English - Topic Changes

Lesson 88 of 139

Goal: Smooth ways to switch or add short points

Free English lessons with audio, guided practice, and speaking support.

Welcome! This short lesson helps you steer conversations naturally. You'll learn a few simple phrases that make topic changes smooth and polite.

Level B1: In Lesson 88 you'll practice four useful transition phrases for changing topics or adding a quick point in conversations and meetings. These phrases help you move on, make a brief side comment, connect a new point to what was said, and add a final thought. This lesson is CEFR-aligned and focused on real speaking practice so you can sound natural and confident.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

Recognize and use four neutral transition phrases for conversations (B1)
Practice the phrases in a short dialogue and quick quizzes
Speak each phrase aloud so you can use them naturally in meetings and chats

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.

Let's move on to ___.

Move the conversation to a named topic

Meaning: Move the conversation to a named topic.

When to use: Use when you want to end the current topic and start a specific next topic.

Tip: Sometimes learners say only "Move on to..." (missing "Let's"), which sounds abrupt.

Let's move on to the budget for next month.

Let's move on to the budget for next month.

Let's move on to the last item on our list.

Let's move on to the last item on our list.

Changing topics for a second, ___.

Mark a brief change of topic

Meaning: Mark a brief change of topic for a short side note.

When to use: Use for a quick aside or short interruption that is not the main focus.

Changing topics for a second, did you get my message?

Changing topics for a second, did you get my message?

Changing topics for a second, who will bring snacks?

Changing topics for a second, who will bring snacks?

That leads me to ___.

Connect the current topic to a new related point

Meaning: Connect the current topic to a new related point.

When to use: Use when the new topic follows logically from what was just said.

Tip: Avoid using this phrase for unrelated topics — it should feel connected to the prior point.

That leads me to our hiring plan for next quarter.

That leads me to our hiring plan for next quarter.

That leads me to one more thing about customer feedback.

That leads me to one more thing about customer feedback.

One more thing about ___.

Add a final point before changing or ending a topic

Meaning: Add a final point before changing or ending a topic.

When to use: Use when you want to add a last comment before moving on or finishing the subject.

One more thing about the presentation: add the new chart.

One more thing about the presentation: add the new chart.

One more thing about travel expenses: keep receipts.

One more thing about travel expenses: keep receipts.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Team chat after a project update

Anna and David using transition phrases naturally during a short conversation about work and plans.

Who suggests moving to a new topic?

Anna

One more thing about the schedule: can we shift the deadline?

One more thing about the schedule: can we shift the deadline?

David

Changing topics for a second, did anyone confirm the venue?

Changing topics for a second, did anyone confirm the venue?

Anna

That leads me to the budget—do we have room for extra costs?

That leads me to the budget—do we have room for extra costs?

David

Okay. Let's move on to the action items.

Okay. Let's move on to the action items.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

You're chairing a meeting and you want to start the next agenda item. Which phrase fits best?

You want to make a short aside about snacks during a social chat. Which phrase is most natural?

You hear a point about customer feedback and want to introduce a related point. Which fits?

Before you finish a topic you want to add one final detail. Which phrase should you use?

OK, team—Let's move on to the project timeline.

OK, team—___ the project timeline.

Anna: "One more thing about the budget, can we add a note about travel expenses?"

Anna: "___ the budget, can we add a note about travel expenses?"

David: "We've been talking about sales. That leads me to the marketing plan—what do you think?"

David: "We've been talking about sales. ___ the marketing plan—what do you think?"

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:

Let's move on to ___.

Move the conversation to a named topic

Say this phrase out loud:

Changing topics for a second, ___.

Mark a brief change of topic

Say this phrase out loud:

That leads me to ___.

Connect the current topic to a new related point

Say this phrase out loud:

One more thing about ___.

Add a final point before changing or ending a topic