Giving Personal InformationLesson 3

• Hi, what’s your name?• Maria• I’m Oleksandra. I’m from Ukraine. And where are you from?• Kiev.• How lovely! And how do you find living in Kiev?• It’s OK.• Err…what do you do?• I’m a student.• Have you got any brothers or sisters?• No.• Can I get you a coffee?• No.• OK, I’ve got a class now, I gotta dash. See you.• Bye.

Which conversation is better?

The second dialogue is better:

• Both speakers show interest: ‘Really? I heard it’s beautiful’.

• If the answer is negative, give some extra information to sound

polite: ‘Have you got any brothers or sisters? No, but I’ve got a

cousin’.

• Ask more questions: ‘And where are you from?’.

Questions you can ask to get to know a person:

• Where are you from?

• Where exactly are you from?

• What do you do? (profession)

• How do you find living in..?

• Do you like theatre/cinema/reading?

• Where are you from? I’m from Ukraine.

• Where exactly are you from? I’m from Rivne.

• What do you do? (profession) I’m a teacher.

• How do you find living in..? I love living here.

• Do you like theatre/cinema/reading? I’m really keen on reading.

More questions to ask:

• Have you got any brothers or sisters? Yes, I’ve got 2 brothers.

• How is/are your family? They are fine, thanks.

• How old are you? Well, I’d rather not talk about it.

• Are you married? I’m sorry, but that’s too personal.

Taboo topics

• Age

• Politics

• Health problems

• Religion

Being polite

To ask a personal question, say ‘if you don’t mind me asking’ to make it more polite.

• Correct: How old are you, if you don’t mind me asking?

• Correct: Are you married, if you don’t mind me asking

• At an interview you might hear the question:

What’s your background?

• Answer:

I studied linguistics.

Homework

Complete the sentences.

1. _______ are you from?

2. _______ exactly are you from?

3. _______ do you do? (job)

4. How _______ you find living in..?

5. Do you _______ theatre/cinema/reading?

6. What’s your _________?

7. How old are you, if you don’t mind me ______?

Today we have learned:

• To ask about personal information

• To give personal information