Welcome — ready to glide between topics like a pro? This short lesson gives you natural phrases to change or return to subjects in friendly conversations. Have fun trying them out aloud!
Level B1: In this lesson you'll learn useful spoken phrases for changing topics, bringing up new points, and returning to earlier subjects. You'll practice frames like “By the way,” “That reminds me,” and “Can I bring up something else?” in listening, short dialogue, and speaking practice. It's CEFR-aligned and great for social and work conversations.
After this lesson you'll be able to:
Recognize and use common topic-change phrases at level B1.
Practice politely introducing new topics or returning to earlier points.
Build confidence saying these phrases aloud in everyday conversations.
Ready? Let's go!
When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.
1. Reading + Listening Practice
Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.
By the way, ___.
Introduce a related new topic casually
Meaning: Introduce a related new topic casually.
When to use: High-frequency spoken discourse marker for smooth topic shifts.
Tip: Don't overuse it at the start of every sentence — it should connect things, not replace clear transitions.
By the way, did you email Sarah about the schedule?
By the way, did you email Sarah about the schedule?
By the way, have you seen the new office memo?
By the way, have you seen the new office memo?
Speaking of ___, ___.
Move from a mentioned idea to a related topic
Meaning: Move from a mentioned idea to a related topic.
When to use: Useful for connecting a new topic to something already mentioned.
Tip: Avoid using it when the previous topic is unrelated; learners sometimes force an unrelated connection.
Speaking of taxes, have you started your return?
Speaking of taxes, have you started your return?
Speaking of your trip, did you book the hotel?
Speaking of your trip, did you book the hotel?
That reminds me, ___.
Introduce a new topic triggered by the conversation
Meaning: Introduce a new topic triggered by the conversation.
When to use: Common spoken phrase for moving naturally to a related point.
That reminds me, I left my keys at home.
That reminds me, I left my keys at home.
That reminds me, we should call the client.
That reminds me, we should call the client.
On another note, ___.
Shift to a different topic politely
Meaning: Shift to a different topic politely.
When to use: Polite discourse marker for changing to a different subject.
On another note, have you seen the schedule?
On another note, have you seen the schedule?
On another note, I met a new vendor today.
On another note, I met a new vendor today.
Before I forget, ___.
Bring up something before the speaker forgets
Meaning: Bring up something before the speaker forgets.
When to use: Practical spoken transition used to insert a needed topic.
Before I forget, please sign the form.
Before I forget, please sign the form.
Before I forget, can you remind me about lunch Friday?
Before I forget, can you remind me about lunch Friday?
Can we talk about ___ for a minute?
Ask permission to move to a topic
Meaning: Ask permission to move to a topic.
When to use: Clear, polite frame for introducing a topic that may need attention.
Can we talk about the timeline for a minute?
Can we talk about the timeline for a minute?
Can we talk about your travel plans for a minute?
Can we talk about your travel plans for a minute?
I wanted to ask you about ___.
Introduce a question on a new topic
Meaning: Introduce a question on a new topic.
When to use: Soft, natural way to start a new question topic.
I wanted to ask you about the invoice.
I wanted to ask you about the invoice.
I wanted to ask you about the presentation slides.
I wanted to ask you about the presentation slides.
Let's change the subject.
Signal a clear change away from the current topic
Meaning: Signal a clear change away from the current topic.
When to use: Direct but common phrase for moving away from an uncomfortable or finished topic.
Let's change the subject — this is getting tense.
Let's change the subject — this is getting tense.
Let's change the subject and talk about something lighter.
Let's change the subject and talk about something lighter.
Anyway, back to ___.
Return to the main topic after a side topic
Meaning: Return to the main topic after a side topic.
When to use: Common discourse move for ending a digression and returning to the topic.
Anyway, back to the agenda.
Anyway, back to the agenda.
Anyway, back to the main point — deadlines.
Anyway, back to the main point — deadlines.
Going back to ___, ___.
Reconnect to an earlier topic in the conversation
Meaning: Reconnect to an earlier topic in the conversation.
When to use: Useful for resuming an earlier point without sounding abrupt.
Going back to your idea about marketing, I have a suggestion.
Going back to your idea about marketing, I have a suggestion.
Going back to what you said earlier, we should revise the plan.
Going back to what you said earlier, we should revise the plan.
This is a bit off topic, but ___
Signal a temporary move away from the current topic
Meaning: Signal a temporary move away from the current topic.
When to use: High-frequency spoken transition for introducing a related or unrelated point politely.
This is a bit off topic, but do you know where the printer is?
This is a bit off topic, but do you know where the printer is?
This is a bit off topic, but I wanted to share a quick story.
This is a bit off topic, but I wanted to share a quick story.
Can I bring up something else?
Ask permission to introduce a different topic
Meaning: Ask permission to introduce a different topic.
When to use: Useful conversational move for changing topic without sounding abrupt.
Can I bring up something else? I think it’s important.
Can I bring up something else? I think it’s important.
Can I bring up something else? It’s about the schedule.
Can I bring up something else? It’s about the schedule.
There's something else I wanted to mention.
Introduce an additional topic or point
Meaning: Introduce an additional topic or point.
When to use: Natural spoken bridge to a new point, especially in informal or semi-formal conversation.
There's something else I wanted to mention about the budget.
There's something else I wanted to mention about the budget.
There's something else I wanted to mention before we finish.
There's something else I wanted to mention before we finish.
2. Conversational Listening Practice
Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.
Office check-in between two colleagues.
Who asks to talk about the budget?
Anna
By the way, did you finish the report?
By the way, did you finish the report?
David
Speaking of reports, can we talk about the budget for a minute?
Speaking of reports, can we talk about the budget for a minute?
Anna
That reminds me, before I forget, please send me the final figures.
That reminds me, before I forget, please send me the final figures.
David
This is a bit off topic, but do you have time Thursday to review them?
This is a bit off topic, but do you have time Thursday to review them?
Anna
Let's change the subject. There's something else I wanted to mention about next week's meeting.
Let's change the subject. There's something else I wanted to mention about next week's meeting.
David
Anyway, back to the budget — I wanted to ask you about the presentation.
Anyway, back to the budget — I wanted to ask you about the presentation.
3. Guided Practice
Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.
Which phrase is used to politely return to the main topic after a side conversation?
Which phrase asks permission to introduce a different topic?
Which phrase you use to introduce something urgent you might otherwise forget?
Which phrase connects a new comment directly to something already mentioned?
That reminds me, did anyone take photos?
I was thinking about the party last night. ___, did anyone take photos?
Anyway, back to the project timeline, it needs review.
We got off track during the meeting. ____, the project timeline needs review.
Before I forget, I need to mention the invoice.
I need to say something quick — ___. I don't want to forget to mention the invoice.
Match the core phrases
Match the extra phrases
4. Speaking Practice
Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).
Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.
Say this phrase out loud:
By the way, ___.
Introduce a related new topic casually
Say this phrase out loud:
Speaking of ___, ___.
Move from a mentioned idea to a related topic
Say this phrase out loud:
That reminds me, ___.
Introduce a new topic triggered by the conversation
Say this phrase out loud:
On another note, ___.
Shift to a different topic politely
Say this phrase out loud:
Before I forget, ___.
Bring up something before the speaker forgets
Say this phrase out loud:
Can we talk about ___ for a minute?
Ask permission to move to a topic
Say this phrase out loud:
I wanted to ask you about ___.
Introduce a question on a new topic
Say this phrase out loud:
Let's change the subject.
Signal a clear change away from the current topic
Say this phrase out loud:
Anyway, back to ___.
Return to the main topic after a side topic
Say this phrase out loud:
Going back to ___, ___.
Reconnect to an earlier topic in the conversation
Say this phrase out loud:
This is a bit off topic, but ___
Signal a temporary move away from the current topic
