Conversation Lesson 13 Interrupting Someone Student Dr Piper

Conversation Lesson 13: Interrupting Someone

Student: Dr. Piper? Dr. Piper: Yes? Student: Excuse me, I don’t want to interrupt you… Dr. Piper: No, no. It’s quite all right. How can I help you? Student: Well, I’d just like to ask you to sign a permission slip for me to take that course on microbiology you’re teaching next term. Dr. Piper: Of course. Actually, I’m glad you decided to take it. I think you’ll like it and I’ll be glad to have you in the class. Student: Thank you. It sounds like an interesting course. Dr. Piper: I’m glad you think so. Here you are. Student: Thank you very much. Good-bye, Dr. Piper: Good-bye.

Culture Note When you interrupt someone they must stop speaking in the middle of a thought, or must stop what they are doing. Normally, you should let the other person finish speaking before you speak. For this reason it’s a good idea to interrupt someone only when you have something urgent or important to say. To interrupt politely, be alert for suitable opportunities. If you break into a conversation at the wrong time, you may be considered aggressive. The end of sentence or a pause in a sentence is often a good place to interrupt.

To interrupt someone, you can say Excuse me (for interrupting) but. . . Pardon me (for interrupting but. . . May/Could I add/say something here? I hate to interrupt but. . . Sorry to interrupt but. . . Can I interrupt a minute/a quick second? May I ask (you) a (quick) question? May I add something? + reason

To continue after being interrupted, you can say Getting/Going back to what I was saying, … I’d just like to go back to. . . As I was saying (before). . . Where was I? Where we? Anyway, . . .

To refuse to be interrupted, you can say Could you let me finish please? Could I just finish please? Excuse me, I’d just like to finish this point. Please let me finish my thought first. (Wait. ) Just let me finish. I’m not quite through yet. Hold on (a second).

To apologize for having interrupted someone, you can say (Sorry), go ahead. You were going to say something, weren’t you? You were talking about/saying. . . What were you saying? Please go on. Please continue.

Practice Interrupting Someone • Work in groups of three. • Read each of the following situations and practice how to interrupt someone.

Interrupting Someone – Situation 1 You and two other students. It’s your first day of classes at a university. You can’t find your classroom and the class is about to start. In front of a building, you see two students talking. You walk over to them and politely interrupt to ask for help. They tell you how to find your classroom.

Interrupting Someone – Situation 2 You and two of your colleagues. Two of your colleagues are talking with each other in the office. The telephone rings. You pick up the phone and answer it by saying, “Hello? ” One of your colleagues is wanted on the phone. You walk over to them and politely interrupt their conversation and then tell one of them, “It’s for you. ”

Interrupting Someone – Situation 3 You, your boss, and his/her secretary. You and your boss are discussing your next week’s business trip. His/Her secretary has just received an important e-mail from abroad. He/She immediately interrupts your conversation and tells your boss what it is about.

Interrupting Someone – Situation 4 You and two passengers. Your are going back home by bus. You note that two passengers sitting beside you are arguing about where the nearest hospital is. You know where it is located so you politely interrupt their conversation and tell them where to get off.