Everyday Conversations
FoundationStart with a greeting, ask polite questions with Could/May/Would, and keep the talk going with replies and follow-ups.
- Open with Good morning + their name; introduce yourself: I am Karen, from Class 1B.
- Polite requests and questions: Could you tell me…? · May I…? · Would you like…?
- After replying, add a follow-up question (Do you play any sports?) to keep the talk alive
文體小知識：Ask, answer and keep it going.
§Text Passage
1It is the first day of term, and Karen meets a new student near the school gate.
2'Good morning! I am Karen, from Class 1B. Are you new to our school?' Karen asked. 'Yes, I am David, and I come from Guangzhou. This is my first day in Hong Kong,' he replied politely. 'Welcome to 1B! Your English is very good,' Karen said. 'Thank you. Could you tell me where the hall is? I must attend the opening ceremony,' David asked. 'Of course. It is the big building behind the car park. Which class are you in?' Karen answered. 'I am in 1B too! My seat is next to the window,' David said happily.
3'That is beside my seat! Shall we go together?' Karen suggested. 'Yes, please. Sorry, but I must buy a timetable planner first. Where is the bookshop?' David replied. 'It is beside the canteen on the ground floor. We can go after the ceremony,' Karen said. 'Good idea. What time does the ceremony start?' David asked. 'At nine o'clock. We still have twenty minutes. Would you like to sit with us in the canteen at lunch?' Karen asked. 'Yes, I would love to. Sorry, but I do not know anyone here except you,' David answered.
4'No problem. My friends are all friendly. Do you play any sports?' Karen asked. 'I play basketball every weekend. Do you?' David asked back. 'Sometimes! Then we can join the team together. See you at twelve thirty!' Karen said, and she waved goodbye. 'Sure. Thank you for your help! Hong Kong is very kind so far!' David smiled.
§Sentence-by-sentence translation Sentence-by-sentence translation
It is the first day of term, and Karen meets a new student near the school gate.
開學第一日，Karen 在校門口附近遇到一個新同學。
'Good morning! I am Karen, from Class 1B. Are you new to our school?' Karen asked.
Karen 問：「早晨！我叫 Karen，是 1B 班的。你是不是新來我們學校的？」
'Yes, I am David, and I come from Guangzhou. This is my first day in Hong Kong,' he replied politely.
那位男生有禮貌地答：「是的，我叫 David，由廣州來。今天是我來香港的第一天。」
'Welcome to 1B! Your English is very good,' Karen said.
Karen 說：「歡迎來 1B！你英文很好。」
'Thank you. Could you tell me where the hall is? I must attend the opening ceremony,' David asked.
David 問：「多謝。可不可以告訴我禮堂在哪裡？我要去開學禮。」
'Of course. It is the big building behind the car park. Which class are you in?' Karen answered.
Karen 答：「當然可以。就在停車場後面那座大樓。你是哪一班的？」
'I am in 1B too! My seat is next to the window,' David said happily.
David 很開心地說：「我也是 1B 班的！我的座位在窗邊。」
'That is beside my seat! Shall we go together?' Karen suggested.
Karen 提議：「那就在我座位旁邊！我們一起去吧？」
'Yes, please. Sorry, but I must buy a timetable planner first. Where is the bookshop?' David replied.
David 答：「好，謝謝。不過我要先去買本時間表簿。書店在哪裡？」
'It is beside the canteen on the ground floor. We can go after the ceremony,' Karen said.
Karen 說：「在地下食堂旁邊。開學禮之後我們可以去買。」
'Good idea. What time does the ceremony start?' David asked.
David 問：「好主意。開學禮幾點開始？」
'At nine o'clock. We still have twenty minutes. Would you like to sit with us in the canteen at lunch?' Karen asked.
Karen 問：「九點鐘。我們還有二十分鐘。你想不想中午同我們一起在食堂坐？」
'Yes, I would love to. Sorry, but I do not know anyone here except you,' David answered.
David 答：「想，我很想。不好意思，在這裡除了你之外我誰都不認識。」
'No problem. My friends are all friendly. Do you play any sports?' Karen asked.
Karen 問：「沒有問題。我的朋友個個都很友善。你有沒有玩運動？」
'I play basketball every weekend. Do you?' David asked back.
David 反問：「我每個週末都打籃球。你呢？」
'Sometimes! Then we can join the team together. See you at twelve thirty!' Karen said, and she waved goodbye.
Karen 說：「有時玩！那麼我們可以一起加入校隊。十二點半見！」講完她就揮手道別。
'Sure. Thank you for your help! Hong Kong is very kind so far!' David smiled.
David 笑著說：「好。多謝你幫我！香港到目前為止都很有人情味！」
1Summary 重點摘要
Start with a greeting, ask polite questions with Could/May/Would, and keep the talk going with replies and follow-ups.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Hello, good morning.
My name is...
Goodbye, see you.
Please, thank you.
Can I...?
Sorry.
Well done!
Talk about weather.
3Step by step Steps
- GreetOpen with Good morning: 'Good morning! I am Karen, from Class 1B. Are you new to our school?' — one greeting, one question.
- IntroduceName plus origin: 'Yes, I am David, and I come from Guangzhou. This is my first day in Hong Kong.' Answer praise with a simple Thank you.
- FarewellAdd a time to be concrete: 'See you at twelve thirty!' 'Thank you for your help!' — before you wave goodbye.
- Polite questionsCould you tell me…? May I…? Would you like…? Example: 'Could you tell me where the hall is? I must attend the opening ceremony.'
- Asking directionsAsk: Where is the bookshop? Answer: It is beside the canteen on the ground floor. Know beside, behind and ground floor.
- Follow-up questionsAnswer, then ask back: 'Do you play any sports?' 'I play basketball every weekend. Do you?' That is how a conversation keeps going.
- Invitations and apologiesWould you like to sit with us at lunch? — Yes, I would love to. Apologise with Sorry, but…: 'Sorry, but I must buy a timetable planner first.'
4Diagrams Diagrams
5Worked example Example
Task: a new student, David, joins your school today. Start a conversation at the gate — greet him, answer his questions and invite him to lunch.
- Step 1: Greet + introduce yourself — Good morning! I am Karen, from Class 1B. Are you new to our school?
- Step 2: Answer politely and helpfully — Of course. The hall is the big building behind the car park.
- Step 3: Add a welcome or a compliment — Welcome to 1B! Your English is very good.
- Step 4: Keep the talk alive with follow-up questions — Would you like to sit with us at lunch? Do you play any sports?
- Step 5: Say goodbye with a time — See you at twelve thirty!
- Answer: 'Good morning! I am Karen, from Class 1B. Are you new to our school?' 'Yes, I am David. Could you tell me where the hall is?' 'Of course. It is the big building behind the car park. Would you like to sit with us at lunch?' 'Yes, I would love to. Where is the canteen?' 'It is beside the bookshop on the ground floor. Do you play any sports?' 'I play basketball every weekend.' 'Great! Then we can join the team together. See you at twelve thirty!'
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1What do you say in the morning?
Q2What do you say when you leave?
Q3What do you say to ask politely?
Q4What do you say to apologise?
Q5What is small talk?
8Recap Recap
- Open with Good morning + their name; introduce yourself: I am Karen, from Class 1B.
- Polite requests and questions: Could you tell me…? · May I…? · Would you like…?
- After replying, add a follow-up question (Do you play any sports?) to keep the talk alive
- Asking the way: Where is the canteen? — It is beside the bookshop on the ground floor.
- Say goodbye with a time to be specific: See you at twelve thirty!