Communication is

not a Textbook

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Seido Institute

芦屋市船戸町 12-6

Is this an enjoyable conversation?

• You: Have you ever been to Canada?

• Bob: No. I hate Canada.

Good communicators pay attention to 2 things:

1. People (Feelings, intention, context, culture…)

2. Information (sentence meaning, vocabulary…)

?

Context and Intention

Why is he asking?

What does he want?

What’s a good answer to this question?

When did your plane arrive?

Same question... What’s a good answer?

1. You must be tired. When did your plane arrive?

2. When did your plane arrive? Have you seen much of the city yet?

3. When did your plane arrive? Were you waiting long?

4. We weren’t expecting you so soon. When did your plane arrive?

Good communicators pay attention to 2 things:

1. People (Feelings, intention, context, culture…)

2. Information (sentence meaning, vocabulary…)

?

What is the speaker’s intention?

How might you respond? 

1. You must be tired. When did your plane arrive?

What is the speaker’s intention?

How might you respond?

1. You must be tired. When did your plane arrive?

(Showing sympathy?)

(Thank them; perhaps talk about

the flight?)

1. A: You must be tired. When did your plane arrive?

B1: Yes, it was a long flight. Pretty smooth, though, I got some sleep. And customs ( 関税） was a breeze.

B2: Well, getting off the plane was pretty quick, actually. We got in… half an hour ago? The pain is the security check before take-off （離陸前の警備） .

What is the speaker’s intention? How might you respond? 

2. When did your plane arrive? Have you seen much of the city yet?

What is the speaker’s intention?

How might you respond? 

2. When did your plane arrive? Have you seen much of the city yet?

(Showing availability? Ask for suggestions on what to see?)

2. A: When did your plane arrive? Have you seen much of the city yet?

B1: Well, there was a little time yesterday afternoon, but I just went straight to the hotel.

B2: Yeah, I had time to go for a walk around the port area. Very pretty. Is there anything else I should see before I go?

What is the speaker’s intention? How might you respond?

 3. When did your plane arrive? Were you waiting long?

What is the speaker’s intention? How might you respond?

 3. When did your plane arrive? Were you waiting long?

(Apologetic? Reassure them?)

3. A: When did your plane arrive? Were you waiting long?

B1: Not at all. Thanks for coming to pick me up, I appreciate it. I don’t know the city so well yet.

B2: Everything went like clockwork. This country is so efficient.

What is the speaker’s intention? How might you respond?

 

4. We weren’t expecting you so soon. When did your plane arrive?

What is the speaker’s intention? How might you respond?

 

4. We weren’t expecting you so soon. When did your plane arrive?

(Expects an explanation?)

4. A: We weren’t expecting you so soon. When did your plane arrive?

B1: The plane got in early, as a matter of fact. We had some good tailwinds, it seems. So... we’re off to an good start, wouldn’t you say?

B2: Maybe we sent you the wrong flight information? It doesn’t matter, it’s good to be here. Thanks for everything.

Party-style questions:

Just keep socializing!

Pattern 1: Question strings. Q+Q+Q

“What are you going to do this weekend? Have you got anything planned? Are you going anywhere special?”

This style makes it clear you are not doing a police investigation ( 尋問 ), you are just looking for a topic of conversation, so the other person can answer freely.

Pattern 2: Question with example answer. Q+e.g.

“How did you come here? By bus? By car?”

Pattern 3: Question plus comment. Q+comment

“We get one week off in August. That’s the obon holiday in Japan. The whole family tries to get together. How about you? How much vacation time do you get?”

Note: When you ask “How about you?” it is better to repeat the question, and maybe use the person’s name.

I love sushi. How about you?

Better: I love sushi. How about you, John, do you

like sushi?

Practice: See handouts

Keep socializing:

Catch the topic, and tell a story (or invite the other to tell a story)

Textbook vs. Communication

A: Have you ever had a car accident?

B: Yes, I have.

Textbook vs. Communication

B: I came by train. I have a car, but I don’t really drive much.

A: You don’t drive much. Well, that has advantages. Have you ever had a car accident?

B: (nodding) A few years ago. I was doing some shopping in rainy weather, and I couldn’t stop in time I hit the car in front at a traffic light. No one was hurt, but I was pretty shocked.

Allen: Have you ever had a car accident?

i.e.

Allen wants to tell about his experience

or

Allen invites Bob to tell a story about

his driving, or a car accident he saw, etc.

A: Have you ever had a car accident?

B1: No, I haven’t. Plenty of bruises from rush hour on the train, though. Once someone dropped a bottle of wine on my toe.

B2: No, I haven’t, thank God. Not yet, anyway. How about you? Have you had any car accidents?

Practice: See handouts

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