HOW TO KEEP THE CONVERSATION

GOING?

Have you ever been stuck in a conversation?

( B A C K G R O U N D K N O W L E D G E )

PARTS OF A DIALOG

•OPENING

This is the part where you greet and do a small talk.

•BODY

In the body part, you talk about “the main topic” of

your conversation in which you need to keep your

conversation going.

•(Pre) CLOSING

You give hint to show that you need to stop having

conversation.

INTRODUCTION

oGREETINGS

The type of greetings to be used is always depends on the

situations.

e.g. You might use “Hey, what’s up?” when you are in a casual

conversation with a friend but “How are you doing” with a boss.

o SMALL TALKS

Other option is that you can use a conversation starter for a small

talk before you come to the main topic of your conversation.

SMALL TALKSoCONVERSATION STARTER

1. Asking questions:a) Talking about current events, e.g. Did you catch the

news today?b) In a social event, e.g. How do you like the food?

2. Making statements:a) Talking about the weather, e.g. It’s so damn hot!b) Complimenting, e.g. Lovely dress.

3. Offering things:a) Offering help, e.g. Need a hand?b) Offering candies, e.g. Some candies?

BODYHow to keep the conversation going:

o Ask more open ended questions (W-H Questions)

o Listern attentively, clarify if you fail to understand by:1. Asking for repetition: Pardon me? Excuse me? Could you

repeat?2. Paraphrasing: Do you mean.....?

o Avoid crucial topics, e.g. Religion, political campaign, salary.

o Use fillers when you get blank, e.g. Well, Umm, What I’m

going to say is...

o Paraphrasing the unknown vocabulary, e.g. It’s the thing you

use to clean the floor.

CLOSING

How to close a conversation:

o Give hint, e.g. What, it’s already at 4. I have a

meeting soon.

o Commenting on the conversation first, e.g. It’s

been nice talking to you but I have to get going.

o Interupting in urgent situation, e.g. I’d love to

listen to your story but so sorry I have to leave

soon.

SOURCES

http://www.wikihow.com/Have-a-Great-Conversation

http://

www.wikihow.com/Sample/Ways-to-Keep-a-Conversat

ion-Going

http://www.englishclub.com/speaking/small-talk_con

versation-starters.htm