2. LANGUAGE NOTE
We might sometimes have to change the subject for different reasons. Here are
some ways to change the subject politely. (Đôi khi chúng ta có thể phải thay đổi
chủ đề vì những lý do khác nhau. Dưới đây là một số cách để thay đổi chủ đề một
cách lịch sự.)
• It is usually less offensive to a speaker if you interrupt yourself to change
the subject, rather than interrupting the speaker.
'I agree, it's a really difficult situation ... - Oh, did I tell you I bumped into
Marco the other day?'
• Try to change the subject to something that has a connection with what the
speaker is saying. To start on a completely different topic could seem rude.
'Speaking of growing older, can you believe Nicola's son is already starting
school?'
• If you have to change the topic completely, announce it, preferably with an
apology: (Sorry) to change the subject completely, ...
3. Listen to extracts from three informal conversations. (Nghe trích đoạn từ
ba cuộc trò chuyện thân mật.)
Conversation 1
Michael: I was reading an article just yesterday about a new law on TV
adverts for junk food. The government is going to make them illegal. I mean,
junk food, that's anything from a fast food restaurant or food that's high in
fat or sugar.
Sophie: Hm, I've heard about that. By the way, a fantastic new fast food
chicken restaurant has just opened on the High Street. It's brilliant, really
good value, and the food is delicious, even if it is cheap, fast food.
Michael: Yes, but where does the chicken come from, that's my question. I
mean, you can't sell chicken that cheaply unless it's really poor quality.
Sophie: Speaking of keeping chickens, I was actually thinking of getting a
couple myself, but my garden is tiny ...
4. Conversation 2
Beth: And anyway, I just don't think the government is doing enough to control
the country's financial problems.
Dan: Yes, it's a serious issue, isn't it? Sorry, this has nothing to do with what
we're talking about but ... I believe you've just bought a car from Car
Supermarket.com. Would you recommend it as a dealer?
Beth: Well, you can save money there but to be honest, I'd rather pay more and go
to a local dealer. The train took an hour to get there.
Dan: I know what you mean. I had a similar experience last week when I was
trying to get the train to London.
Conversation 3
Jodi: I've been to so many interviews but I still haven't got a job. I applied for
another one last week. Did I tell you about it?
Ed: I think you did, yes ... oh, while I remember, have you finished reading my thesis
yet?If you have, I want to give it to my dad to read.
5. UNDERSTANDING
Match the following strategies to the statements from the telephone
conversation.(Nối các chiến lược sau đây với các phát biểu từ cuộc trò chuyện
qua điện thoại.)
Strategy Sentences from the conversation
Interrupt yourself rather than the
speaker.
Change the subject to something
that is loosely connected with the
topic.
Announce a change of topic.
Make an apology for changing the
conversation.
6. You could note that when people switch from small talk to the main subject
of conversation, they change their tone of voice and say something like,
"Right, then ..." or "Shall we ..." In British English, they might say, "Let's get
down to business" to move from small talk to the reason for the discussion.
(Bạn có thể lưu ý rằng khi mọi người chuyển từ cuộc trò chuyện nhỏ sang chủ đề
chính của cuộc trò chuyện, họ sẽ thay đổi giọng điệu của mình và nói điều gì đó
như, "Được, vậy thì..." hoặc "Chúng ta sẽ..." Trong tiếng Anh Anh, họ có thể nói,
"Hãy bắt tay vào công việc" để chuyển từ cuộc nói chuyện nhỏ sang lý do của
cuộc thảo luận.)
CULTURE NOTE
7. SAYING IT ACCURATELY
Match the phrases on the left with those on the right that have similar
meanings. (Nối các cụm từ bên trái với các cụm từ bên phải có nghĩa tương
tự nhau)
Speaking of ...
Before I forget, ...
That reminds me of ...
This has got nothing to do with
what we’re talking about but ...
While I remember, ...
Changing the subject for a minute, ...
Talking of ...
Something similar happened ...
8. Read these sentences and match them to a strategy.
a.Interrupting yourself in order to change the conversation ...........
b.Announcing a change of topic. ..........
c.Picking up on a connected topic. ..........
1The same thing happened to me when I locked myself out of my flat one
day.
2 I know this is about something completely different, but do you know
anything about a transport strike next week?
3 Have you met Patrick before? We were at school together ... Oh, by the
way, have you heard which college you've got into yet?
4 You were talking about yoga earlier on ... Have you ever tried Pilates?
5 Sorry to change the subject completely, but is that Cathy's new partner?
6 That reminds me ... did you manage to book those tickets after all?
9. Complete the dialogue with any suitable expressions from Saying it accurately
exercises 1 and 2. (Hoàn thành đoạn hội thoại với bất kỳ cách diễn đạt phù hợp nào
từ Saying it accurately exercises 1 and 2.)
A: And crime is really on the increase there. Did you know Johannesburg is
now called the crime capital of the world?
B: Is it really? 1 .............................................. crime, did you hear about the
incident in our local park last weekend? It really makes you think twice about
walking through the park on your own ... Where do you live, 2
..............................................? Do you live in this area?
A: Actually, I've just moved into the area. I didn't realize it was a high crime
area, I must say.
B: Oh, it's not that bad! I think it's the same in all big cities. 3
..............................................have you been to our new open-air pool yet?
10. SAYING IT CLEARLY
Listen to these sentences, noticing how the speaker pauses after
introducing a change of subject. (Nghe những câu này, chú ý cách người
nói tạm dừng sau khi giới thiệu thay đổi chủ đề.)
1) By the way, a fantastic new fast food chicken restaurant has just
opened in the High Street.
2) Speaking of crime and capitals, did you hear about the incident in
our local park last weekend?
3) Sorry to change the subject completely, but is that Cathy's new
partner?
4) While I remember, have you finished reading my thesis yet?
Listen to the sentences in Saying it clearly exercise 1 and repeat them,
pausing in the appropriate places. (Nghe các câu trong Saying it clearly
exercise 1 và lặp lại, dừng ở những chỗ thích hợp.)
11. The way you change the subject is as important as the words you use.
Listen to these sentences. How does the man sound? (Cách bạn chuyển
chủ đề cũng quan trọng như từ ngữ bạn sử dụng. Hãy nghe những câu
này.Người đàn ông nói những gì.)
1. polite or impolite (lịch sự hay bất lịch sự)
2. sincere or insincere (chân thành hay không chân)
3. diplomatic or rude (ngoại giao hoặc thô lỗ )
Listen again to the sentences, said appropriately this time, and repeat
them.
SAYING IT APPROPRIATELY
12. GET SPEAKING
You are having a conversation with Harry at a party. Play the Audio CD and
follow the cues.
1. The topic doesn't interest you at all. Change the subject politely, to something
completely different.(Chủ đề không khiến bạn hứng thú chút nào. Thay đổi chủ
đề một cách lịch sự, chuyển sang một điều gì đó hoàn toàn khác.)
2. Harry has been talking for a long time about his holiday. Change the subject
politely, talking about your experiences of something similar.(Harry đã nói rất
lâu về kỳ nghỉ của mình. Thay đổi chủ đề một cách lịch sự, nói về trải nghiệm
của bạn về điều gì đó tương tự.)
3. Answer Harry's question about what you're doing at the moment. Then interrupt
yourself so that you can change the topic to something else you'd like to talk
about instead.(Trả lời câu hỏi của Harry về những gì bạn đang làm vào lúc này.
Sau đó, hãy tự ngắt lời để bạn có thể chuyển chủ đề sang chủ đề khác mà bạn
muốn nói.)
