STARTING A CONVERSATION
Something you can say to start a conversation
Hello/How are you
You should not _______ when someone is talking
Interrupt/Be on your phone
You were talking to a friend but realize you are late for a meeting. How can you end the conversation politely?
Tell your friend that you really want to continue the conversation but you are running late. Ask them if you can catch up with them after your meeting.
While standing in line at the food court, how close should you be to the person in front of you?
At least an arm's length away/4-5 feet
You see a friend you haven't seen in a while, what is an appropriate way to greet them?
Walk over to them/Say hello/Wave
Two roles in a conversation
Speaker and listener
Name an example of how you can let someone know you are listening to them
When is a good time to end a conversation?
When there is a pause/people stop talking/when someone looks disinterested
No, choose a different seat
What would NOT be appropriate to send to your boss via email?
Jokes/Memes/Slang or Chat Lingo/Bad Language
When you are talking to someone, what should you do with your body?
Face the person/Make eye contact
When you join a group of people who are talking, how should you walk up to the group?
Quietly/Smiling/Don't Interrupt
True or False: If you want to end a conversation, you can just walk away without a word
False
What are examples of places/situations where it would be appropriate to stand close to your peers?
Birthday party/Talking to someone in a loud room/Concert
You are having a family dinner but need to use the restroom and cannot wait. What should you do?
It's your turn to order at a restaurant but you haven't decided what you want to eat. What should you do?
Ask for suggestions/Ask waiter to come back in a few minutes if possible
Your neighbor is telling a great story about their last vacation. It reminds you of the last vacation you took and you want to share, but your neighbor isn't done talking. What do you do?
Wait until their story is over before talking about yours
True or False: You're at a party and decide to join a group of people standing around talking and having multiple conversations within the group. After a few minutes, you decide you would like to leave. You were not talking to anyone. It is okay to just walk away.
True, although you don't need to walk away completely silently, you can quietly indicate you're leaving with a quick little nod/wave gesture
If someone is backing up slowly from you during a conversation, what could this indicate? How should you react?
That they would like to end the conversation/You are too close/You may be making them uncomfortable
Ask if they need to leave/Give them space
Your friend asks you if you like their new haircut, but you really don’t. How should you answer them?
You see someone wearing a t-shirt with your favorite band on it, how can you start a conversation?
Compliment their shirt/Say you like that band, too/Ask about their music interests
What is the term for the kind of listening that requires either asking a question, making a comment or repeating what you heard?
Active Listening
After helping an elderly lady take her groceries to her car, she wants to talk about every part of her life with you, but you have to get to work. What should you do?
Tell her you would love to keep talking but must get to work/Thank her for sharing her personal experiences
During a global pandemic, such as COVID-19, how far should you distance yourself from others?
6 feet minimum
A person you work with asks you to work on a project that is not your job. What can you say to them?
Sit down and talk with them in a calm manner/Let them know about the things that you’re already working on/Tell them politely that you will not have time to work on the project.