We’ve all been in those awkward conversations. Imagine, you’re in a conversation, and suddenly you don’t know what to say. Maybe someone tosses you a compliment, maybe there’s an uncomfortable silence, or maybe you accidentally say the wrong thing. For students learning English as a Second Language, you’re more than likely unfamiliar with what to do. But with practice, and potentially some new helpful phrases, you can handle them with confidence.

If you’re part of a study abroad program, you’ve probably already run into some of these situations, especially during a verbal speaking test. Here are a few easy phrases that can help improve your skills inside and outside of a classroom:

• When you don’t understand someone:
   “Sorry, could you say that again?” or “I’m not sure I understood, could you explain it another way, please?”
  
  
• When you forget someone’s name:
   “I’m so sorry, I forgot your name. Can you remind me?”
  
  
• When there’s an awkward silence:
   “So, how’s your day going?” or “That reminds me of something I saw recently…” or “How about this weather lately?”
  
  

These small, natural responses help keep a conversation going and make you sound more fluent. But, even native English speakers go through the same awkward situations. It’s nothing to feel embarrassed about! If you’re living or studying in the USA, try using some of these phrases in your next conversation. The more you practice, the easier it becomes to turn awkward moments into opportunities to connect.

Here at our school located in Atlanta, The English Island, our students practice real-life English, not just grammar and writing. We focus on helping students feel comfortable in any situation whether it’s ordering food, making friends, chatting with classmates, or hanging out and meeting others during our holiday events.