You keep asking questions based on the last thing a person says. This is called the “elaboration Ask questions similar to those a reporter might ask to draw a person out: who, what, when, where, and why question. Once you lit on something you find interesting, keep asking questions in order to get the person to elaborate about the topic as much as possible.

A good conversationalist elaborates on the experiences they’ve had. Instead of saying the party was fun, tell why it was fun. Describe why you had a good time — who was there, what happened, Use words to create images and paint pictures so that the other person can get a visual as well as an auditory image of what you’re describing to them. If you use the description effectively, you make the person feel as though they were actually there.

In order to keep a conversation going, there are seven tips that can help you be an excellent communicator:

be physically expressive without being excessive.

2. Don’t gossip. You run the risk of offending the person you’re talking to. It also makes you look small-minded.

3. Cultivate a wide range of interests.

joke. Sexual and ethnic humor, however, are not worth the effects that the jokes may have on your total image. People may be offended, which may in turn reflect poor judgment on your part and may encourage them to think less of you.

5. Don’t interrupt. People hate being interrupted. Fight the impulse to interrupt and give the person you’re talking to the time they need to complete what they’re saying to you.

6. Don’t be afraid to show enthusiasm. It allows the other person to feel that you’re interested in what they’re saying to you.

7. Be flexible in your point of view. Try to be as open as possible, and try to see things from the other person’s point of view.

If you’ve started a conversation with another person, and you are having difficulty ending it, there are several signals you can send to the other person that will bring the conversation to its close You may want to summarize all that was said. Whatever you do, don’t lie to the other person. If you’re not interested in talking to them again, don’t mention the possibility of a future meeting just to be polite. That’s hypocritical. Instead, you may want to say, “Nice meeting you.” And then, leave. But please note, before you leave, be sure to give the other person a good, firm handshake. The final impression you make can be just as important as the initial one you made.

OK. To sum up, in today’s lecture, we’ve covered three things that a good conversationalist

has to know. That is, how to start a conversation; how to keep it going; and how to end it. Now before we end this lecture, any questions?