1. A method for managing interactive dialog between a machine and a user comprising: verbalizing at least one desired sequence of one or more spoken phrases; enabling a user to hear the at least one desired sequence of one or more spoken phrases; receiving audio input from the user or an environment of the user; determining a timing position of a possible speech onset from the audio input; managing an interaction between the at least one desired sequence of one or more spoken phrases and the audio input, by determining at least one likelihood value dependent upon the possible speech onset.