--- title: "Choosing conversation strategies" description: "Choose holding phrases, clarification requests, follow-up questions and sentence repairs in written situations. Recognise when to respect a pause or end a chat. These questions assess strategy choices" canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/languages/choosing-conversation-strategies-mt_SZsWbcNJIv source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/languages/choosing-conversation-strategies-mt_SZsWbcNJIv.md retrieved: 2026-11-12 --- > **Agent view.** This is the Markdown twin of the page, for tools and assistants. > When to use this site, and the call that answers each job: https://lightmysky.com/agent-instructions.md > API description (OpenAPI 3.1): https://lightmysky.com/openapi.json · Authentication: https://lightmysky.com/auth.md > Pricing: https://lightmysky.com/pricing.md · Catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms.txt · Full catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms-full.txt > Every machine-readable file on this domain: https://lightmysky.com/.well-known/ai-catalog.json > Ask for Markdown with `Accept: text/markdown`, a `.md` address, or `?mode=agent`. # Choosing conversation strategies Choose holding phrases, clarification requests, follow-up questions and sentence repairs in written situations. Recognise when to respect a pause or end a chat. These questions assess strategy choices, not speaking in a new language. Subject: Languages · Area: Sounds & Conversation · Ages 11 to 13 Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/languages/choosing-conversation-strategies-mt_SZsWbcNJIv ## Ready when they can - Recognise when a holding phrase, pause or clarification request fits a written situation - Choose relevant follow-up questions and topic links from supplied replies - Identify a sentence repair or respectful ending that fits a written situation ## Lesson: Keep the rally going These written situations help you choose conversation strategies; the questions do not test speaking in a new language. If you tried the listening lesson, its checking strategies may help here. In a chat, listen before choosing a follow-up connected to the reply. Open questions invite explanations. Yes-or-no questions can check details too. For thinking time, use a holding phrase such as 'Let me think.' A brief pause is fine too. Ask your teacher for a phrase in the language you are learning. For missing information, request a repeat: 'Could you repeat the meeting time?' A shared language can help when needed. These English examples show the strategies. *(drawing: The follow-up connects to pottery and invites more than a yes-or-no answer.)* If your sentence becomes unclear, pause and restart the part you need to change. You might say 'I mean...' before giving the intended message. For example: 'I went on Monday. I mean, I went on Wednesday.' The repair changes the day. Ask for help if you still cannot express your meaning. A related detail can lead to a new topic. Someone mentions growing beans. 'That reminds me of our school garden' connects their topic to yours. Explain the connection rather than using the phrase before an unrelated story. A bridge offers a topic; it does not guarantee interest. Respond to what you heard before sharing your own news. Acknowledge a detail or ask about it. Prepared questions can help you start, but adapt them to the reply. Ask for information the speaker has not already given. A question's opening word alone does not tell you whether it invites an explanation. Leave space for the other person to reply. You do not have to fill every pause or make every chat last longer. If someone says they need to leave or wants to stop, respect that. A short goodbye can end the conversation kindly. **Recap.** Listen and take turns. Ask relevant follow-ups, use thinking time or clarification, repair unclear messages and respect a wish to stop. *Original lesson, questions and flashcards about choosing conversation strategies, written for this learning dataset.* ## Practice 8 questions on this page, each with its working shown. ## Optional connections - [Paraphrasing What You Hear](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/paraphrasing-what-you-hear-mt_-DuXzMVVXQ) - [Choosing strategies for listening to speech](https://lightmysky.com/learn/languages/choosing-strategies-for-listening-to-speech-mt_QC3x14zrgx) ## Opens up - [Speaking Without Rehearsing](https://lightmysky.com/learn/languages/speaking-without-rehearsing-mt_Pf2HXXUnW-) - [Telling a Story About Yourself](https://lightmysky.com/learn/languages/telling-a-story-about-yourself-mt_Y03mNSjNK9)