Conversation Skills: Getting Started

Decide: Who You are Going to Talk To?

• Is it a good time to start a conversation?• In a hurry?• Supposed to be working?

Decide: Who You are Going to Talk To?

• Is he/she approachable?• Open vs. closed body posture• Busy?• Talking privately?

Which situation is better to start a conversation?

Which situation is better to start a

conversation?

Which are more approachable? Why?

Which person is more

approachable?

Starting a Conversation• Greet the other person

Hi

hey

What’s up?What’s

new? How ya

doin’?

Starting a Conversation• Greet the other person

• Ask or say something about PRESENT, PAST or FUTURE

From: Social Skills Training – Jed Baker

PRESENT“What are you (doing, eating,

reading)?”

“How do you like this (class, lunch, project, game)?”

“I like that (shirt, hat, book).

Where did you get it?”

PAST“How was your

(day, week, weekend, vacation)?

“I saw our science teacher at the store

yesterday”

“Did you hear about (something in the news, TV show, a

sports game)?”

FUTURE“What are you

going to do (after school, Friday

night, this evening, this

weekend, during the summer, next

year)?”

“I’m going to camp next summer.”

Starting a Conversation

• Greet the other person

• Ask or say something about PRESENT, PAST or FUTURE

• Or, Ask something about the other person’s interests

“How Do I Know What the Other Person is

Interested In?”• Something they are wearing, doing, or watching.

• Something you know about them from the past

• Common interests• Same class• Favorite TV show• Same club or group• Favorite music group

“Friendly Files”From Inside Out by Michelle

Garcia Winner

Starting a Conversation• Greet the other person

• Ask or say something about PRESENT, PAST or FUTURE

• Or, Ask something about the other person’s interests

• Listen – Show you are interested

Show You Are Interested

Give Feedback

“hmm”“uh-huh”“really!”

Nod your head

Look at or face the other person

Starting a Conversation

• Greet the other person• Ask something about PRESENT,

PAST or FUTURE• Or, Ask something about the other

person’s interests• Listen – Show you are interested• If the other person seems interested,

follow up with on-topic questions and/or comments

How Do I Know When the Other Person is

Interested?”• Expression – Friendly? Interested?

• Eye contact – facing you or turning away?

• Busy?

Interested or Bored?

Interested or

Bored?

Interested or Bored?

Sentence Starters

I can’t believe…

Did you ever…

What are you going to…

Did you know…

It would be great if…

I wonder if…

I can’t wait until…

So, what do you think?

Are there some things

that it’s better not to talk

about?www.buzznet.com

Starting a Conversation• Greet• Ask or say something about PRESENT, PAST

or FUTURE• Ask about interests• Listen – Show you are interested• Follow up - questions and/or comments

I can’t wait for…

Did you know…?

“Social Power” Point