E7 M - Keep a conversation going naturally

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E7 M - Keep a conversation going naturally

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E7 M - Keep a conversation going naturally

Mini-Beschreibung: Reagiere auf Deine Gesprächspartner, stelle passende follow-up questions und knüpfe mit kurzen Kommentaren an. Du übst kurze, natürliche Gespräche auf Englisch auf M-Niveau, Klasse 7: erst verstehen und ausprobieren, dann mit wenig Hilfe selbst sprechen.

Fiktive Personen: Alle Namen und Profile in diesem Kurs sind erfunden.

Sicher lernen: Sprachaufnahmen sind freiwillig und bleiben privat. Lade keine Aufnahmen ungefragt hoch. Nutze keine externen KI-Dienste ohne Erlaubnis. KI-Feedback musst Du prüfen; es soll Deinen eigenen Text oder Deine eigene Sprechleistung nicht ersetzen.

Einleitung

This course is mainly in English. Try first. Use pictures, context and English hints before you ask for German help.

A good conversation is not a list of questions. You listen, react, add a short comment and ask a useful follow-up question.

Core pattern:

Listen → React → Comment → Follow up

Example:

A: “I joined the school band last week.” B: “Really? That sounds fun. What do you play?” A: “The drums.” B: “Nice! What was your first rehearsal like?”

Der Kurs orientiert sich am Bildungsplan Baden-Württemberg für Englisch als erste Fremdsprache, Klassen 7–9. Im M-Niveau sollen Lernende Gespräche beginnen, fortführen und beenden sowie fragen, nachfragen, zustimmen, ablehnen und bekräftigen können: Bildungsplan Baden-Württemberg – Sprechen: an Gesprächen teilnehmen.

I can ...

1. I can react to what another person says.
2. I can ask follow-up questions about familiar topics.
3. I can add a short comment before my next question.
4. I can keep a short conversation going for about 60–90 seconds.
5. I can ask for clarification when I do not understand.
6. I can give brief feedback on whether a conversation sounds natural and understandable.

Vorwissen: Quick start

Work with a partner. Speak for 30 seconds about one topic: weekend, music, sport, games, food or school.

Your partner may only use these three moves:

1. “Really?”
2. “That sounds ...”
3. “What ...?”

Then switch roles.

English first: Do not prepare full sentences in German.

Need one German hint? Eine follow-up question ist eine Anschlussfrage, die direkt zu dem passt, was die andere Person gerade gesagt hat.

Notice: What keeps a conversation alive?

Read the dialogue.

Maya: I went climbing on Saturday. Leo: Really? Where did you go? Maya: To a small climbing centre near town. Leo: Cool. Was it difficult? Maya: At first, yes. But then it got easier. Leo: Nice! Would you go again?

Notice: Leo does not change the topic. His questions grow from Maya’s answers.

Try: Underline mentally or on paper:

1. one reaction
2. one short comment
3. two follow-up questions

Understand: Four useful conversation moves

Move	Useful English	Job
React	Really? / Oh, nice! / No way! / That sounds great.	Show that you listened.
Comment	I like that too. / That sounds difficult. / I know what you mean.	Connect your idea to the speaker.
Follow up	What happened next? / Why do you like it? / How often do you do that?	Help the other person continue.
Clarify	Sorry, what do you mean? / Could you say that again?	Repair a misunderstanding.

Rule: One reaction + one comment + one follow-up question often sounds more natural than three questions in a row.

Listening and Viewing 1: Follow-up questions

Watch once without stopping. Focus on the speakers’ reactions and questions.

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Fortfahren Ausblenden

First viewing:

1. What are the speakers talking about?
2. Which question makes the other person say more?
3. Which short reaction shows interest?

Second viewing: Use English subtitles if you need them. Write down two useful chunks, not whole sentences.

Hint: Listen for short words before the next question: “Really?”, “Oh”, “Nice”, “So ...”

German help only if needed: Achte darauf, wie eine kurze Reaktion direkt in eine Anschlussfrage übergeht.

Listening and Viewing 2: Active listening

Watch a selected part of the video, especially the section on open questions and active listening.

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Fortfahren Ausblenden

Task: Choose one strategy from the video and test it in your next 60-second pair talk.

Challenge: Explain in one English sentence why your strategy helps a conversation.

Listening and Viewing 3: Optional practice

This video gives more examples of keeping a conversation going. Use it as an extra listening challenge.

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Fortfahren Ausblenden

M-level viewing routine:

1. First: listen for the main idea.
2. Second: note three useful phrases.
3. Third: use one phrase in your own conversation.

Do not try to understand every word.

Reading: A natural conversation

Read this short dialogue. The speakers are fictional.

Sam: I started a new basketball club this month. Ava: Oh, nice! How often do you train? Sam: Twice a week. Ava: That sounds busy. Do you enjoy it? Sam: Yes, especially the team games. Ava: I know what you mean. What position do you usually play? Sam: Point guard. Ava: Cool. What do you like about that position?

Reading check:

1. Which line is a reaction?
2. Which line is a comment?
3. Which question connects directly to “team games”?
4. Why does the conversation not sound like an interview?

Hint: Look for a line where Ava briefly shares her own connection before asking again.

Vocabulary in context

Datei:Icon Person and question - RWiC.png

Learn chunks, not single words.

Situation	Useful chunk
You are interested.	That sounds interesting.
You are surprised.	Really? / No way!
You want more detail.	What happened next?
You want a reason.	Why do you think that?
You want an example.	Can you give me an example?
You did not understand.	What do you mean?
You need repetition.	Could you say that again?
You connect your idea.	I know what you mean.

Mini-try: Choose four chunks. Say them aloud in a natural voice.

Pronunciation and intonation

Natural does not mean fast. Comprehensibility comes first.

Try these aloud:

Really? ↗ That sounds great. ↘ What happened next? ↘ You did? ↗

A rising voice can show surprise or invite a response. A falling voice often completes a comment or information question.

Try: Say “Really?” in three ways: interested, surprised, doubtful. Your partner guesses the meaning.

Feedback: Do not judge accents. Ask: “Was the message easy to understand?”

Functional grammar: Build a follow-up question

You do not need new complicated grammar. Use familiar patterns accurately.

Situation	Pattern	Example
present habit	question word + do or does + subject + verb	How often do you play?
past event	question word + did + subject + verb	Where did you go?
be	question word + be + subject	What was it like?
experience	Have you ever + past participle	Have you ever tried climbing?

Important: Do not build every sentence in German first. Listen to the key word in your partner’s answer and reuse it.

Partner: “I watched a mystery film.” You: “Oh, really? Which mystery film did you watch?”

Try: Make the next move

Complete each mini-conversation aloud.

A: “I baked a cake yesterday.” B: “__________? What kind of cake?”

A: “My cousin is visiting this weekend.” B: “That sounds __________. What are you going to do?”

A: “I didn’t understand the homework.” B: “I know what you mean. Which part was __________?”

Hint 1: Use a short reaction. Hint 2: Possible words: really, fun, difficult. Deutsch nur bei Bedarf: Ergänze zuerst eine Reaktion oder einen kurzen Kommentar und stelle dann die passende Anschlussfrage.

Speaking 1: 60-second conversation

Work in pairs.

Choose one card:

1. a new hobby
2. a film or series
3. a school event
4. a weekend activity
5. a game
6. a meal you liked

Round 1: 60 seconds. Keep the conversation going.

You must use:

1. at least two reactions
2. at least two follow-up questions
3. at least one short comment

No full script. You may write five keywords.

Speaking 2: Three-speaker challenge

Work in groups of three: A, B and C.

Round: 90 seconds.

A starts with a short story. B reacts and asks a follow-up question. C adds a short comment and asks the next question. Then continue naturally.

Goal: Nobody should speak for too long. Nobody should disappear from the conversation.

Useful turn-taking:

1. What about you?
2. I agree, but ...
3. That reminds me of ...
4. Can I ask something?
5. So, what happened next?

Speaking 3: Repair the conversation

A: “I went to a workshop.” B: “What?” A: “A workshop.” B: “Okay.”

Improve B’s lines.

Possible moves:

1. “Sorry, could you say that again?”
2. “What kind of workshop was it?”
3. “Oh, interesting. What did you do there?”

Direct feedback: If the conversation stops, do not say “wrong”. Say: “Try one reaction and one follow-up.”

Writing: From chat to short message

Write 80–100 words to a fictional exchange partner about a club, hobby or school activity.

Structure:

1. greeting
2. two or three sentences about your topic
3. one short reaction to something the fictional partner wrote
4. two follow-up questions
5. friendly ending

Check: Do your questions connect to the topic, or do they jump somewhere else?

Mediation mini-task

A German-speaking student tells you:

“Unsere AG trifft sich mittwochs nach der sechsten Stunde. Man muss nichts mitbringen. Neue Schülerinnen und Schüler können erst einmal zuschauen.”

A fictional English-speaking visitor asks what the club is like.

Your task: Explain the important information in simple English. Do not translate every word.

Then continue the conversation with one follow-up question, for example about the visitor’s interests.

Feedback: Improve and use again

After a pair talk, give two short pieces of feedback:

1. What worked: “Your follow-up question matched my answer.”
2. Next step: “Add a short reaction before the next question.”

Then repeat the same topic for 45 seconds and improve one thing.

Feedback order: meaning first, then one useful language point. Do not correct every small mistake while your partner is speaking.

Mini-transfer: New situation

You meet a fictional student at an international school event. You know only this:

“Hi, I’m Jamie. I’m new here and I like music.”

Keep the conversation going for 90 seconds.

You may use only this small help card:

Really? – That sounds ... – What ...? – Why ...? – How often ...? – What about you? – Could you say that again?

Transfer goal: Use the pattern with a topic you did not rehearse before.

Help ladder

Use the lowest level of help you need.

1. Level 1 – English hint: React first. Then use one key word from your partner’s answer.
2. Level 2 – Phrase frame: “That sounds ____. What ____?”
3. Level 3 – Question starter: What / Why / Where / When / How / Have you ever ...
4. Level 4 – German help: Reagiere kurz, greife ein Wort der Antwort auf und stelle dazu eine Anschlussfrage.

Then try again without the help.

Self-check: Can do

Can-do statement	Not yet	Almost	Yes
I can react to a partner.	□	□	□
I can ask a connected follow-up question.	□	□	□
I can add a short comment.	□	□	□
I can ask for clarification.	□	□	□
I can keep a conversation going for 60–90 seconds.	□	□	□
I can give one useful feedback point.	□	□	□

Choose one line that is not “Yes” yet. Practise it once more.

Responsible use of AI and media

If your teacher allows AI, use it only for small practice support, for example to suggest three follow-up questions.

Check:

1. Is the English suitable for Class 7 M-level?
2. Do you understand every phrase you want to use?
3. Does the feedback help you improve your own work?
4. Have you kept names, recordings and private data out of the tool?

Your final dialogue, message or recording must remain your own work.

Folgekurs

Continue with:

1. E7 M - End a conversation politely
2. E7 M - Give reasons and opinions in a conversation
3. E7 M - Ask for clarification and repair misunderstandings

Interaktive Aufgaben

Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen

What is the best way to keep a conversation going naturally? (React, comment and ask a connected follow-up question) (!Ask many unrelated questions) (!Change the topic after every answer) (!Speak without listening)

Which sentence is a follow-up question? (What happened next?) (!That is my notebook) (!I am thirteen) (!Goodbye for now)

Which phrase shows interest in what another person says? (Really? That sounds interesting.) (!I have no question) (!This is a pencil) (!Stop talking now)

What should you do if you do not understand your partner? (Ask for clarification) (!Pretend that you understood) (!Change to a new topic immediately) (!End the conversation at once)

Which question connects best to the sentence I play basketball twice a week? (What do you enjoy most about basketball?) (!What is your favourite school subject?) (!Where is your pencil?) (!What time is breakfast?)

Which sentence is a short comment? (That sounds difficult.) (!Where did you go?) (!Could you repeat that?) (!When did it happen?)

Which question asks about a past event? (Where did you go?) (!Where do you go every week?) (!Where are you now?) (!Where will you go tomorrow?)

What is most important in pronunciation practice here? (Being easy to understand) (!Having one perfect accent) (!Speaking as fast as possible) (!Copying every sound exactly)

What is a good first step before using German help? (Try with context and an English hint) (!Translate the whole conversation) (!Stop the task) (!Write every sentence in German)

What makes partner feedback useful? (Name one success and one next step) (!Correct every small mistake) (!Give only a mark) (!Interrupt after every sentence)

Memory

Reaction	Really?
Follow-up	What happened next?
Clarification	Could you say that again?
Comment	That sounds fun.
Interest	Tell me more.
Turn-taking	What about you?

Drag and Drop

Ordne die richtigen Begriffe zu.	Thema
Show interest	Reaction
Ask for more detail	Follow-up question
Connect your own idea	Short comment
Repair misunderstanding	Clarification
Invite the other speaker	Turn-taking

...

Kreuzworträtsel

Really	Which reaction can show surprise or interest?
Question	What can you ask to get more information?
Comment	What short contribution can connect your idea to your partner?
Listen	What should you do before choosing your next question?
Followup	What kind of question connects to the previous answer?
Interest	What do natural reactions show your partner?

Lückentext

Vervollständige den Text.

A natural conversation starts with careful . A short phrase such as “Really?” is a . After reacting, you can add a short . A question that connects to the previous answer is a question. If you do not understand, ask for . In speaking practice, the main goal is to stay . Useful feedback names one success and one . After feedback, you should try the conversation .

Offene Aufgaben

Leicht

1. Reaction cards: Erstelle sechs kleine Karten mit englischen Reaktionen wie “Really?” oder “That sounds fun.” und nutze drei davon in einem Partnergespräch.
2. Follow-up finder: Schreibe zu fünf kurzen Aussagen jeweils eine passende englische Anschlussfrage.
3. Listening notes: Sieh einen der eingebetteten Videoteile an und notiere drei chunks, die Du selbst verwenden kannst.
4. Intonation test: Sprich drei kurze Reaktionen mit unterschiedlicher Intonation; ein Partner beschreibt die wahrgenommene Wirkung.

Standard

1. 60-second talk: Führe ein 60-sekündiges Gespräch über ein vertrautes Thema mit mindestens zwei Reaktionen, zwei Anschlussfragen und einem Kommentar.
2. Dialogue upgrade: Überarbeite einen absichtlich stockenden Dialog so, dass die Sprecher aufeinander reagieren und sinnvoll nachfragen.
3. Three-speaker conversation: Führt zu dritt ein 90-sekündiges Gespräch, in dem jede Person mindestens zweimal sinnvoll anknüpft.
4. Short message: Schreibe eine strukturierte Nachricht von 80–100 Wörtern und ergänze zwei passende Fragen, die ein weiteres Gespräch ermöglichen.

Schwer

1. Conversation transfer: Beginne ohne vorgegebenes Skript ein 90-sekündiges Gespräch mit einer neuen fiktiven Rolle und halte es mit passenden Anschlussfragen am Laufen.
2. Mediation challenge: Vermittle kurze deutsche Informationen auf Englisch und leite danach mit einer passenden Frage in ein Gespräch über.
3. Feedback coach: Beobachte ein Partnergespräch, formuliere einen konkreten Erfolg und einen nächsten Lernschritt und prüfe nach der Wiederholung die Verbesserung.
4. Mini tutorial: Gestalte ein einminütiges Erklärvideo oder eine Live-Mini-Präsentation mit selbst erfundenen Beispielen zu “React + Comment + Follow up”; eine Aufnahme ist freiwillig und bleibt privat.

Lernkontrolle

1. Conversation analysis: Erkläre, warum ein Dialog mit vielen unverbundenen Fragen unnatürlich wirken kann, und verbessere zwei Stellen.
2. Strategy transfer: Du hörst “I tried something new at the weekend.” Formuliere zwei unterschiedliche natürliche Reaktionen mit jeweils einer passenden Anschlussfrage.
3. Repair strategy: Entwickle zwei Möglichkeiten, wie Du reagieren kannst, wenn Du ein wichtiges Wort nicht verstanden hast, ohne das Gespräch abzubrechen.
4. Turn-taking: Beschreibe, wie drei Personen dafür sorgen können, dass niemand das Gespräch dominiert oder ausgeschlossen wird, und formuliere passende englische Redemittel.
5. Feedback and revision: Überarbeite einen kurzen Dialog nach der Rückmeldung “good questions, but no comments” und erkläre, was Du verändert hast.
6. New context: Übertrage die Gesprächsstrategie auf eine neue Situation, zum Beispiel Schulfest, Jugendherberge oder Austauschbegegnung, und begründe Deine Auswahl an Redemitteln.

Lernnachweis

Für einen Lernnachweis solltest Du zeigen, dass Du:

1. auf Aussagen verständlich und passend reagieren kannst,
2. mindestens zwei verbundene follow-up questions stellen kannst,
3. kurze Kommentare einfügst, statt nur Fragen aneinanderzureihen,
4. bei Verständigungsproblemen nachfragen kannst,
5. ein kurzes Gespräch von etwa 60–90 Sekunden mitgestalten kannst,
6. verständlich sprichst und angemessen auf andere Sprecher eingehst,
7. Rückmeldung nutzen und eine zweite Version sichtbar verbessern kannst,
8. eigene Formulierungen verwendest und Hilfen oder KI-Ausgaben kritisch prüfst.

OERs zum Thema

Die eingebundenen Wikimedia-Commons-Dateien sind freie bzw. frei lizenzierte Medien. Die YouTube-Videos werden nur eingebettet und nicht erneut hochgeladen.

Weitere fachliche Orientierung:

1. Bildungsplan Baden-Württemberg – Englisch als erste Fremdsprache – Sprechen
2. Wikimedia Commons – Conversation - RWiC
3. Wikimedia Commons – Active listening
4. Wikimedia Commons – Speech bubbles

Verknüpfte Lernbereiche

Englisch lernen Sprechen Hörverstehen Gesprächsführung Fragen im Englischen Aussprache und Intonation Wortschatz Sprachmittlung Feedback