a left at the next street or it's about a 10-minute walk from here practicing these simple phrases will make you feel prepared for similar conversations

another example comes from a recent phone call I had with a delivery service I needed to check the status of a package so I said hi I'm calling to check on my order can you tell me when it will be delivered the representative replied your package is scheduled to arrive tomorrow between 10:00 a.m. and 12: p.m. I responded great thank you for the update this type of interaction teaches you how to ask clear questions and listen for specific details in the response think about how you would handle a call like this what would you say

if the delivery time didn't work for you maybe can I reschedule the delivery for a later time or could you leave the package at my front door if I'm not home practicing these scenarios will prepare you for real life situations let's talk about something even more personal discussing your weekend plans with a friend just last Saturday a friend called me and asked whatat are you up to this weekend I replied I'm planning to go hiking on Sunday what about you they said I'm thinking of staying home and catching up on some reading it was a

short but friendly exchange that allowed us to connect and share ideas how about you if a friend asked about your weekend what would you say would you talk about your hobbies chores or a trip you're planning practicing these small convers ations helps you express yourself naturally and confidently let's dive into another example from my everyday life a couple of days ago I had to visit a doctor for a routine checkup when I walked into the clinic the receptionist greeted me and said good afternoon do you have an appointment I replied yes I have an appointment

at 3 p.m. with Dr Harris she then asked can I see your ID and insurance card please I handed them over and said here you go thank you this kind of interaction teaches us how to handle formal conversations in a calm and polite manner if you were in this situation how would you respond perhaps yes I have an appointment at 2 p.m. or I don't have an appointment but is there any availability today thinking about these possibilities and practicing them will make such situations much easier for you in real life now let me share a

fun moment I had at the park last week I was sitting on a bench when someone jogging by stopped to ask excuse me do you know what time it is I quickly checked my watch and said it's 4:30 p.m. the jogger smiled and replied thanks have a good day such small exchanges may seem simple but they are excellent for practicing your listening and speaking skills here's a question for you what would you say if someone asked you for the time would you respond with it's quarter past 3 or it's halfast 5 these little moments are

a great way to build confidence in using numbers and time related Expressions another practical example comes from a dinner I had with some friends while ordering food at the restaurant the waiter asked me would you like any starters I said yes I'll have the soup of the day please after taking my order the waiter asked and for your main course I replied I'll go with the grilled chicken with vegetables these kinds of interactions are so common and offer a fantastic opportunity to practice polite phrases and decision-making vocabulary if you were in a restaurant how would

you order your meal think about phrases like I'd like the pasta please or can I have the chicken sandwich practicing how to respond politely and clearly will prepare you for dining out in English-speaking environments let's move on to another everyday situation just last weekend I went shopping for a new pair of shoes when I entered the store the salesperson greeted me and said hello how can I help you today I replied hi I'm looking for a pair of sneakers for running the salesperson asked what size are you looking for I answered size 9 please they

then brought out a couple of options and said would you like to try these on I tried them found the perfect fit and said these are great I'll take them shopping conversations like this are full of useful Expressions if you were in my place how would you ask for help in a store you could say I'm looking for a jacket or can you help me find a pair of jeans in my size simple clear communication is key and practicing these exchanges can make shopping in English much easier another interesting situation happened while I was using

public transport I was on the train and the conductor came by to check tickets he said tickets please and I handed mine over saying here you go he scanned it smiled and replied thank you this interaction was short but showed how polite and functional language is used in public settings what about you if you were in a similar situation how would you respond think of phrases like here's my ticket or I need to buy a ticket to Central Station practicing these scenarios will help you feel more comfortable navigating public transportation in an English-speaking country now

let's talk about a common but important activity making plans with friends recently I texted a friend and said hey are you free this Friday evening let grab dinner they replied sure how about 7:00 p.m. at our usual place I said perfect see you there this type of conversation is something we all do regularly and it's a fantastic way to practice future tenses and expressions for making arrangements if you were inviting a friend to dinner how would you do it you might say would you like to meet up this weekend or how about lunch tomorrow these

simple phrases help you sound friendly and confident in your conversations let's explore another real life moment ear earlier this week I had to visit a bank to sort out a small issue with my account when I walked up to the counter the teller greeted me with good morning how can I help you today I replied good morning I'd like to check the status of a recent transaction the teller asked for my account details and said let me look into that for you could you wait a moment I responded of course thank you after a short

wait they provided the information I needed and I ended the conversation with thanks for your help have a great day this kind of interaction shows how important it is to be polite and specific in formal settings if you were at a bank how would you explain your problem you could say I need to update my contact information or I'd like to open a savings account practicing these phrases can prepare you for similar situations now let's switch to a more casual scenario last week I was at a park with some friends when someone approached us and

asked excuse me can you take a photo of us I replied of course where would you like me to stand they directed me and I took a few pictures for them afterward they said thank you so much and I responded you're welcome have a nice day simple conversations like this are part of everyday life and knowing how to respond makes them much smoother if someone asked you to take a photo what would you say think of responses like sure no problem or I'd be happy to help these small moments are great opportunities to practice your

English and connect with others another example comes from a phone call I received yesterday a colleague called to ask for some advice on a project they said hi can I get your opinion on something I replied of course what's on your mind they explained the situation and I gave my suggestions at the end of the call they said thanks for your help and I responded anytime let me know if you need anything else if you were on a call like this how would you respond you could say sure I'd be happy to help or I

think you should try this approach practicing how to give advice or share your opinion will help you in both personal and professional situations let's take another example from my daily routine yesterday I had to go to the Post Office to send a package as I stood in line the clerk behind the counter asked what kind of service would you like for your package today I said I'd like to send it express please she then asked do you need insurance for this I responded no thank you just the standard service will do after weighing the package

and completing the paperwork she said that will be $15 is that all right I nodded and paid then said thank you very much this exchange is a great example of how specific and polite communication Works in a transactional setting if you were in the same situation how would you respond you might say I'd like to send this internationally or how much will it cost to send this overnight practicing these phrases will help you handle similar situations with ease here's another scenario from a recent experience I was meeting a friend for coffee and we had to

decide where to sit I said do you want to sit by the window or is the booth better they replied let's sit in the booth it's more comfortable I agreed and we both settled in after a few minutes I said I'm so glad we decided to meet today how's everything going with you they responded everything's good just busy with work conversations like this are simple but meaningful if you were deciding where to sit with a friend what would you say you could ask do you prefer the front or back of the cafe or is this

table okay or should we find another one practicing these small details helps you sound more natural in Daily conversations let me share a quick story from a recent phone call with my family my mom called to check in and I answered hey Mom how's everything she replied good just wanted to see how you're doing are you busy I said not really just finishing up some work how about you she mentioned some recent family events and we ended up talking for a while if you were talking to a family member what kinds of questions would you

ask you might say how's everyone doing or have you been up to anything exciting practicing these types of question questions can make your conversations with family and friends feel more comfortable and natural now think about a situation where you need to make a small request earlier this week I was at a coffee shop and I asked the Barista could you make my coffee with almond milk instead of regular milk she smiled and said of course anything else I replied no that's all thanks if you we're making a similar request how would you phrase it maybe

you'd say could I get my coffee black please or would it be possible to have my sandwich without cheese these small requests are a great way to practice polite speaking let's continue with another example a few days ago I was at a grocery store and the cashier asked do you have a loyalty card with us I replied yes I do here it is she scanned it and said thank you your total today is $25 I handed over my payment and said can I pay with a card she nodded and I completed the transaction as she

handed me the receipt she said thank you for shopping with us have a great day I smiled and replied you too thank you this is a typical exchange that happens when you're shopping if you were in the same situation how would you respond you might say can I use a coupon or do you accept credit cards these small conversations are essential in everyday life and practicing them will make you more confident when you go to the store now let's talk about making appointments last week I had to book a dentist appointment the receptionist said good

morning how can I help you today I said I'd like to schedule a cleaning appointment for next week she asked what day works best for you I replied Tuesday afternoon would be perfect she confirmed great I've booked you for Tuesday at 2 p.m. see you then I ended with thank you see you on Tuesday scheduling appointments like this is very common if you were booking an appointment you could say can I book an appointment for next Monday or I need to reschedule my meeting for tomorrow knowing how to handle this type of conversation will help

you feel more at ease when dealing with appointments in English here's another situation last Friday I was at a restaurant and the waiter asked would you like still or sparkling water I thought for a moment and said I'll have Still Water please then the waiter asked would you like any appetizers to start I replied yes I'll take the brusketta once we were ready to order our main course I said I'll have the grilled salmon please and my friend ordered the pasta how about you if you were ordering in a restaurant what would you say you

might choose I'd like the soup of the day or could I have the vegetarian dish please these are helpful phrases to practice when dining out and they will make your experience more enjoyable and smooth let me share a small but helpful story about catching a train a few days ago I was running late and as I rushed to the train station I asked the conductor is this the train to downtown they quickly replied yes it is but you'll need to hurry it leaves in 2 minutes I thanked them and ran to catch the train in

situations like this asking quick questions and getting clear answers is important if you were in a rush at a train station what would you say maybe is this the right platform or what time does the next train leave being able to ask questions like these helps you navigate Transportation Systems more easily here's another example from my day yesterday I was at the gym and the trainer asked Are You Ready for today's workout I replied yes I'm excited she then said great we'll start with some stretches after the warm-up she guided me through different exercises and

corrected my form I thanked her and said that was a tough workout but I feel great when you're in a fitness or exercise setting it's common to hear phrases like let's start with some stretches or how many sets should I do these types of conversations are helpful for staying motivated and understanding what's expected if you were at the gym how would you respond you might say can you show me how to do this exercise or how long do I need to hold this position practicing these phrases can boost your conf in these situations let's move

on to a different setting the other day I was at a cafe with a friend and we were deciding what to order I asked what do you recommend here the server said our cappuccinos are very popular and the croissants are freshly baked I replied that sounds perfect I'll have a cappuccino and a croissant please my friend chose a latte and a muffin after we ordered the server asked will that be all for today we said yes thank you when ordering food and drinks you'll often hear questions like what would you like to drink or do

you want anything else these are simple phrases that help make the conversation smoother if you were at a cafe how would you order you might say I'll have a coffee to go or can I get a sandwich with no mayo practicing these small exchanges can help you feel more confident in these everyday situations here's a scenario from a recent conversation I had with a colleague at work I asked can you send me the report by the end of the day they responded Yes I'll email it to you before 5:00 p.m. later in the afternoon they

followed up and said I've just sent you the report let me know if you need anything else I replied thanks I'll take a look at it now in professional environments conversations like this are common if you were asking a colleague for something you might say could you send me the updated version of this document or can you let me know when the meeting starts these are helpful phrases to practice when working in an English-speaking environment let me tell you about a small interaction I had while volunteering last weekend I was helping set up for an

event when a fellow volunteer asked do you need any help with that I smiled and said yes could you please hand me the scissors they handed them over and I said thanks a lot afterward they asked do you need anything else I replied not right now but I'll let you know if I do in volunteering situations people often ask do you need help or can I assist with something these are great phrases to practice when helping out at events if you were volunteering how would you offer help you could say can I help with the

decorations or do you need a hand setting up these small acts of communication help in creating a supportive environment earlier this week I had to handle a small issue with my phone service so I called customer support the representative answered thank you for calling how can I assist you today I explained my problem saying I'm having trouble with my data connection the agent asked could you please verify your account number I provided the information and after a few moments they said I fixed the issue for you is there anything else I can help with I

thanked them and said no that's all thanks for your help when dealing with customer service it's helpful to know how to clearly explain your problem and ask for assistance if you were calling customer support you might say I'm having trouble with my account or can you help me with a billing issue being able to clearly explain your needs in these situations makes things much smoother let's talk about a situation that happened during my recent trip to the grocery store as I was checking out the cashier asked would you like to donate to charity today I

thought about it for a moment and said yes I'd like to donate $5 please she replied thank you for your generosity I smiled and said you're welcome it's always nice to help this type of conversation comes up often when you're at a store or during charity events if you were asked to donate how would you respond you could say yes I'd like to contribute or no thank you I'll pass this time these kinds of exchanges are important to practice as they help you participate at in everyday activities with ease speaking of donations I recently attended

a community event and one of the volunteers asked would you like to sign up to help with the next event I thought about it and said yes I'd love to help out next time they handed me a signup sheet and asked for my contact details After I filled it out they thanked me saying thanks for your support we'll be in touch soon when volunteering it's helpful to know how to respond to questions like would you like to join us for the next event or can you help us set up these are simple phrases that can

help you get involved in your community or other activities how would you respond in a similar situation maybe you'd say I'd love to help or I can't this time but I'd be happy to next time let me share an example from my recent experience at a local bookstore I was browsing the shelves when the store assistant approached and asked can I help you find something today I replied yes I'm looking for a novel by author's name she smiled and said I think we have a few books by that author let me show you after a

quick search she handed me the book and said here you go is there anything else I can help you with I said no that's all thank you very much if you were at a bookstore and needed help you might say do you have any books by author or could you recommend a good novel these are helpful phrases to practice when you're shopping for books or any other items they make your experience more enjoyable and help you navigate the store confidently recently I visited a local cafe and ordered a coffee as I stood at the counter

the Barista asked would you like your coffee here or to go I said I'll take it to go please then she asked do you want any sugar or milk with that I replied just a little bit of milk thanks after preparing the coffee she handed it to me and said here you go enjoy your coffee I smiled and replied thanks I will in situations like ordering food or drinks you'll often hear phrases like do you want that hot or iced or would you like to add anything else these questions are simple but important to understand

and respond to if you were ordering your coffee how would you say it maybe I'll have a large cappuccino or can I get a latte with almond milk speaking of food I had an interesting conversation with a friend about meal planning she asked what are you planning to cook this week I told her I'm thinking of making pasta and a salad for dinner tonight she responded that sounds delicious I'm planning to try a new recipe this week too later she sent me a message saying the recipe turned out great I'll share it with you if

you were discussing meal plans you might say I'm making soup for dinner or what's for lunch today conversations like these are easy to have and are important in everyday life they also give you a chance to practice your tea vocabulary related to food and cooking let's talk about another situation I encountered last week when I was at a doctor's appointment the nurse asked what seems to be the problem today I explained I've been feeling a little tired and have a sore throat she wrote it down and said okay I'll take your temperature and blood pressure

now after checking everything she told me you'll need to wait for the doctor he'll be with you shortly when visiting a doctor you might hear questions like how are you feeling today or where does it hurt it's important to be able to express yourself clearly and answer these questions if you were at a doctor's office how would you explain your symptoms maybe I have a headache or I've been feeling nauseous now let's talk about a recent experience I had at a post office I went to mail a package and the clerk asked do you want

to send this via regular mail or express service I replied I'd like to send it express please she asked do you want to Ure the package I said yes please ensure it for $100 after completing the transaction she handed me the receipt and said your package will arrive in 2 to 3 days have a great day I thanked her and replied you too sending packages is a common situation where you'll use phrases like how much does it cost to send this or can I get a tracking number if you were at a post office you

might need to ask can I send this internationally or what are your shipping options it's useful to practice these questions for when you need to use Postal Services let's switch gears a bit last weekend I attended a friend's birthday party as I walked in she greeted me with hi I'm so glad you could make it I smiled and said thanks for inviting me happy birthday she introduced me to some of her friends and we had a great time chatting I asked one of the guests how do you know name of the birthday person they replied

we met through work a few years ago at Social Gatherings like birthday parties you might often ask questions like how do you know the host or what do you do for work these are simple questions that can help start conversations if you were at a party how would you introduce yourself or ask questions you could say where are you from or what kind of music do you like these types of conversations are are great for practicing English in informal settings last week I had a chance to catch up with an old friend over lunch we

started by asking what have you been up to lately I told her I've been really busy with work but I'm trying to find more time for myself she shared I've been traveling a lot for work and it's been exhausting we spent the rest of the lunch talking about our careers and plans for the future she asked do you have any new hobbies you've picked up recently I replied yes I've started doing yoga when meeting up with friends conversations like these are common you might ask questions such as how have you been or what's new in

your life these questions are great for reconnecting with people and keeping the conversation flowing if you were catching up with an old friend how would you start the conversation perhaps have you done anything fun recently or how's your family let me tell you about a situation I experienced during a business meeting I was discussing a new project with a colleague and she asked Can you provide an update on your progress I responded Yes I've completed the research phas and I'm now working on the presentation she replied great do you need any help with the presentation

I said yes I could use some feedback on the slides at work you'll often be asked for updates like how's the project going or can you give me a status report being able to explain your progress clearly is an essential skill if you were in a meeting how would you respond to questions like these maybe you'd say I'm almost done with the project or I'm still waiting for some information here's an example from a recent visit to the library I walked up to the librarian and asked do you have any books on history she smiled

and said yes we have a great selection of history books what specific period are you interested in I said I'm looking for books on ancient civilizations she pointed me to a section and said these books should be perfect for you in situations like visiting the library you might ask can you recommend a good book or do you have books on topic these are useful questions to practice for when you need help finding information in public places like libraries or bookstores just last night I was at a friend's housewarming party and someone asked me how do

you know name of the host I replied we met through mutual friends a few years ago they smiled and said that's great I've known name of the host for a long time too it was a nice way to start a conversation and get to know someone new social events like housewarming parties often involve questions like how do you know the host or what do you do for a living these are easy friendly questions that can help you connect with others if you were at a party how would you introduce yourself you could ask where are

you from or what brought you you to this event let's talk about another situation I had while attending a community meeting last month the organizer asked what are your thoughts on the upcoming event I shared I think it's a great idea and I'm excited to be part of it the organizer smiled and said thank you for your input we'll take that into account as we plan later they asked do you have any suggestions for improvements I replied maybe we could consider adding more interactive activities at why community events you'll often hear questions like what do

you think about this idea or do you have any feedback it's important to know how to share your opinions and contribute to discussions if you were in a similar situation how would you respond you could say I think it's a great initiative or I have a few ideas to make it better these conversations help you engage in your community and express your thoughts effectively a few days ago I was at a coffee shop and I I overheard a conversation between two friends one of them was asking how's your new job going the other responded it's

going well but I've been so busy lately I'm still adjusting to the new schedule they continue talking about their job experiences and challenges I thought to myself this sounds like something I would say to a friend in your daily life you might ask questions like how's work going for you or have you started any new projects these types of questions questions are perfect for small talk and help you stay connected with friends or colleagues if you were catching up with someone how would you ask about their work or personal life you could say how's everything

going or what have you been working on yesterday I had a great conversation with a neighbor while we were walking our dogs she asked me do you take your dog on walks often I replied yes I try to take him for a walk every day he loves it she said that's great my dog loves walks too we should walk together sometime I smiled and agreed that sounds like a great idea let's plan for it soon conversations about pets are quite common and you might find yourself asking what kind of dog do you have or how

often do you walk your dog these questions can help you connect with pet owners and share stories about your pets if you were talking to someone about pets how would you bring up the topic maybe you'd say my cat is always so playful or I've been thinking about adopting a dog a few ago I went to a friend's wedding and during the reception I had the chance to speak with a few people one person asked me how do you know the bride and groom I replied I've been friends with the bride for many years they

said that's wonderful how did you meet I shared we met at University and have stayed in touch ever since at Social Gatherings like weddings people often ask how do you know the couple or where did you meet these are simple and easy questions to answer and they help you learn more about the people around you if you were at a wedding how would you introduce yourself to someone you don't know you might say I'm a friend of the Bride or I used to work with the groom last month I had a chance to chat with

a colleague about a new movie she asked have you seen any good movies recently I said yes I watched a great Thriller last weekend it was so suspenseful she responded that sounds interesting what was about I told her it was about a detective solving a mystery and there were so many plot twists I couldn't predict the ending she said I love movies like that I'll definitely check it out talking about movies is another common conversation topic you can ask what's your favorite movie or have you watched any good films lately if you were discussing movies

with a friend how would you share your thoughts perhaps you'd say I love action movies or I'm really into comedies these types of conversations help you practice discussing interests and hobbies a few days ago I was at the gym and a fellow gymgo asked me how long have you been coming to this gym I replied I've been coming for about six months now how about you he said I just started last week I'm still getting used to the machines I shared it took me a while to figure out the equipment too but once you get

the hang of it it's easy conversations at the gym can include questions like what kind of workout do you do or how long have you been training these are good questions to ask if you're looking to connect with someone who shares your fitness goals if you were at the gym how would you ask about someone's workout routine maybe you'd say do you have any fitness tips or how do you stay motivated to out let me tell you about a conversation I had with a friend about our upcoming vacation plans she asked where are you planning

to go this summer I said I'm thinking of visiting a beach destination I really want to relax by the ocean she replied that sounds amazing I've been to a beach resort before it was so peaceful we continued talking about travel destinations and made plans to visit a new city next year conversations about vacations are always fun and exciting you might ask questions like where's your dream vacation or do you prefer relaxing Vacations or adventurous ones if you were talking to someone about their travel plans how would you ask maybe you'd say what's your favorite vacation

spot or what's the most memorable trip you've been on these conversations are great for practicing how to talk about leisure activities and future plans oh mini last weekend I had the chance to attend a family gathering and I started by asking my cousin what have you been up to lately she replied I've been busy with work but I'm really excited because I'm planning a big event soon I asked that sounds interesting what kind of event she said it's a charity event to raise funds for the local community center I told her that's awesome I'm sure

it will be a big success conversations at family gatherings often start with questions like how's everything going or what's new with you these are great ways to check in with family members and share what's happening in your life if you were talking to a family member how would you begin the conversation maybe you'd say have you been doing anything fun or what's new with the kids a few days ago I was talking to a colleague about our weekend plans and she asked me what are you doing this weekend I replied I'm planning to relax at

home and catch up on some reading she said that sounds nice I'm going hiking with my friends we both shared our plans and it was a great way to get to know each other better weekend plans are often a popular topic of conversation especially if you're catching up with a colleague or friend you can ask what are your plans for the weekend or do you have anything fun planned for Saturday if you are having this conversation how would you share your weekend plans maybe you'd say I'm going to watch a movie or I'm meeting up

with some friends for coffee let me share a quick story from a recent trip to a coffee shop I overheard someone saying I'd like a latte please and the Barista responded sure would you like that hot or iced it's a simple inter interaction but it's a great example of how everyday English Works in real life if you were ordering coffee at a cafe you might hear phrases like what can I get for you or would you like anything to eat with that practicing these common interactions can help you feel more comfortable when ordering at a

cafe or restaurant if you were ordering your favorite drink how would you ask for it maybe you'd say can I have a cappuccino or I'll take an iced tea please just the other day I had a conversation with neighbor about gardening she asked how are your plants doing I said they're doing great I recently planted some new flowers and they're blooming beautifully she responded that's wonderful I've been thinking about starting a vegetable garden we talked for a while about gardening tips and it was interesting to hear her ideas gardening is another topic that often comes

up in casual conversations you might ask do you have a garden or what kind of plants do you grow these questions are perfect for talking about hobbies and interests if you were discussing gardening with a friend how would you bring it up you could say I love growing tomatoes in my garden or I'm thinking of planting some roses this year yesterday I was at the park with my dog and I saw a couple walking by with their dog I asked what kind of dog do you have they said we have a golden retriever she's really

friendly I told them I have a Labrador and they're known for being great companions we shared some funny dog stories and laughed together if you were meeting someone at the park you could ask what breed is your dog or how old is your dog these are great ways to connect with fellow pet owners and talk about shared interests if you were at the park with your dog how would you strike up a conversation maybe you'd say my dog loves playing fetch or does your dog enjoy the park the other day I was sitting in a

cafe and someone nearby asked the waiter what the special of the day the waiter replied today's special is a grilled chicken sandwich with fries the customer smiled and said that sounds delicious I'll have that please it's a simple but useful interaction that you might encounter in any restaurant or Cafe when you're at a cafe or restaurant you'll often hear questions like what would you like to drink or can I take your order these are common phrases that are helpful in everyday situations if you were at a cafe how would you place your order maybe you'd

say I'll have a coffee and a muffin or can I get the soup of the day last week I had a conversation with a friend about the weather I asked have you noticed how hot it's been lately she said yes it's been really warm I think it's going to rain tomorrow though I replied I hope it does the plants need some rain we talked about the weather for a while which is a great conversation starter talking about the the weather is one of the most common forms of small talk you can ask questions like what's

the weather like where you are or is it sunny today if you were discussing the weather with a friend how would you talk about it maybe you'd say it's freezing outside or I love sunny days these simple topics help you build rapport and connect with others just last weekend I was at a family Barbecue and my aunt asked how's your new apartment I replied it's great i' finally gotten everything organized she smiled and said I'm so happy for you it must be nice to have your own place we continue to chat about my move and

the process of settling in conversations about your living situation are common especially when talking to family or friends you might ask how's your new place or are you still living in the same area if you were talking about your home how would you describe it maybe you'd say I've just moved to a new apartment or I love my new neighborhood last week I ran into an old friend at the supermarket and we started talking about our shopping habits she asked do you do your shopping every week I replied yes I like to plan my meals

ahead of time so I usually shop once a byy week she said that's smart I tend to shop more often but I end up buying things I don't need we laughed and shared some of our shopping strategies supermarkets and grocery stores are places where you can have easy conversations with others you might ask where do you usually shop for groceries or do you prefer shopping online or in store if you were chatting about shopping how would you bring it up maybe you'd say I love buying fresh produce or I always make a list before I

go shopping these types of conversations are simple but useful for practicing daily vocabulary a couple of days ago I was catching up with a friend over the phone and she asked me have you been cooking anything interesting lately I said said actually I tried making a new recipe last night it was a stir fry with lots of vegetables she responded that sounds delicious I love cooking stir fries what vegetables did you use we spent the next few minutes discussing our favorite recipes and cooking tips cooking and food are common topics that come up in conversations

especially when talking to friends and family you might ask what's your favorite dish or do you like to cook at home if you were talking about food how would you describe your cooking habits perhaps you'd say I love baking cookies or I try to eat healthy meals these discussions are a fun way to practice speaking about your interests and experiences a few weeks ago I was talking to a colleague about Fitness and she asked do you out regularly I said yes I try to go to the gym three times a week I like to mix

it up with cardio and strength training she responded that's great I've been meaning to start going to the gym more do you have any tips for getting started I shared some of my experiences and offered some helpful advice fitness and health related topics are great for conversations because they are relatable and can help you practice using specific vocabulary you might ask what's your workout routine or do you prefer running or swimming if you were talking about your fitness journey how would you express it maybe you'd say I enjoy yoga or I'm training for a marathon

the these kinds of conversations are ideal for practicing healthy lifestyle related language yesterday I was in a cafe with a friend and she asked me what have you been reading lately I replied I've been reading a mystery novel it's full of suspense and I can't put it down she said that sounds intriguing I love reading Mysteries who's the author I told her the author's name and we continued talking about our favorite books books and reading are topics that can lead to interesting discussions you can ask what kind of books do you enjoy or have you

read any good books recently if you were talking about your reading habits how would you describe them maybe you'd say I love reading historical fiction or I'm a fan of science fiction books these types of conversations help you practice expressing your preferences and interests just the other day I had a chat with a neighbor about our upcoming plans for the holidays she asked do you have any travel plans for the holidays I said I'm planning to visit my family for Christmas I'm looking forward to spending time with them she replied that sounds lovely I'm staying

home this year and having a quiet holiday we both shared our excitement about the upcoming season holidays and travel plans are topics that often come up during this time of year you might ask where are you going for the holidays or do you have any special Traditions if you were talking to someone about their holiday plans how would you ask maybe you'd say are you traveling this here or what are your plans for New Year's Eve these conversations are great for practicing talking about celebrations and travel last weekend I had a conversation with a friend

about our favorite hobbies she asked what do you like to do in your free time I replied I enjoy painting it helps me relax and be creative she said that's awesome I like to play the guitar in my free time I find it really therapeutic we spent a lot of time talking about our hobbies and how they help us unwind talking about Hobbies is another way to practice English and learn about others you can ask what do you like to do for fun or do you have any hobbies if you were discussing Hobbies how would

you describe yours maybe you'd say I enjoy reading or I love hiking these types of conversations are a great way to practice speaking about personal interests and things you enjoy a few days ago I met a friend at a cafe and we started talking about our favorite restaurants she asked do you have a favorite place to eat I said yes there's a small Italian restaurant I love they make the best pizza she smiled and said that sounds delicious I'm a big fan of Italian food too we Contin to talk about different Cuisines we enjoy food

and restaurants are always good conversation starters you can ask where's your favorite place to eat or do you prefer cooking at home or dining out if you were talking about restaurants how would you express your preferences maybe you'd say say I love Mexican food or I enjoy trying new restaurants these conversations help you practice discussing food and dining preferences oh mini a few days ago I was talking to a friend about our morning routines and she asked what do you usually do in the morning I replied I like to start my day with a cup

of coffee and some light stretching it helps me wake up and feel energized she said that sounds like a good way to start the day I usually go for a quick walk outside before breakfast we shared some tips for a productive morning and it was interesting to compare our routines morning routines are a common topic of conversation especially when talking to people who are looking to improve their productivity you might ask what time do you wake up or how do you get your day started if you were discussing your morning routine how would you describe

it maybe you'd say I like to meditate in the morning or I start with a healthy breakfast just last weekend I had a conversation with a colleague about career goals he asked what's your goal for the next few years I said I'm focusing on improving my skills and taking on more responsibilities at work he responded that's a great plan I'm working towards a promotion in my department we discussed our career paths and exchanged advice on professional growth career goals are something many people think about and discuss with colleagues or mentors you might ask what's your

dream job or where do you see yourself in 5 years if you were talking about your career goals how would you describe them maybe you'd say I want to start my own business or I'm aiming for a leadership position these types of conversations help you practice discussing your professional aspirations last night I was chatting with a friend about our travel dreams she asked if you could visit anywhere in the world where would you go I replied I'd love to visit Japan I've always been fascinated by its culture and history she said that sounds amazing I've

always wanted to go to Italy for the food and art we talked for a while about our Dream destinations and made a list of places we'd love to explore talking about travel is another great way to practice English as it involves discussing places cultures and experiences you might ask where do you want to go on vacation or have you traveled anywhere interesting recently if you were discussing travel how would you share your dream destination maybe you'd say I want to visit Paris someday or I've always wanted to go to Australia a couple of days ago

I was talking to a friend about technology and she asked have you tried any new gadgets lately I said yes I just got a new smartwatch and I'm really enjoying it it helps me track my fitness and stay connected she replied that sounds cool I'm thinking of getting a tablet to make reading easier we exchang thoughts on how technology makes life easier technology is a top that often comes up in conversations especially with friends or colleagues who share similar interests you might ask what's your favorite app or do you prefer using a laptop or a

tablet if you were talking about technology how would you describe your favorite Gadget maybe you'd say I love my noise cancelling headphones or I use my phone for everything just last week I was talking to a friend about music and she asked what kind of music do you listen to I replied I enjoy listening to Jazz and classical music when I'm relaxing she said that's nice I'm more into pop music and sometimes electronic beats we talked for a while about our favorite artists and concerts we'd love to attend music is an excellent topic for practicing

conversational English you might ask what's your favorite genre of music or do you like going to concerts if you were talking about music how would you describe your tastes maybe you'd say I'm into rock music or I love listening to Indie bands these com conversations help you practice describing your interests and preferences the other day I had a conversation with a friend about our favorite movies she asked have you seen any good movies recently I said yes I watched a really great Thriller last weekend it kept me on the edge of my seat she replied

I love Thrillers I'll have to check it out we spent the next few minutes discussing movie recommendations movies are a fun and popular topic to discuss with friends you might ask what's your favorite movie of all time or what kind of movies do you like if you were talking about films how would you share your thoughts maybe you'd say I love romantic comedies or I'm a fan of superhero movies these types of conversations allow you to practice speaking about entertainment and personal preferences just a few days ago I was at a friend's house and we

started talking about Home Improvement projects He asked have you done any Renovations at home recently I said yes I've been repainting my living room it was a big project but it looks great now he replied that's awesome I'm planning to install new shelves in my bedroom this weekend we shared some ideas for Home Improvements and exchanged tips Home Improvement is another great topic for conversation especially with friends or family who enjoy DIY projects you might ask have you redecorated your home lately or are you planning any home renovations if you were talking about your home

how would you describe your projects maybe you'd say I'm planning to repaint my kitchen or I'm building a new bookshelf these conversations help you practice discussing home and lifestyle topics recently I had a conversation with a colleague about our weekend plans she asked what are you doing this weekend I said I'm planning to go hiking with some friends the weather's supposed to be perfect for it she said that sounds like a lot of fun I'm going to visit my family and catch up with them we both shared our excitement for the weekend and talked about

the things we love to do during our free time weekend plans are something that comes up often in casual conversations you might ask do you have any fun plans for the weekend or what do you usually do on Saturdays if you were discussing your weekend plans how would you describe them maybe you'd say I'm going to a concert or I like to relax and watch movies these types of conversations help you practice talking about personal activities and time management the other day I was talking with a friend about our fitness goals she asked how do

you stay motivated to out I replied I set small goals for myself like trying to exercise for at least 30 minutes every day it helps me stay on track she said that's a great idea I like to track my progress too so I can see improvements we exchanged tips on staying motivated and shared our fitness routines Fitness is a topic that often comes up in conversations especially when people are discussing their health goals you might ask what's your Fitness routine like or how do you stay active if you were talking about your exercise habits how

would you describe them maybe you'd say I prefer running in the mornings or I do yoga every week these conversations are a great way to practice using health related vocabulary just the other day I had a conversation with a family member about our travel experience es they asked what's the best place you've ever visited I replied I absolutely loved my trip to Iceland the Landscapes are breathtaking and the people are so friendly they said that sounds incredible I've always wanted to visit Iceland we shared stories about our favorite travel memories and made a list of

destinations we want to visit next travel is a topic that can lead to engaging and informative conversations you might ask have you traveled anywhere interesting recently or what's your dream vacation destination if you were discussing your travel experiences how would you share them maybe you'd say I've been to Paris twice or I want to explore the beaches of Thailand these conversations are ideal for practicing descriptive language and discussing experiences a few days ago I was talking with a friend about our hobbies and she asked do you have any hobbies that help you relax I said

I love gardening it's really calming and helps me whed after a busy day she said that's wonderful I enjoy painting in my free time it's a great way to express creativity we talked for a while about the different hobbies that help us relax and recharge hobbies are a fantastic topic for casual conversations you might ask what do you like to do in your free time or do you have any hobbies you're passionate about if you were discussing your hobbies how would you describe them maybe you'd say I like to cook in my free time or

I enjoy playing sports these kinds of conversations are great for practicing vocabulary related to personal interests and activities just last week I was discussing my work with a colleague and he asked how do you manage your workload I replied I try to stay organized by making a list of tasks and prioritizing them it helps me stay focused he said that sounds like a good strategy I usually break my work into smaller tasks which makes it feel more manageable we shared some productivity tips and discussed how we handle busy schedules talking about work and productivity is

something that often comes up in professional conversations you might ask how do you stay organized at work or what's your strategy for meeting deadlines if you were discussing work habits how would you describe them maybe you'd say I use an app to track my tasks or I like to plan my day the night before these conversations are useful for practicing language related to work and organization the other day I had a conversation with a friend about our favorite TV shows she asked what show are you watching right now I replied I'm watching a crime drama

series it's really exciting and full of twists she said that sounds interesting I've been binge watching a comedy series it's so funny we talked for a while about our favorite episodes and characters TV shows are a common topic of conversation and they offer a great opportunity to practice speaking about entertainment you might ask what's your favorite TV series or do you prefer watching movies or TV shows if you were talking about TV shows how would you describe your preferences maybe you'd say I love historical dramas or I'm a big fan of science fiction series these

types of conversations can help you practice expressing opinions and discussing entertainment just the other day I was talking to a family member about our plans for the summer and she asked do you have any exciting plans for the summer I said I'm thinking of going on a road trip with friends we plan to visit a few national parks she replied that sounds amazing I'm planning to relax at home and spend time in my garden we exchanged ideas for summer activities and shared our excitement talking about future plans is a great way to practice using future

tenses and talking about goals you might ask what are you planning to do next summer or do you have any exciting vacations coming up if you were discussing your plans how would you express them maybe you'd say I'm planning a weekend getaway or I want to take a cooking class these conversations help you practice discussing your future intentions and aspirations I hope these stories and examples have given you some useful insights into real life English conversations by practicing these topics you can improve both your listening and speaking skills as well as build your confidence when

engaging in everyday interactions remember the more you expose yourself to English in different context the better you'll become at understanding and speaking the language so whether you're talking about your hobbies travel plans or career goals try to use what you've learn today to make your conversations flow more naturally keep listening practicing and most importantly have fun with it