Perfect Phrases for ESL Everyday Situations

Perfect Phrases for ESL Everyday Situations

Active Learning Advice:
Make Friends
Make friends—American friends or friends whose native language is different from yours. To do this, it will be necessary to communicate with each other in English. It will be difficult at first, but each time you meet, it will get easier. Start with a short, friendly visit of maybe five minutes, and then meet for a little longer each time you get together.
Where can you meet these friends?
image    At work
image    At your church, synagogue, mosque, or other place of worship
image    At a gym, health club, or spa
image    At a supermarket, grocery store, butcher shop, produce market, farmers’ market, flea market, garage sale, or house sale
image    At your child’s school, playground, after-school activity, or PTA or PTO meetings
image    In an ESL, computer, music appreciation, or any other class that may be of interest to you
image    In your neighborhood, where you live or work
image    At a volunteer or charitable organization, donating your time and help
image    On a bus, train, subway, or airplane
Practice speaking English out loud (aloud) with yourself. It will help you to have better conversations with other people. Listen to conversations others have—on TV, at work, or in any of the other places listed. What do you like? Use it. What don’t you understand? Ask or look it up.
Friendly Hint
There is a difference between a friend and an acquaintance. Forming friendships takes time. An acquaintance is someone you have met who may never be a friend or has not become a friend yet. That doesn’t mean you can’t practice saying, “Hi, nice to see you again. I saw you at the last PTA meeting.”
Chatting and small talk are terms for light conversations that are not about anything serious. You may say, “The weather is really cold this winter.” You don’t have to add a time and place for another meeting or anything more than a short comment.
Idioms and Other Vocabulary
After-school activity: something to do after classes for interest or fun, such as sports or special-interest clubs
Farmers’ market: a market where farmers sell their fruits and vegetables directly to customers
Flea market: a market where old, used, and low-priced new items are sold
Garage sale: a sale of used items from someone’s home held outside of the home in a garage, driveway, or yard
House sale: a sale of furniture and other items in a home, usually when someone is moving or has died and the family is emptying the home
Out loud (also aloud): to say or read in a normal voice but not silently or to yourself
Produce: fruits or vegetables
PTA, PTO: Parent-Teacher Association, Parent-Teacher Organization (Schools have one of these groups so parents and teachers can communicate, have meetings, and offer activities for the benefit of the school and the students.)
Shop: small store
Volunteer: involving people who offer time and talent for no payment
Worship: religious activity showing respect for a god or gods