This document provides tips for starting and maintaining a conversation with someone you've just met. It suggests giving a smile, introducing yourself, and looking for common ground. Easy conversation starters include commenting on something in your environment or asking an open-ended question. The tips recommend asking questions to learn about the person's interests and experiences, actively listening to their responses, and avoiding personal or controversial topics. The overall message is to be friendly, find similarities, and relax to have a natural conversation.

1. How to Talk to
Someone You've Just
Met
Hülya Misir

2. Easy or Difficult?
take a deep breath
think of a good opening
and go for it!
It's really not that hard.

3. First of all
Give a good smile
Show you are kind and approachable

4. Small Talk
Think of an opener.

5. Conversation Starters
Hello, how are you?
Nice day, isn’t it?
Is this seat free?
 take a look at the person, find something to
comment such as;
Those are nice shoes. They look great on you.
 asking for direction or time

6. Look around and see if there is
anything worth pointing out.
"This is a gorgeous room!",
”Such incredible food!",
"I love this view!",
"Great dog!

7. Now you get your small
talk! So, ask a question

8. What do you do? (talking about jobs)
Where did you grow up? Did you grow up around
here?(talking about hometown)
What was the city/place you grew up in like?
(talking about places)
What do you like to do in your free time? (talking
about interesting or exciting hobbies, sharing
different experiences or stories)

9. Closed questions:
"Do you like books?",
"Have you ever been to this
university?",
"Is spring your favorite season?",
"Am I intruding?",
"Do you come here often?"

10. Open questions:
"What sort of books do you like?",
"What did you study here at this university?",
"Which is your favorite season? Oh really,
why?",
"What are you doing right now?",
“What kind of music are you interested in?”

11. That's a nice camera, where did you get it?
I like your handbag!
What an amazing necklace!
Fantastic hair!
Which of the football teams is your favorite?
I love your costume.

12. Ask them about their pets. Some
people love talking about them.

13. Talk about current events;
Hey, did you hear about that helicopter
crash? That was pretty crazy.

14. Ask questions that are
easy to answer. Don’t
make people
uncomfortable.
Don’t ask hard questions. Just ask ‘What are
you up to today? or Is school killing you these

15. Be funny if you can

16. be sensitive to the feelings
Avoid talking about weight, age or salary. Don’t be
rude.

17. Relax and have confidence
DON’T BE A WEIRDO!!!

18. Break the ice
Tell your name
Handshake
Smile
Look approachable

19. Establish similarities

20. Do’s
YOU CAN TALK ABOUT
your blog or website,
the purchase of a new car,
house renovations,
your kids' artwork prize,
vacation plans,
your newly planted garden,
a good book you've just read

21. Don’ts
politics,
religion,
gossiping or criticizing anybody

22. Talking about the weather is a
cliché.
Nobody cares about it!

23. Don’t agree
with everything.
Don’t say to
much “Me, too.”
It sounds
stupid.

24. Don’t talk about yourself all the
time.
It is annoying and boring.
‘I’ more than ‘You’
"I'm fascinated. Really."

25. Ask them questions about what they're
talking about.
Change topics when there is a pause in
the conversation.

26. Say the other person's
name

27. Show you are listening
Nod,
Say “ah-ha” or “wow’ or “oh” or “hmm,’
"Is that so?”
"Goodness!",
"What did you do/say then?”
"That's amazing!",

28. Eye contact

29. smile or laugh at the jokes
respond naturally

30. See, Feel, Tell, Sense,
Imagine

31. When you do sports;
“How did you manage to get away so
early?"

32. Don’t be afraid of pauses. It is
OK to rest and not talk for a
while.
“I have to talk, yes I have to. OMG I am stressful now. What should
I say or do? Well, I am a freak now.”

33. If s/he isn’t interested or talking, don’t ask
too many questions and push it over.
Just say you enjoyed talking and move