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Hey there highle listeners. Welcome back. We're back with another English conversation and spoken English class so you can learn real small talk with two real English teachers today. Let's make some friends and get to know people a little bit better. If you're practicing speaking English more fluently at home, you can shadow and practice with us. >> Yes, absolutely. Hi everyone. Thanks for joining us here on High Level Listening and we want to help you build your confidence and your fluency in real English conversations and with real speaking. I'm Mark from the UK and like always you can follow along if you want to study British English and if you prefer American English, you can follow me. So we'll show you some great questions you can ask people and some easy naturally spoken questions that will keep the conversation going in full and natural English dialogues. Yes. Uh, one last thing. If you want to get all these conversation transcripts, vocabulary lists, and a dictionary in PDFs, you can check out the product in our PayP store. Or if you're a highle listening vocabulary member here on YouTube, you can get access to the download by joining us as a vocabulary member and checking the community. We'll post a link in there. Okay, so let's hear our first conversation. You're talking to a co-orker or a colleague at work and you want to get to know them a little bit better. Maybe this is during your lunch break or you're at a work event or maybe after work drinks. So, I'll start the conversation. So, Mark, what do you usually do outside of work? >> Uh, I actually run a small baking business from home on the weekends. >> No way, really. Oh, that's really interesting. How did you get into that? >> Well, uh, it started as a hobby during lockdown and then friends began placing orders. >> That's great. Do you still enjoy it even now that it's a business? >> Yeah, maybe even more now, especially when people come back for more. >> That's really cool. That must keep you super busy. So, let's go through it line by line so we can help you with some of these phrases. This would be a good time to practice your spoken English because you can repeat after me and I'll go a little bit slower. The first line, so what do you usually do outside of work? So, what do you usually do outside of work? This is a good question to kind of get to know somebody a little bit better outside of work. Because if I say, "What do you usually do?" It sounds like what? Uh, I type on the computer. I go to meetings. I network. Oh, I meant outside of work, right? So, that's a good question to ask. >> The response was, I actually run a small baking business from home on the weekends. So, yes, I'm telling Cat what I do that is not my regular job. I think that maybe this is surprising or interesting. So, actually, I actually run a small baking business. Maybe again I think that's not what cat would expect or maybe it's a little bit unusual. So if you have a funny or an interesting story actually I actually run a small baking business from home on the weekends because Mark used some the word actually. I'm kind of hearing for something and then oh that is interesting. No way really. So this shows that I'm interested in Mark's conversation. No way really. Really? That's a good way to show that I'm listening to Mark and I'm interested. And then on top of that, no way really. That's really interesting. Now, sometimes we say interesting or we can say interesting. That's really interesting. Now, I want to keep the conversation going. How did you get into that? This is a very simple way to say how did you start doing that? How did you get into that? How did you get into that? >> Well, it started as a hobby during lockdown and then friends began placing orders. So, Cat asked, "How did you get into that? How did you start?" It started or the business, the idea started as a hobby. So, I only did it for fun and it started during lockdown. Lockdown is that COVID period where you couldn't go outside. And then friends began placing orders. Placing orders. They started ordering. They wanted more of my cookies, pastries, bread, the things I sell. That's great. Do you still enjoy it even now that it's a business? This is kind of a good conversational topic because I feel like our generation, we always want to make money. Uh, so sometimes we turn our passions or our hobbies into a money-making machine. So I would say, "Wow, that's great." Again, I'm hearing I'm hearing what you're saying. I'm listening, right? Oh, that's great. Do you still enjoy it? Do you still enjoy it? So if someone is a likes painting and starts to sell their paintings, or if someone does some video editing for fun and then turns it into a job, do you still enjoy it even now that it's a business? Yeah, maybe even more now, especially when people come back for more. So, yes, as Cat said, if you turn a hobby into a business, sometimes it stops becoming fun because it becomes a job. And when there's money involved, it can change your relationship with it. But actually, yeah, even more now. I enjoy it even more now. So, I enjoy the hobby or enjoy my baking business more than before when it was a hobby. Especially when people come back for more. So, people try my pastries, they love them, and then they come back. That's very satisfying. >> I was actually almost going to use that in the script. I said, "Oh, that must be really satisfying." >> So, that would be a natural way if you had told me that. Or I could say something like, "Oh, that's really cool. That must keep you super busy. Now, you might kind of notice that as I'm becoming more and more friends with Mark, I'm becoming a little bit more casual. So, I started out with, "Oh, that's really interesting. That sounds like a little bit more formal." But by the end, I said, "Wow, that's really cool." And the word cool is very casual. It's, you know, that's really nice. Oh, that's really cool. It's because we're sort of learning a little bit more about each other and we're becoming a bit more acquainted. Okay. So, that's really cool. That must keep you super busy. That must keep you super busy. I mean, he's got work that we normally know each other 9 to5, 40 hours a week, and he's got this extra job as well. That must keep you super busy is also a really good way to keep the conversation going. If someone is telling you about something interesting, a hobby, a business, you can say, "Oh, that must be interesting." Or, "That must be fun. That must be hard. Oh, that must be unusual." If you want to comment on what someone's saying and just keep the conversation going, that must be is a really good way to do it. >> And remember that that must is kind of like saying I'm sure. Oh, I'm sure. that keeps you super busy. Oh, that must keep you super busy. All right, let's hear that conversation all the way through once more at the regular speed. >> Hey, Mark. So, what do you usually do outside of work? >> I actually run a small baking business from home on the weekends. >> No way. Really? That's really interesting. How did you get into that? >> Well, it started as a hobby during lockdown and then friends began placing orders. Oh, that's great. Do you still enjoy it even now that it's a business? >> Yeah, maybe even more now. Especially when people come back for more. >> That's really cool. That must keep you super busy. >> Okay, let's move on to the second conversation. Again, we're trying to get to know people a bit better. Maybe you already know who they are, where they're from, and what they do, but you want to just go a bit deeper. So imagine that you get invited into someone's home for dinner or just for a get together and then of course that's a great opportunity to get to know the host or other people a little bit better. Let's go through a conversation. You've got such a beautiful home. How long have you lived around here? >> Well, about 3 years now, but I only finished the garden and the balcony last month. >> Okay. Did you do all the work yourself? >> Most of it. I had to learn it on the go, mostly from YouTube. >> Well, yeah, that's impressive. Was it a lot of work? >> Definitely. But it was worth it to finally have a place to sit outside. >> Okay, so let's go through that conversation one more time. A very nice complimentary thing you can say when you visit someone else's home is, "Wow, you've got such a beautiful home." Or, "This is a beautiful home." Beautiful and home often come together. It's a compliment that people love to hear and it's an easy one you can say when you visit someone's house. Maybe they have a nice decoration. Maybe it's quite spacious or comfortable. Nice furniture and lots of nice comfortable things. They've got such a beautiful home. How long have you lived around here? How long have you lived around here? It's a way to keep the conversation going. How many years or how much time have you been in this house? It's unusual because if I say, "How long have you been in this house?" That sounds kind of weird. It sounds like I'm very interested in where you live specifically. But to make that a bit more softer and a bit more friendlier, around here, we'll make it less specific. How long have you lived around here? is in this neighborhood or in this area. So, we soften the question a little bit so it's not so personal or invasive. So, you've got such a beautiful home. How long have you lived around here? >> 3 years now, but I only finished the garden and the balcony last month. Okay, so I didn't actually give a full sentence. He asked me, "How long have you lived around here?" And I could say, "I've lived around here about 3 years." But I kind we we know that's the that's the answer. So I'm going to drop this the subject and the verb and I'm just going to say, "Yeah, about 3 years now." About four years now. Meaning up until this point, it's been 3 years. Right? It's been 3 years. But I only finished the garden and the balcony last month. It's really funny how often if you have your own home, it is funny. We always like to talk about the upgrades or the things that we're working on to make the house even better. And it is a good way to continue the conversation. It's like, "Oh, uh, we just upgraded the kitchen or we just got this new patio set or I just found this beautiful art piece for the wall." We always like to continue the conversation a little bit like that. So I said, "But I only finished the garden and the balcony last month, so that's something new for my house." >> I said, "Oh, did you do all the work yourself?" Cat said, "I only finished the garden and balcony." So, wow. Okay. Did you do all the work yourself? Again, some people like to DIY, do it yourself, buy the tools and fix or upgrade or build something by themselves to save money or just because they enjoy it. So, if you think someone has done some renovations or upgrades on their own, did you do all the work yourself? I sound impressed by this because I said yourself. Did you do that yourself? Did you do all this yourself? If you're impressed by someone's handiwork or their skill or their effort, you can uh emphasize that you're impressed. Did you do all the work yourself? Wow. >> And it is a really good way to be impressed because I I'm proud of the work that I did. So, I want to share that I was very handy myself and I did it myself. And so, I said, "Yeah, most of it. I had to learn it on the go, mostly from YouTube." So, usually DIY things, you think you're going to start a project and it's going to be so easy, but I had to learn it on the go, which means that anytime I had a problem, I had to go to YouTube and then there's the next problem. Oh gosh, I've got to go back to YouTube. So, I learned it on the go. I didn't study beforehand. When I had a problem, I solved that problem. So, I learned it on the go mostly from YouTube. >> That's impressive. Was it a lot of work? So again before, did you do all the work yourself? I sound impressed and then I actually said it. That's impressive. So I'm impressed. But that's impressive. The work is impressive. Was it a lot of work? As in, did you have to do a lot of things? Did it take a lot of time? Was it a lot of work? I'm trying to get Cat to say more about her project. >> Definitely. But it was worth it to finally have a place to sit outside. Okay. So, I am kind of leading into kind of the end of the conversation, but we could probably still pick it up. It was worth it. So, was it a lot of work? Yes. But it was worth it. Meaning, all that work, I got a good reward, right? It was worth it to finally have a place to sit outside. If Mark wanted to continue this conversation, he's like, "Oh, I absolutely love it. It's so nice out here." and you would just kind of keep talking like that. So, that would be very interesting. >> So, we'll go through the conversation once more. You've got such a beautiful home. How long have you lived around here? >> About 3 years now, but I only finished the garden and the balcony last month. >> Oh, wow. Okay. Did you do all the work yourself? >> Most of it. I had to learn a lot on the go, mostly from YouTube. >> Wow, that's impressive. Was it a lot of work? Definitely. But it was worth it to finally have a place to sit outside. All right. So, the last conversation that we have is a good way to talk about your hobbies and your interests, especially if you're taking a class together or someone is talking to you about their hobbies. Now, this one is going to be Mark and I are at a painting class. Now, this might be new for both of us or it's our second or third painting class and we keep seeing each other. So, I say to Mark, "So, what got you into painting?" >> Uh, I guess I just needed something to switch off from work. >> Yeah, that makes sense. Is it something you do every day? >> I wish. I I usually just find time on the weekends, if that. >> Yeah, fair enough. What kind of stuff do you usually paint? >> Uh, mostly landscapes, though, I'm not very good at trees yet. All right. So, it's kind of interesting because Mark's not really giving me a lot to go on, so I'm I keep asking questions, trying to get more out of it, right? >> In the middle of painting. >> So, yeah, exactly. So, uh that's okay though. Um let's start with the first question. What got you into painting? Meaning, how did you start liking painting? What got you into painting? You could say, "What got you into exercise?" or "What got you into cycling?" or "What got you into healthy eating?" So, you can use this for almost any hobby, any interest. And it's a very good way to ask, "How did you start doing that? That's so interesting. What got you into painting?" >> I guess I needed something to switch off from work, I guess. So, maybe I haven't really thought about it. Or maybe no one's asked me that before. Uh, I guess I needed something to switch off from work. To switch off means I can clear my mind and don't think about it. Maybe my job or my work is really busy and hectic, but painting is relaxing and calming and I'm not thinking about work while I'm painting. So, I just need something to switch off from work. >> That makes sense. Is it something you do every day? So, I'm agreeing with Mark. That makes sense. Meaning, I understand. That's logical. That makes sense. Is it something you do every day? A lot of people when they do their hobbies, they might want to do it. Uh, or they're very good at it. So, maybe you think, "Oh, is it something you do every day?" >> I wish. I usually just find time on the weekends, if that. So, I wish. Yeah. So, I don't do it every day, unfortunately. But I wish I wish I could. I wish I could paint every day. But I usually just find time on the weekends. Like find time. Maybe I have to schedule it or I have to stop or avoid doing other things to make time on the weekends. If that. So, sometimes there are weekends where I can't do it. Maybe some weekends I'm still busy doing errands or taking care of family. So I usually just find time on the weekends if that. >> Fair enough. What kind of stuff do you usually paint? >> So Mark is giving me a little bit more. A little bit more. So I'm still interested. So um I'm kind of saying these phrases that makes sense. Fair enough. These are a little bit more neutral. So, I'm not like impressed by his answers and I'm not giving him really positive feedback. Oh, fair enough. Fair enough is a good way to say that Mark kind of gave me a little bit of a negative answer. You know, oh, I usually find the time on the weekends if that, right? He's disappointed. He doesn't have enough time. So, I just said fair enough. It's kind of similar to that makes sense or I understand. It's oh, I know how you feel. I understand that happens. We get busy, like you said. Fair enough. What kind of stuff do you usually paint? Now, we could say, "What kind of things?" But we're getting a little more casual here. So, what kind of stuff do you usually paint? We could even use this with what kind of stuff do you usually read? What kind of stuff do you usually like? Uh things like that. We can use that word stuff, which means things in different activities as well. Uh, mostly landscapes, though I'm not very good at trees yet. So, what kind of stuff do you usually paint? Mostly landscapes. Landscapes is paintings of nature, trees, fields, gardens. Though, I'm not very good at trees yet. Though, or but I'm not very good at painting trees yet. Maybe that's why I'm taking the class to learn how to paint trees. All right. So, let's go ahead and listen to the conversation once more. >> So, Mark, what got you into painting? >> Uh, I guess I needed something to switch off from work. >> That makes sense. Is it something you do every day? >> Oh, I wish. I usually just find time on the weekends, if that. >> Fair enough. What kind of stuff do you usually paint? uh mostly landscapes, though we're not very good at trees yet. >> Okay, so we've got some extra phrases for you guys um after all of the dialogues. This just might help you uh to have a little bit of a list in case you want to get to know people better, keep the conversation going. >> So, what do you usually do outside of work? >> How long have you lived around here? >> So, what got you into painting? Have you been doing this for a long time? Have you been coming here for a long time? >> Next, we have a list of followup questions. These are questions you can ask to keep the conversation going and keep going deeper into a hobby or an activity. So, you could start the conversation and then ask, "How did you get into that?" >> A similar question, but with a little bit of different grammar. What got you into that? Was it hard to get the hang of it? >> Was it a lot of work? >> Did you do all the work by yourself? >> Is it something you do every day? >> Would you recommend it? >> What kind of stuff do you usually bake? All right. So, there you go. Some friendly, natural small talk conversations and a great list of questions that you can ask people in English the next time you want to get to know someone better. >> Yes. So tell us in the comments below which questions were new for you or were there any that you liked the most or have you used any of these before. We read and reply to every single comment we get here on YouTube. So get in touch and there's two ways for you guys to get all of these dialogues. You can check out our PayHip store in the link below and that gives you all the phrases from all of our small talk conversations or you can join us as a highle listening vocabulary member here on YouTube and you get a list of all the small talk dialogues from today and you can practice, review and build your confidence step by step. Thanks so much everybody. We'll see you again very soon for another episode here on High Level Listening. >> Bye-bye.