Learn how to use the words keen, eager and enthusiastic in English in this episode.
Voice message from Alba from Argentina
Small talk and socialising
translating from Spanish in her head
How to start a conversation and make small talk – AIRC77
Beyond the English Language – AIRC312
Improving fluency in social situations
- ask questions
- use positive body language (smile and make eye contact)
- immerse yourself in English
- learn some set phrases that you can fall back on (Why’s that?/Why do you say/think that? Really! That’s amazing! That’s interesting. Please tell me more. How did you feel when that happened?
- Promote your personality
- find some common ground
- try to get LOTS of practice!
Many social conversations involving small talk and informal chats use basic English in a natural way.
Email from Paulina from Wanaka – New Zealand
Hi Craig and Reza, it’s Paulina from Wanaka – New Zealand.
I started listening to you on Spotify from my home country, when I lived in Maldonado, Uruguay. A year ago I came to New Zealand and I still listen to you.
With the lockdown of Covid-19 I decided to follow your advice and I started with italki. As you have already said, Kiwi English is a different matter. And I’m very pleased with the teacher I chose.
Here I continue with the same practices as in Uruguay, I work in tourism, I commute by bike to work and my activities. And I continue with my favorite hobby, the veggie garden. And when I ride my bike, and when I am in the garden, I always use it to listen to you.
The only new thing I started was football, I joined a group of women who play indoor futsal. And I would like you to help me with the vocabulary, because sometimes I do not understand when I ask for the ball or they tell me what to do.
(We’ll record a podcast soon and include lots of football vocabulary.)
I would also like to know how to refer to a group of people (25-35 years old) if there are women and men, only women, or only men. Because if I say guys, I mean there are men, but not women? Folks, Pal, Lad…I don’t know when it’s appropriate to use them.
(guys, girls, you lot, y’all, folks, you-plural)
Guys – usually only group of men or mixture of men and women, but sometimes for group of women in more modern English
A guy – a man, not usually for an individual woman
Just as a comment, since you’ve talked about slang. Here you have a lot of slang, as every country has them, they are similar to those in Australia for the most part. “No worries mate”- “All good”- “Yeah-nah” (means I’m not sure)- “Yeah, you reckon….?” – “Sweet as” (awesome!) – “Bugger” (when something goes wrong) – “Missus” (miss-is) – “Smoko” (mid-morning break) – “Dunny” (Toilet)
But for example, they use a lot of the ‘keen’ word to say they agree to do something. Like in the futsal group they say, Anyone keen to play tonight? or Anyone keen for a drink tonight? Can you explain to me a little more about Keen, how to use it.
KEEN
(Is) Anyone keen to play tonight? = Anyone fancy playing tonight? (Does anyone want to play?)
To be keen on something = enthusiastic about something. Are you keen on sport?
Keen on + noun/gerund – I’m keen on travelling, Are you keen on going to rock festivals?
Also used in the negative: I’m not very/too keen on ginger biscuits.
What subjects were you keen on/not keen on at school?
Reza’s a keen podcaster and a keen wine and food enthusiast. (changed from connoisseur – I don’t know that much!)
Keen to do (infinitive) something – I’m keen to start travelling again. Are you keen to record more podcasts?
A lawyer needs a keen mind. Which other professions need a keen mind? (a sharp mind)
Paulina is a keen student. She improves her English in her spare time with this podcast. (eager, diligent)
Collocations with KEEN
To take a keen interest in something.
To keep a keen eye out for something.
To have a keen sense of smell/taste etc.
To have a keen insight into something
PREPOSITIONS with keen, eager and enthusiastic-
NB. keen + on = enthusiastic + about, (but eager + NO preposition)
She’s keen on hockey = She’s enthusiastic about hockey.
keen/eager + to INFINITIVE (but NOT enthusiastic)
We were keen/eager to start our journey.
The NOUNS are keenness, eagerness and enthusiasm.
Collocations with EAGER and ENTHUSIASTIC-
an eager beaver
eager to please
eager for news (about something)
less than enthusiastic
burning enthusiasm
…and now it’s your turn to practise your English.
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On next week’s episode: Using Google to Improve your English
The music in this podcast is by Pitx. The track is called ‘See You Later’