如何用英文開啟對話——英文迷你小課堂：英語精讀講義

How do you start a conversation with someone for the first time? 片語搭配

你第一次和別人攀談時是怎麼開始的？

Talking to new people is a great way to practice your English 文法

和新朋友聊天是練習英語的好方法，

and of course to make new friends. 片語搭配

當然還能結交新朋友。

Today I'm going to give you three pieces of advice 用詞

今天我要給你三個建議，

about what to do and what not to do to get better at starting conversations. 文法

關於如何更好地開啟對話，告訴你什麼該做，什麼不該做。

The first piece of advice is

第一條建議是：

find common ground. 慣用語

尋找共同點。

If you're meeting someone for the first time,

如果你第一次見到某人，

you must have something in common 片語搭配

你們一定有某些共同之處，

because otherwise how would you meet them? 表達脈絡

因為不然的話，你們怎麼會遇見呢？

Identify the thing in common

找出這個共同點，

and prepare to talk about it.

並準備好談論它。

Before I knew this rule,

在我知道這個法則之前，

I used to find it really hard to start conversations with people I didn't know. 文法

我以前覺得和不認識的人攀談真的很難。

Once I met someone at a party

有一次我在派對上遇到一個人，

and I said,

我說，

"Hi, this cake is nice."

「嗨，這個蛋糕很好吃。」

The other person said,

對方說，

"Oh, good."

「哦，不錯。」

And then we just stood next to each other

然後我們就站在彼此旁邊，

in silence for a really long time.

沉默了很長一段時間。

Now I've learned that I need to identify common ground

現在我知道我需要找出共同點

before starting a conversation.

在開始對話之前。

So, if Nishma invites me to her party,

所以，如果 Nishma 邀請我去她的派對，

the thing I have in common with the other guests 文法

我和其他客人的共同點

is that we know Nishma.

就是我們都認識 Nishma。

So, I'll prepare questions like,

所以，我會準備這樣的問題：

"So, how do you know Nishma?" 語氣意圖

「所以，你是怎麼認識 Nishma 的？」

If you're meeting new colleagues,

如果你遇到新同事，

then you can prepare questions about work like,

那你可以準備關於工作的問題，比如：

"So, what are you working on at the moment?" 片語搭配

「那麼，你現在在忙什麼專案？」

or "How long have you worked here?" 文法

或者「你在這裡工作多久了？」

If you're at an event like a concert or a gig 用詞

如果你在音樂會或演出現場等活動中，

and you want to talk to other people in the audience,

並且想和觀眾中的其他人聊天，

prepare questions about what you're seeing on stage like, 片語搭配

準備一些關於你在台上看到的内容的問題，比如：

"Have you seen this band live before?" 講解

「你以前看過這支樂團的現場嗎？」

You can even practice these questions

你甚至可以練習這些問題，

in the mirror at home to build up your confidence. 片語動詞

在家裡對著鏡子練，以建立自信。

The second piece of advice is

第二條建議是，

to practice asking follow-up questions. 用詞

練習問跟進問題。

This could have saved my cake conversation. 文法

這本來可以挽救我那次關於蛋糕的對話。

When the other person said,

當對方說

"Oh, good."

「哦，不錯。」時，

I could have asked a follow-up question like,

我本可以問一個跟進問題，比如：

"Have you tried it?"

「你嚐過了嗎？」

or "I love baking.

或者「我喜歡烘焙。

How about you?" 語氣意圖

你呢？」

You can practice this at home too.

你也可以在家裡練習這個。

If you're watching a film or a series and two characters meet for the first time,

如果你在看電影或影集，兩個角色第一次見面時，

pause it and think of three follow-up questions

按暫停，想三個跟進問題

that they could ask in the conversation.

他們可以在對話中問的。

If you practice this at home,

如果你在家裡練習這個，

it will soon become a natural habit 片語搭配

它很快就會成為一種自然的習慣，

and you won't have to think too hard to come up with a good follow-up question. 片語動詞

你就不必費勁去想出一個好的跟進問題了。

The third piece of advice is

第三條建議是：

read the room. 慣用語

察言觀色。

Last week I was at a bar with a friend

上週我和一個朋友在酒吧，

and he was telling me about his problems at work.

他正在告訴我他在工作上的煩心事。

When he paused for breath in the middle of a sentence, 片語搭配

當他說話說到一半停下來喘口氣時，

this guy next to us said,

旁邊的一個傢伙對我們說，

"Oh, do you like this band that's playing?"

「哦，你們喜歡這支正在表演的樂團嗎？」

We were in the middle of a conversation. 片語搭配

我們正聊到一半呢。

We both answered him politely

我們倆禮貌地回答了他，

and then turned back to talk to each other

然後轉過身繼續互相對話，

and eventually he walked away.

最後他走開了。

The problem here was that he didn't check the signs 講解

這裡的問題在於，他沒有觀察跡象

to see if we wanted to talk to him

看看我們是否想和他說話

before he started the conversation.

在他開始搭話之前。

He didn't follow the third rule.

他沒有遵守第三條法則。

Sometimes people just don't want to talk to you.

有時人們就是不想和你說話。

When this happens,

當發生這種情況時，

try not to take it personally. 慣用語

盡量不要往心裡去。

Maybe it's just not the right time. 片語搭配

也許只是時機不對。

They might be busy 文法

他們可能很忙，

or they might be waiting to talk to someone else.

或者他們可能在等別人說話。

Make sure you check the signs. 文法

一定要觀察跡象。

If someone doesn't want to talk to you,

如果有人不想和你說話，

they will probably give very short answers 片語搭配

他們可能會給出非常簡短的回答，

and they won't ask you any questions.

而且他們不會問你任何問題。

If this happens,

如果發生這種情況，

say something polite like,

說些客氣的話，比如：

"Well, it was nice to meet you." 語氣意圖

「嗯，很高興認識你。」

and then you can leave with your dignity intact. 片語搭配

然後你就可以體面地離開了。

You can practice that one at home in the mirror as well.

這個也可以在家裡對著鏡子練習。

So, there you go. 語氣意圖

好了，就是這樣。

Three tips that you can practice at home

這三個技巧你可以在家練習，

until you feel confident starting a conversation with anybody. 文法

直到你對與任何人開啟對話充滿信心。

Find common ground,

尋找共同點，

use follow-up questions,

使用跟進問題，

and read the room.

以及察言觀色。

So, what are you waiting for? 語氣意圖

那麼，你還在等什麼呢？

Get practicing now 文法

現在就開始練習吧，

and then get out there 慣用語

然後走出去，

and start having conversations with all your new friends.

開始和你所有的新朋友聊天吧。

You could even tell them all about our Mini English Lessons.

你甚至可以把我們的 Mini English Lessons 告訴他們。