English Year 7: Short conversations, messages and forms
English, Year 7 (Portugal): Open, keep going and close a short conversation, and write the same way in a message or a form.
Open, keep going, close
A short conversation has three parts. Open it: “Hello”, “Excuse me”. Keep it going with a question or a reaction: “How much is it?”, “Really?”, “Me too.” Close it: “Thanks, bye!” Writing works the same way. A message opens with a greeting (“Hi Rita,”), gives what you need or your answer, and closes (“See you on Saturday. Sam”). A form just asks for exact pieces of information.
Why everyday situations are easier than they look
Everyday situations are predictable: buying a ticket, asking for information, greeting someone, replying to an invitation. The same few questions come up again and again, so you can prepare them, practise them and use them without thinking. A short message or a form is even more predictable: the reader only needs the exact information, so a short, clear text is a good text.
A case: the ticket desk
At a ticket desk. You: “Excuse me, how much is a ticket to Oxford?” (opening plus one clear question). Clerk: “It's twelve pounds.” You: “Sorry, could you say that again?” (you missed it, so you ask). Clerk: “Twelve pounds.” You: “Thank you. Bye!” (closing). Four moves: open, ask, check when you lose something, close. The same moves work in a short message.
Freezing when you miss a word
The trap is thinking you must understand every word. Then people freeze, say “Yes” to everything or go silent, and the conversation dies. People expect requests for help: “Sorry, could you say that again?” “Could you speak more slowly, please?” “What does … mean?” Asking is part of the conversation, not a failure. Keep those three phrases ready and use them at once.
Where you meet this
You meet these skills in a class role play, in a chat with an exchange partner, at an airport or station counter, in a reply to a WhatsApp invitation and in online forms. In an English form, “Surname” or “Family name” is your last name, and dates change with the country: 05/11 is 5 November in the UK but 11 May in the USA.
Test what you learned
You want to buy a ticket. Which sentence is a good way to START the conversation?
- a) Bye, thanks!
- b) How much?
- c) Sorry, could you repeat that?
- d) Excuse me, how much is a ticket?
Correct answer: d) Excuse me, how much is a ticket? — Yes: “Excuse me” opens politely and “how much is a ticket?” is one clear question.
Rita writes: “Can you come to my party on Saturday at 4 pm?” Which reply is the best?
- a) Hi Rita, thanks! Yes, I can come. See you on Saturday at 4. Sam
- b) Yes.
- c) Hi Rita. I no can come Saturday.
- d) Hi Rita, my name is Sam and I am twelve years old and I live in Porto.
Correct answer: a) Hi Rita, thanks! Yes, I can come. See you on Saturday at 4. Sam — It has a greeting, answers the question, repeats the key detail and closes with a name.
The clerk speaks fast and you miss the price. What is the best thing to do?
- a) Say “Yes” and pay
- b) Say “Sorry, could you say that again, please?”
- c) Say nothing and wait
- d) Answer in your own language
Correct answer: b) Say “Sorry, could you say that again, please?” — Right: asking someone to repeat is normal, polite and keeps the conversation going.
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