Initiating, Maintaining, and Ending a Conversation

What is often the first step in starting a conversation with someone new?

• Talking about yourself immediately

• Asking a question

• Giving a compliment

• Ignoring the person

Which of the following is usually the most polite way to begin a conversation?

• Hey, what are you doing?

• Excuse me, can I ask you something?

• You look bored, want to talk?

• Saying nothing and waiting for them to start

Which body language shows you are open to starting a conversation?

• Crossing your arms

• Smiling and making eye contact

• Looking at the ground

• Turning away

If you want to start a conversation with a classmate, which is the best choice?

• Do you have the homework for today?

• I don’t like this class.

• Why are you sitting there?

• Staying silent

When greeting someone for the first time, what is a common way to begin?

• Hi, my name is ___.

• You don’t know me.

• Guess who I am!

• Leave me alone.

Which type of question is most helpful to start a conversation?

• Yes/No questions only

• Open-ended questions

• Personal questions about money

• Questions that interrupt

Which is a safe topic for starting a conversation with someone you don’t know well?

• The weather

• Their private family problems

• Their salary

• Their medical history

When starting a conversation, why is it good to smile?

• It makes you look friendly

• It confuses people

• It ends the conversation quickly

• It shows you aren’t listening

Which of the following is NOT a good way to start a conversation?

• “Hi, how are you?”

• “What do you think about this?”

• “Can you help me with this?”

• “You look terrible today.”

What can help someone feel comfortable when you first talk to them?

• Asking about their interests

• Talking only about yourself

• Criticizing their clothes

• Interrupting them often