Name: How to Start a Conversation
Uploaded: 2018-03-04T14:24:42.000Z
Duration: 8 min 9 s
Description: Thousands of YouTube videos with English-Chinese subtitles! Now you can learn to understand native speakers, expand your vocabulary, and improve your pronunciation...

Today, let's
talk about "How to start a conversation."

Okay.  I'm still in Japan right now.  And
you know when you're in a strange place,

or a foreign country, you want to know a
person, you have to start with a

conversation. So exactly how do you do
that?  In this channel, we have already

talked about how to end a conversation
If you really want to get away.  If you

want to know more about this, you can
check the video here.  So in this video

we're gonna talk about how to start a
conversation either with a stranger or

maybe a co-worker you've always wanted
to talk to.  And today we're gonna

cover four methods that you can use to
talk to people.  In each method we will

give you two examples sentences.  Maybe it's
going to be very useful the next time

when you want to meet a new person.  And
here we go.  Method number one.  Give

compliments.  People like to hear
something nice about themselves, and

therefore it's a very good way for you
to start a conversation with someone

When that person is happy, the
conversation can keep going.  Let's just

take a look at the two example sentences.
Number One.

When you see someone very early in the morning or
for the first time in a day, you try to

notice something new or something fancy
on that person.  And you point it out.

Especially when you say "Where did you
get it?" You're inviting more information

into the conversation.  So that person
will start talking about where he or she

gets it and then you keep talking. And
example number two.

Usually after a meeting or after a
speech, you go to that person you really

want to talk to, and then you compliment
about their performance on stage.  Not

only that, you're asking about the
secrets.  If that person is a very nice

person, he or she will share how they
prepared.  Of course the purpose is for

the conversation to keep going, and your
job is done.  Just remember, in this group

when you are giving compliments, be
sincere.

You cannot go too far.  If you do, it'll
sound really fake.

People like their
opinions being valued.  We all have the

desire to be respected and that is why
when you are asking for opinions, most

nice people would appreciate a lot, which
means this conversation can keep going.

in a very positive way.  And let's just
take a look at the two example sentences here..

You are looking
at something, maybe reading a book or

reading the proceedings of the meeting,
or people's report.  You find something

that is confusing.  Then you point out the
problem, and you go to that person. Ask

the question.  Ask for opinions.  For most
nice people,  they would try to explain

things for you.  And then you go to method
number one, give a little bit of

compliments.  Then you're talking.  You're
having a conversation.  And let's take a

If you notice that person you want to talk to
likes to travel, then it's a very good

conversation piece.  You go to that person,
you start talking about your plan for

your vacation.  Maybe he or she has some
very good ideas.  While you're doing that,

you can talk about to your last vacation. 
You can share your future vacation plans.

conversation.  Remember, a conversation is
a two-way street.  Don't just listen.  Don't

just ask questions.  Sometimes you have to
share a little bit.  And let's move on to

If you find someone you want to know about,  you might have already observed a little bit.

Not in a creepy way.   Don't be a stalker.

You would go to that person.
Ask about the interest that you share

with each other.
You might start a conversation.  Let's

take a look at example sentence number
one.

If it is baseball season or basketball season, and you notice the person that you like to talk to also

enjoys the ballgame that you do, then why
not?  Start asking about the result or

your favorite teams.  Maybe you share the
same passion in sports.  This also goes

with fashion or technology.  Whatever you
think the other person likes, you can go

to that person and talk about it.
And let's move on to example sentence number two.

Sometimes it's not
something that you like.  It's something

that you don't like.  Or someone you hate.
You work in the same place.  You don't

like the manager.  Find the common enemy.
Start talking about that person.  If you

share the same opinion, then that
conversation will go without any further

help.  But be careful, you have to be very
sure about what you're talking about.

Or you might end up making some new
enemies.  And let's move on to method number four.

This is
actually very common in America.  When you

ask people some controversial questions
or some opinion questions, you say would

you rather do this or that.  You make the
other person make a choice, and you find

out what he or she likes.  Sometimes the
question could be very tricky or very

interesting.  Let's just take a look at the
two example questions.  Number one.

This is the kind of
question that asked about personal preferences.

There is no right or wrong
answers.  The fun part is you will know

more about the person.  Why not answer the
question right now.  If you have an answer,

put some comments down below.  And
question number two.

Remember, you have to make sure the
person does not get offended because

you're asking about the funeral.  Again,
this kind of question has no correct

answers.  What you need to do is pick one
and talk about the reason.  If that person

is too shy for this kind of question, you
might want to try to induce a little bit

of interest.  Through the process, you will
have the conversation.  Remember, what

you're asking this kind of questions,
don't just ask yes/no questions.  And that

is why this "would rather question" would
work a lot.  Because in addition to

choosing one of the answers, you also
have to explain why.  And during the

explanation, you will have the
conversation that you want.

So these are the four methods that I introduced today
that you can use to start a conversation

with someone.  Do you have any problem
talking to someone?  Share your comments

below.  Let me know.  If you liked this
video, make sure you click the like

button, or you can subscribe to the
channel.