Conversation Practice

Act out the following dialogues and make up yours on the basis of the given:

1. The Family Photo Album

Mary and Peter decide to look at the family photograph album.

Peter: Where’s the photo album, Mary?

Mary: It’s in the left-hand drawer in the sideboard.

P: Ah, here it is. Now shall we start?

M: Here’s an old Photo of Mother and Father. They were rather a nice couple, weren’t they?

P: No doubt. It’s a pity people get old, isn’t it?

M: And that’s you, when you were a month old.

P: Let me have a look. Oh, yes, I suppose so.

M: What a funny little creature you were! And this is you again at the age of five, playing with a dog.

P: Look! That’s you, isn’t it? You weren’t very beautiful yourself – a fat little girl with short pigtails and a snub nose.

M: Look at this photograph! Do you recognize anybody?

P: Here’s aunt Margaret and uncle John. And that’s their son David.

M: Where is David? Which is he?

P: That one there. He is very tall, taller than his father.

M: That’s it. And this is his younger brother Mike. He has long curly hair.

P: I wonder who is sitting next to him. The girl is holding such a nice big doll. Isn’t she Helen?

M: You’re right. But where is aunt Margaret’s elder son Bob?

P: He’s probably taking the photo.

2. Introducing people to the members of the family

(An evening party at the Browns’ place)

Mike: Hello, Sam, nice of you to come. Take off your coat, will you. You haven’t met my mother yet, have you?

Sam: No, I haven’t had the pleasure, but I’ve met your father, don’t you remember?

M: Oh, yes, of course. Ah, there’s Mother. Mum, this is Sam Williams, a friend from the college.

S: How do you do, Mrs. Brown?

Mrs. B: How do you do? Glad to meet you.

Mr. B: Good evening, Sam. This is Sam, isn’t it?

M: Yes, Dad, you met Sam at the college last month.

Mr. B: Oh, yes, of course, how are you?

S: Good evening, Mr. Brown. I’m fine, thank you. And how are you?

Mr. B: Not too bad, my boy, not too bad. Let me introduce you to my daughter. Oh, where’s she gone? She was here a moment ago. There she is! Ellen, come over here. This is Sam Williams, Mike’s friend. Take care of him, will you?

Ellen: With pleasure, Dad. How do you do?

S: How do you do? Haven’t I seen you somewhere before?

E: No, I don’t think so.

S: But your face is so familiar. Wait a second… I know… We were on the same train to London last week.

E: Right. Now I remember. What a coincidence!

S: Well, you know what they say – it’s a small world.

Build up a short conversation around the phrase “It’s a small world”

3. Visiting an English Home

Simon: Sorry, Mrs. Cannon, we have been delayed – this is my friend Alec.

Mrs. Cannon: How do you do, Alec?

Alec: How do you do, Mrs. Cannon?

Mrs. C: Please, come in. Take off your coats. We’ll go into the sitting-room.

S: You have got a very nice flat, Mrs. Cannon.

Mrs. C: Thank you, I’m glad you like my home.

Alec: Well, it was very kind of you, Mrs. Cannon, to invite us to tea.

Mrs. C: Please help yourself to some bread and butter. Would you like some milk?

S: Thank you, Mrs. Cannon. Bread and butter will do. We are not accustomed to drinking tea with milk.

Alec: Mrs. Cannon, have you got children who go to school?

Mrs. C: Yes, we’ve got two. Jane and Thomas, aged two and five. But only Thomas goes to school.

Alec: Does Thomas go to school at the age of five? Our children start at the age of six.

Mrs. C: Why, yes, all our children go to school at the age of five. Thomas goes to an infant school. We want him to attend a secondary grammar school so that he can study after he has got the General Certificate of Education.