Conversation Skills
Which conversation driver is this example?
"It's freezing outside!"
a. Comment
b. Conversation
c. Question
Comment
This relationship is the farthest away from you on the relationship ruler. You might see this person more than once, like at a trolley stop or the grocery store, but you don't know them and have never talked with them. What is the name for them on the ruler?
Stranger
You are at the doctor's office and they are explaining that you are sick, but you don't understand the medical words they use. What can you do?
Advocate that you don't understand.
Ask, "Can you repeat that?" "Can you explain more?" "Can you use different words? I don't know what that means."
Copy cat
This is a special comment that you add to a conversation to make someone feel good and have good thoughts about you.
Compliment ("Nice t-shirt!")
You went with a classmate to the movies and have plans to hang out at your house next weekend. She tells you about the person she has a crush on at school. What is the relationship?
Close friend
You are eating at a restaurant with family and the waiter brought you a beet salad instead of the burger and french fries your ordered. What do you do?
When the waiter comes by the table again, politely but clearly say,
"Excuse me! This meal is not what I ordered. Can I get the burger and french fries, please?"
Tell me how your day was today. I'm all ears!
What does the idiom, "all ears" mean?
I'm listening closely
What is a conversation stopper when someone starts talking before another person is finished?
Interruption
This is an acquaintance or friend you are interested in moving higher on the relationship ruler to a romantic relationship, like a boyfriend, girlfriend, or partner.
You might think they are nice to look at, feel nervous and shy around them, get physical feelings like butterflies in your stomach, and want to get close to them.
Crush
You are meeting a friend at Starbucks in Brookline Village but are running late. You worry they might leave Starbucks before you get there. What can you do?
Send them a text apologizing and explaining when you plan on getting there.
"I'm running late, sorry! I will be there in 5 more minutes!"
At an after school party:
"What do you think of my drip tonight?"
What does this slang term mean?
Drip = cool style, outfit
What are two topics, beginning with the letter "w," you can rely on to start a conversation with almost anybody?
Weather and weekend
You met a BHS student at a dog park and end up seeing them there every weekend. You say "hi" to each other and talk about your dogs.
What relationship do you have with this person?
Acquaintance
Someone gave you a birthday present you don't like very much. They are family on the relationship ruler, so you care about them and don't want to make them feel bad. What can you say?
Just thank them. When someone puts in the effort and time to give us a gift, thanking them is all we can do. If we don't like it, that something we have to keep in our thought bubble to spare people's feelings.
At an after-school party:
"This party is lit!"
What does this slang term mean?
lit = fun or exciting
What are 2 TIPS for entering a conversation that people are already having?
-Get in the person's view
-Wait for a pause
-Take a light breath
-Make an on-topic comment
-Make a small gesture
You see a student every day in restaurant class and usually say "hi" to them in the hallway. You see them in the cafeteria at lunch. You think you might want to get to know this student more.
What can you do to turn this acquaintance into a friend?
-Have a conversation related to restaurant class (favorite food, teacher, assignment)
-Invite the student to hang out in school outside of restaurant class (like sit together at lunch)
You are picking up a jar of pickles for Mom in the grocery store. She is waiting in the car for you. On your way to check out, you drop the jar of pickles all over the floor. What do you do?
Find the nearest sales clerk, apologize even if it was a mistake, and explain the accident.
"I'm so sorry! I dropped a pickle jar in aisle 5. Can you help me?"
What is the difference between slang and idioms?
Idioms are words used in special way that goes beyond the literal meaning.
Slang words are words used in a special way that goes beyond the literal meaning, but are usually only used with a specific group of people (like a certain age or culture)