First Meeting & Setting Expectations
Two language exchange partners meet for the first time. They introduce themselves, discuss their language learning goals, and decide on a schedule and format for their future sessions.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
fluency
Fluency means speaking a language smoothly and without long pauses. It's useful when talking about language goals, like improving how naturally you speak.
idioms
Idioms are common phrases with meanings that are not literal, like 'kick the bucket' meaning to die. Learning natural idioms helps you sound more like a native speaker in casual talks.
pronunciation
Pronunciation is how you say words correctly, including sounds and stress. It's key for clear communication in language practice sessions.
comprehension
Comprehension means understanding what you hear or read. In language learning, it helps with listening skills and grasping spoken content.
nuances
Nuances are subtle differences in meaning or culture. Understanding cultural nuances is important in language exchanges to avoid misunderstandings.
bi-weekly
Bi-weekly means every two weeks. It's a useful term for scheduling meetings or events that don't happen every week.
rotate
To rotate means to take turns or change order. In conversations, you can rotate topics to keep sessions varied and engaging.
role-playing
Role-playing is acting out real-life situations to practice language. It's practical for preparing for job interviews or daily interactions.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
It's great to finally meet you in person!
This is a polite greeting for first meetings. It uses 'it's great to' to express positive feelings and 'in person' to contrast with online. Use it to start conversations warmly and build rapport.
What are your main goals for our English sessions?
This question asks about objectives using 'what are your main goals' structure. It's useful for setting expectations in partnerships; the plural 'sessions' implies ongoing meetings.
I mainly want to improve my conversational fluency.
This sentence expresses personal goals with 'I want to improve my' pattern. 'Mainly' means primarily, and it's helpful for discussing learning priorities in a clear, direct way.
How about we split our time?
This is a suggestion using 'How about we' for proposing ideas politely. 'Split our time' means divide equally; use it when negotiating schedules to make decisions collaborative.
Weekly would be ideal for me, if that works for your schedule.
Here, 'would be ideal' expresses preference, and 'if that works' shows flexibility. This conditional structure is great for agreeing on plans while considering the other person's availability.
We could rotate between general conversation and specific topics.
This uses 'could' for suggestions and 'rotate between' for alternating activities. It's practical for planning varied sessions to keep learning engaging and prevent boredom.
Let's aim for next Wednesday, then.
This finalizes a plan with 'Let's aim for' meaning to target a date. The 'then' connects ideas smoothly; use it to confirm appointments and show enthusiasm.