Conversational Strategies

1. Conversational Strategies Ways to carry on a conversation in French.

2. CIRCUMLOCUTION • Use familiar vocabulary to “talk around” an unfamiliar word or phrase. Example: If you don’t know the word for “tiger”, say: “a big orange and black cat in the jungle”

3. talking around a word • une personne qui… • une chose qui est… • “un endroit” où… • un autre mot pour… • un animal qui… • “un endroit” où je nage  une piscine

4. SURVIVAL SKILLS (1) • Use learned expressions in appropriate situations to continue conversation. Examples: please explain, please repeat, how do you say…?, I don’t understand

5. SURVIVAL SKILLS (2) • Use nonverbal cues such as facial expressions and body language to clarify meaning.

6. INTONATION • Use inflection or rising voice pitch to show that you are asking a question.

7. SELF-CORRECTION • Use self-correction if you make a mistake. Example: Je suis douze …. J’ai douze ans. 

8. RESPOND TO VERBAL CUES • Use clues from conversation partner to use in your own responses to self-correct, clarify, or restate. Example: A - Give me a thing to write with. B - OK. Do you want a pen or a pencil? A - I need a pencil.

9. ATTENTION-GETTING DEVICES • Use conversation starters. Examples: - Bonjour! - Pardon. - Comment vas-tu?