The Art of Conversation

Talking to a stranger doesn't have to be scary!

Mar.28

You arrive at a party and realize you don't recognize anyone. You're faced with a choice: start a conversation with someone or hide in the corner. If you find yourself heading for the corner, think again. Making conversation with a stranger may not be as hard as you think. But it does require some basic skills.

Pick a conversation topic

Do you draw a blank trying to think of things to talk about after you've introduced yourself? To avoid an awkward pause, have a conversation topic ready. Fortunately, some conversation topics can be used in almost any situation. For example, ask about the person's occupation, interests, education or family. Almost everyone has something to share about these topics.

Know what not to talk about

Bringing up the wrong topic can bring a sudden end to your conversation. For example, stay away from discussing politics or religion. In many cultures, it's also impolite to ask strangers personal questions about their marital status or salary.

Word Bank:

Draw a blank (idiom) 想不出，记不起来
I suddenly draw a blank trying to remember his name. I just couldn't remember it!

Occupation (n.) 职业
Many people want to be a doctor. It's a very popular occupation.

Religion (n.) 宗教
The Christian religion started around 2,000 years ago.

Marital status (n.) 婚姻状况
Amy checked "married" on the question asking about her marital status.

Salary (n.) 薪水
Nathan's monthly salary provides enough money to meet his family's needs.

Mar.29

Ask the right questions

A great conversationalist encourages the exchange of experiences, ideas and information. Asking open-ended questions will help foster such an exchange. For example, the question "Are you from America?" limits your conversation partner to a yes-or-no response. Wh-questions like why or what will allow him to say more.

Find what you have in common

When your conversation partner answers your questions, listen for interests or experiences you share. Maybe you both enjoy the same hobby or grew up in the same area. Conversing about things you have in common can keep a conversation going night.

Join another's conversation

You can also join a conversation already in progress. First, avoid groups that appear to be discussing personal or controversial matters. When you find the right group to join, make eye contact and smile with someone in the group. Politely ask if you can join them. Wait for a break in the conversation, and ask a question about the topic being discussed.

Word Bank:

Open-ended (adj.) 开放式的，没有固定限制的
I like open-ended discussions because we can say what we want about a topic. There is no right or wrong answer.

Converse (v.) 谈论，交谈
Peter likes conversing about baseball. It's his favorite thing to talk about.

In progress (idiom) 进行中
The repairs on this road are in progress and won't be completed until nest year.

Controversial (adj.) 具争议性的
The president's speech was controversial. Some people agreed with what he said and some people didn't.

More Information

Art (n.) 技巧，艺术
Conversationalist (n.) 谈话高手，健谈的人

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