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Lesson
A2ENThe Office Party: How to Keep a Conversation Going
Practise follow-up questions, echoing and reactions like "That's great!" and "That's awful!" at a company party where you don't know anyone. Learn the simple tricks native speakers use to keep any conversation alive — then survive awkward silences, a talkative boss and a colleague who only says "yes". A practical A2 English lesson on conversation skills, present simple questions and small talk at work. Ideal for adult learners, English tutors, and language schools.
How this lesson works
Students participate
Students interact directly with the lesson — responding, speaking, solving tasks, making decisions and joining activities.
You see what is happening
See student responses, answers, mistakes and activity in real time where supported.
You guide the experience
Guide the lesson, manage activities and timing, and respond to what students are doing where supported.
Everyone participates
Students actively contribute and interact instead of simply consuming lesson content.
Speaking Challenge. Just Talk!
Speaking Challenge
A topic appears on the screen. Talk about it with your partner for 2–3 minutes. Try to keep the conversation going — don't stop! After the conversation, discuss: Was it easy or difficult? What did you do when you didn't know what to say?
Content Block. Kate’s First Party
Content Block
Mark: Hi! You're new here, right? I'm Mark, from IT. Kate: Hi, Mark. I'm Kate. Yes, it's my second week. I work in marketing. Mark: Marketing? That's interesting! Do you like it? Kate: Yes, I do! But I get up at 6 am every day. I live really far away. Mark: 6 am? That's terrible! How do you get here? Kate: By train. It takes an hour and a half. Mark: An hour and a half! What do you do on the train? Kate: I usually read or learn Spanish. Mark: Spanish? That's great! Why Spanish? Kate: I go to Spain every summer. I love it there. Mark: Speaking of summer, what do you think about the new holiday rules? Kate: Hmm, I don't know them. What are they? Mark: We can work from home in August! Kate: Really? That's fantastic! By the way, who is that man by the window? Mark: Oh, that's our boss. Come on, let's say hello!
Discussion questions
- How does Mark keep the conversation going? Find 3 ways.
- Mark often repeats Kate's words: "Marketing?", "6 am?" Why does he do it?
- How does Mark show that he is interested?
- How does Kate change the topic at the end? Which words help her?
- Do you usually ask follow-up questions when you talk to new people?
- Kate works in IT.False
- Kate gets up at 6 am.True
- Kate goes to work by car.False
- Kate learns Spanish on the train.True
- Workers can work from home in August.True
- Kate goes to Spain every winter.False
Lesson Board
Lesson Board
Sorting. Conversation Tricks
Sorting
Echoing:
Follow-up question:
Showing interest:
Changing the topic:
Multiple Choice. What’s the Best Reply?
Multiple Choice
Your colleague says: "I have a meeting at 6 am tomorrow." What's the best reply?
- That's great! Why so early?
- That's awful! Why so early?
- Oh, I have a meeting too.
- By the way, do you like coffee?
Your colleague says: "I play tennis every Saturday." What's the best reply?
- Do you play every Saturday?
- OK. I don't play tennis.
- Tennis? Where do you play?
- That's a shame. Where do you play?
Your colleague says: "My car is broken again." What's the best reply?
- Is your car broken?
- Oh no! How do you get to work now?
- That's fantastic! How do you get to work?
- Speaking of cars, I want a new one.
Your colleague says: "I'm learning to cook Japanese food." What's the best reply?
- Japanese food? What can you cook?
- Do you learn to cook Japanese food?
- I usually eat Italian food.
- That's terrible. What can you cook?
Your colleague says: "I work in sales." What's the best reply?
- Oh, OK. Nice.
- That's a shame. What do you sell?
- I work in marketing.
- Sales? What do you sell?
Your colleague says: "I love summer. I always go to the sea." You want to change the topic. What's the best reply?
- The sea? That's awful!
- By the way, my boss is very strict.
- Speaking of the sea, do you like fish?
- Anyway, what time is it?
Your colleague says: "My dog sleeps in my bed every night." What's the best reply?
- Does your dog sleep in bed?
- I don't have a dog.
- Your dog? That's terrible!
- Really? Do you like it?
Word Bank. Ask for More
Word Bank
___ do you usually go hiking? — In the mountains. ___ does your sister go to the gym? — Three times a week. ___ music do you like? — Rock and jazz. ___ your partner work from home? — Yes, she does. ___ do you live with? — With my parents. ___ does it take you to get to work? — About 40 minutes. Why ___ you like your job? — Because my colleagues are great. What time ___ your working day start? — At 9 am.
DoesWhereHow longWhat kind ofHow oftenWhododoes
Drama Event. The Office Party
Drama Event
Scenario
It's Friday evening. Your company has a big party, and you don't know many people. Your mission: keep every conversation going for at least 2 minutes! The tutor pulls event cards — a new person comes, or something happens. Use the tricks from the lesson: echo, ask follow-up questions, react and change the topic.
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wordlist
Marketing? / Every day? / In Japan? How often do you...? / Where do you usually...? / Why do you...? That's great! / That's interesting! / That's fantastic! That's terrible! / That's awful! / That's a shame! By the way, ... / Speaking of..., ... What do you think about...? Nice to talk to you! See you on Monday!
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Twist
A new colleague joins you. They only answer "Yes" or "No". Ask follow-up questions and get at least 5 real answers!
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Pressure
Your boss joins the conversation and says: "I go fishing every weekend." Keep him talking for 2 minutes!
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Conflict
A colleague says: "I think working from home is terrible." You don't agree. Ask why, give your opinion and change the topic politely.
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Revelation
A colleague tells you: "I have a second job — I'm a DJ at night!" Show interest and find out 3 details.
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Constraint
No yes/no questions from now! Use only Wh- questions: what, where, when, how often, why.
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Crisis
Awkward silence! Nobody says anything. Start a new topic with "By the way..." or "Speaking of..."
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Opportunity
The HR manager says: "We're planning a team trip next month." Ask questions and share your ideas.
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Decision
A colleague talks only about their cat — for 5 minutes! Change the topic politely, but don't be rude.
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Why Edugine?
Turn your lessons into experiences.
Edugine helps tutors create and run live learning experiences where students actively participate, interact and collaborate — while tutors see what students are doing and guide the lesson in real time.