Advanced Conversation Practice
Level: B1
Skill: Speaking
Topic: Ability
Time: 10–15 minutes
dialogue 1: regret
Say the dialogue.
A: Were you ever able to accept criticism gracefully?
B: Honestly, I used to be able to accept criticism gracefully when I was younger.
A: And now?
B: I wish I hadn’t given up accepting criticism gracefully. I find it much harder now.
Now change the ability.
speak in public
play a musical instrument
speak a second language fluently
write creatively
meditate
manage stress
cook from scratch
read music
do mental arithmetic
think on my feet
stay organised under pressure
follow through on commitments
accept criticism gracefully
Repeat until it feels natural.
dialogue 2: acceptance
Say the dialogue.
A: Have you ever tried to accept criticism gracefully?
B: Yes, I’ve been trying to improve my ability to accept criticism gracefully for a long time.
A: Are you getting there?
B: Not really. I wish I had learned to accept criticism gracefully earlier. But I am at peace with it.
Now change the ability.
speak in public
play a musical instrument
speak a second language fluently
write creatively
meditate
manage stress
cook from scratch
read music
do mental arithmetic
think on my feet
stay organised under pressure
follow through on commitments
accept criticism gracefully
Repeat until it feels natural.
dialogue 3: aspiration
Say the dialogue.
A: Do you find it easy to accept criticism gracefully?
B: Not yet. I didn’t use to be able to accept criticism gracefully at all.
A: Are you working on it?
B: Yes, I’ve been trying to improve my ability to accept criticism gracefully for months. If I kept practising, I would be able to accept criticism gracefully one day.
Now change the ability.
speak in public
play a musical instrument
speak a second language fluently
write creatively
meditate
manage stress
cook from scratch
read music
do mental arithmetic
think on my feet
stay organised under pressure
follow through on commitments
accept criticism gracefully
Repeat until it feels natural.
dialogue 4: accomplishment
Say the dialogue.
A: Would you say you are able to accept criticism gracefully?
B: Yes, I would. I used to struggle with it, but I’ve been working on my ability to accept criticism gracefully for years.
A: What changed?
B: I wish I had learned to accept criticism gracefully earlier — but I got there in the end.
Now change the ability.
speak in public
play a musical instrument
speak a second language fluently
write creatively
meditate
manage stress
cook from scratch
read music
do mental arithmetic
think on my feet
stay organised under pressure
follow through on commitments
accept criticism gracefully
