What's a good tip for keeping a conversation going after it has come to a stop and we're stuck?

Question

I'm a shy guy/quiet, don't have much experience talking but i at least try. She is a chinese girl, she talks, but only if i bring up topics and since i'm the one supposedly teaching her english, I feel responsible. Do you think if i memorize the categories in Yahoo Answers that i can formulate ideas more quickly? i always get stuck cause i cant think of anything

Answer 1

Chinese girls.

I can sound like I am stereotyping but I usually riff on Chinese pop culture. I'll ask, "what's up with the peace signs in every picture?" or why don't Chinese men make eye contact? I can feel and act very very naive about the culture because I am - but it gives them opportunity to express themselves.

Family is huge. Ask her what her mother would think if she shaved her head like an American girl.

All girls like to be teased. Ask her why she doesn't spike her hair or dye it blond, it will be shocking yet funny. It's a relatively conservative culture, so riff on family and boyfriends and Tom Cruise and Michael Jackson. Ask if Jackie Chan is really the star he acts like he is.

Ask her if she's really eaten chicken feet!

Have fun, be interested in her life and culture and be patient while she tries to explain it in English.

I hope you are friends for life....

Answer 2

You don't mention if you like this young woman or not.
a) If you are tutoring her out of kindness English as Second Lang. materials are very helpful. Check your county Literacy Council or local library for assistance.
b) If there is some feeling involved, try the same. You don't have to the lessons, but the ideas are good.

Answer 3

Find out what she is interested in and then if you are stuck discuss current affairs or news items. Or better still learn some jokes and make her laugh. Laughter they say is the best medicine

Answer 4

ask an open-ended question (a question where she has to give detail) that way u can ask more questions off of what she tells you. if anything start cracking jokes, or tell her a funny story about urself.
be honest, open and direct and the conversation should go smoothly...good luck!

Answer 5

be observant & look around you,im sure you can find things to ask
if lets say you're in a restaurant ,ask her abt her food,if she luvs it ,ask if they make it better in her country,where did she have it & if she knows how to make the dish

another example if you are at her house & you see some family photos,you can ask her abt her family,what are they doing now etc

i think memorizing is okay but being obeservant is better

Answer 6

Make a list of topics before you go. If you are the teacher, you shouldn't be winging it anyway.

Topics about what we are like as a society would be good.

Answer 7

Ask her what her favorite things to do are. Ask her is she has a favorite memory of something she did with her father. Ask her what she has dreamed and if she ever flies in her dreams. Ask her if she received a gift, would she rather it was something from nature or something from a gift store. Ask her what happened that made her laugh the most.
This is a start!

Answer 8

people like to talk about themselves. ask her questions that will get her to tell you things about her. if you think that you will not have anything to say when she stops talking, just ask her to tell you more or elaborate on something she has already said. being a good conversationalist is not so much knowing what to say but knowing what questions to ask.

Answer 9

YOu can look atr her and say something nice, like


I like yoiur hair, or else, YOu have such a nice smile.

Answer 10

Teach Her Dirty Words.