Anybody can help me out here?

waft1

I have a problem of having conversations with native co-workers. When I met a native guy in the office kitchen in the tea time,I always said 'how are you', 'good..good' or 'It rained a lot this summer',then I had nothing to say.Usually I had to walk off quickly to avoid the embarrassment of silence.Any one here have some idea about how to continue a conversation with native guys? I think one of the reasons is that I don't have the common topics with them since I know little about golfing,Canadian football,famous singers or cooking recipes etc.Also,my speaking is not good enough.But I don't really want to be a silent guy sitting on the corner being ignored.Do you guys have the same problem? How do you deal with that?

( j- z, i/ s# w$ o. {[ 本帖最后由 waft1 于 2008-8-8 03:22 编辑 ]

billzhao

Maybe you are right in figering out why. I guess it will help if you try to be closer to them.

Dumber

Read newspapers and watch news on TV, internet and then talk with them about weather, news etc.

Dumber

sometimes, even jokes will help.

xb.su

"since I know little about golfing,Canadian football,famous singers or cooking recipes etc."

ask questions about them, learn from the conversation derectly
, l6 U( i$ N+ z- Cif you dare to ask, you will find that they are willing to tell every detail of what you asked
# v/ }; A: z* x% Sgive it a shot, or just keep silent

5 Y5 z/ @, v+ c* m1 M/ L  }# m7 T[ 本帖最后由 xb.su 于 2008-8-8 15:09 编辑 ]

xb.su

like i had asked :
! ~* P6 h1 }- c; t* u6 G) y- e
....my family is too quiet, i just try to find some good music, songs or things like that to cheer up the house, but i don't know any of popular stuff in this area, could you give me some advice?
+ q7 _! G, \- ]6 K. M5 b2 g  |
9 _2 y* Q2 M" W+ c1 pand next problem for me is HOW TO MAKE A GOOD EXCUSE TO STOP THE CONVERSATION.
- R& F+ l, I- G5 ]
BELIEVE YOUSELF, and give it a try. never say "i can't" to yourself

FuzzyBear

原帖由 xb.su 于 2008-8-8 14:17 发表
like i had asked :
  }$ |# s4 u4 l! P' O! @. K* y
....my family is too quiet, i just try to find some good music, songs or things like that to cheer up the house, but i don't know any of popular stuff in this area, could you giv ...

: ]. M/ J8 `- X- m. w" \5 S
good point. thanks.

BOFA

Actually it is not just problem with the language or knowledge. Ask yourself that if you meet a Chinese guy, will you have the same problem or issue? If no, language skill is the cause, if yes, you may need to work on communicating (socializing part).

过儿

Say whatever you want to say, no matter how lame it is. You are a foreigner, people understand your accent (if they don't, that's not your problem). In fact, you should be proud of your hot foreign accent because you have multiple culture background while they don't.

ares4p

原帖由 过儿 于 2008-8-11 15:10 发表
Say whatever you want to say, no matter how lame it is. You are a foreigner, people understand your accent (if they don't, that's not your problem). In fact, you should be proud of your hot foreign ac ...

: X! y* k; R) y1 \real high hand

StarHelena

原帖由 xb.su 于 2008-8-8 15:08 发表
"since I know little about golfing,Canadian football,famous singers or cooking recipes etc."

ask questions about them, learn from the conversation derectly
if you dare to ask, you will find that t ...

: P  I. l0 Q6 q0 z1 o严重同意！

StarHelena

原帖由 ares4p 于 2008-8-11 17:14 发表
; R! \* X% f+ A8 ]
# m/ N; `# f0 a, q2 Areal high hand

拜托，　ＨＩＧＨ　ＨＡＮＤ是指专横的手段，用之前先搞清楚呀，

summer_tina

Is it supposed to be " high five"?