Phrases for Conversation

[saimoh76]

Jutta is showing her husband, Franz, around the city of Victoria, British Columbia, while they are visiting on a holiday. Three years ago when she was offered an exciting new job as an editorial assistant with a publisher of trade journals in Nuremberg, Germany, Jutta attended an intermediate English course at a ******** school in Victoria to brush up on her high school English. During her three-month studies she met many foreign students and made friends from Japan, Korea, and Mexico.

[saimoh76]

Although Jutta has lost touch with Yuko, Ryeowon, and Patricia, she often wonders what happened to them, and how their lives have changed. While Jutta and Franz are visiting the Butchart Gardens, she spots a group of Korean tourists. Their guide looks so much like Ryeowon, but that would be too much of a coincidence! The group moves closer, and Jutta calls Ryeowon’s name. The young woman turns around with a look of surprise on her face.

[saimoh76]

If you have traveled or studied abroad, chances are that when you least expect it you will run into someone—a former classmate or colleague, a teacher, or a friend of a friend—on a holiday, at a conference, at a wedding, or even on the street. Time has passed, and, of course, you have a lot to catch up on. There are so many experiences you have to share, so many stories you’d like to tell, and so many questions you’re anxious to ask.

[saimoh76]

Phrases
Openers: Greetings

When you haven’t seen someone for a long time, it’s customary to begin the conversation by asking about the other person’s well-being and by commenting positively on changes that you may notice.

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Addressing Someone Whose Name You Can’t Remember

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I don’t mean to be forward, but don’t I know you from somewhere?

Could it be that we’ve met before?

You remind me of someone. You wouldn’t happen to be Margarete?

Don’t I know you from last year’s book fair in Frankfurt?

Haven’t we met before?

You look familiar.

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Asking About Someone’s Well-Being:

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How are you?

How are things?

How have you been?

How’s it / everything going?

So, how’s life been treating you?

How’ve you been getting along / making out?

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Responses

Just fine. And you?

Great. And yourself?

Couldn’t be better. How about you?

Pretty good.

Can’t complain.

Not too bad.

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General Comments

It’s good / great / to see you again / to run into you like this.

You’re looking great / good / well.

You haven’t changed much / at all.
You’ve hardly changed.

It’s been ages / so long / such a long time.

I can’t believe it’s you.

Is that really you?

Small world, isn’t it?

[saimoh76]

Whether you’re traveling on business or for pleasure, you are most likely in the company of another person. When you introduce friends and family, you should choose familiar ********, and introduce the person with his or her first name.

When introducing a third person, it is a good idea to give some information about the person:

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how the person is related to you: husband/wife, fiancée/fiancé, son/daughter, niece/nephew, etc.

where the friend or acquaintance is from and what’s his or her job

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Once you’ve gotten reacquainted, you will want to find out about friends and acquaintances that you have in common and reminisce about “the good old times.”

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Asking About Recent Events

What have you been doing with yourself all this time?

Where’ve you been hiding / keeping yourself?

What’s *****ng / up / new / the scoop?

What have you been up to?

So, what’s the story?

Anything new?

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Asking About Friends and Acquaintances