![\"Spanish](\"\/\/mydailyspanish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/Spanish-Conversation-Basics-Twitter.png\" "\\"Spanish")
<\/span><\/p>\n1 . Conversation basics- How to make small talk interesting<\/h2>\n
There are a few, universal ingredients to \u201cgood\u201d small-talk. These will be the same in Spanish and in English. Of course, you\u2019ll need to take cultural elements into account as you dive into conversations. But, as a foundation, remember:<\/p>\n
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- Be nice! <\/strong>No matter your level of Spanish, if you\u2019re nice and pleasant, you will always make a good impression.<\/span><\/li>\n
- It\u2019s okay to start with the obvious<\/strong>.<\/strong> The typical \u201csmall talk\u201d conversation we\u2019re all familiar with is the weather. It\u2019s okay to break the ice with something like this. Little things everyone is comfortable talking about, and has some knowledge of.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Do some research<\/strong>.<\/strong> Sometimes, knowing a handful of fun, interesting facts is extremely useful in small-talk situations. They spice up the conversation, and everyone loves a little bit of trivia!<\/span><\/li>\n
- Show interest<\/strong>.<\/strong> Be genuinely interested in what the other person is saying to you. Ask open-ended questions and respond to their answers.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Don\u2019t be a know-it-all<\/strong>.<\/strong> While it\u2019s always fun to drop in little tidbits of information, make sure you do so in a way that doesn\u2019t make you come off as a \u201cknow-it-all.\u201d And, in addition, don\u2019t pretend to be an expert on something you\u2019re not.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Throw in the occasional (not-creepy) compliment<\/strong>.<\/strong> You want to make the person you\u2019re talking to feel comfortable and confident. Little things like, \u201cI really like your shoes\u201d or \u201cyour home is lovely\u201d make everyone feel good. Don\u2019t take it too far, though. Showering someone non-stop with compliments might make you seem desperate or maybe even a little \u201cstalkerish.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n
- Don\u2019t drag it out<\/strong>.<\/strong> Know when the conversation is over–don\u2019t force it! Learn how to make a polite exit when there are far too many lulls or when things start to get uncomfortable.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Don\u2019t do all the talking<\/strong>. If you\u2019re like me, you\u2019re a nervous talker. Sometimes, for people like us, it\u2019s hard to stop once we\u2019ve gotten started. Learn to reign it in and give the other person their fair chance to participate in the chat.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
2. Do\u2019s and Dont\u2019s in Spanish Conversations<\/h2>\n
While small-talk is a universal thing, topics considered appropriate for small-talk are not. In English, we don\u2019t usually consider someone\u2019s marital status to be fair game for casual conversation. But in Spain, it\u2019s not uncommon that this question comes up. Politics may be a hot-topic in the US, but it\u2019s one that almost everyone seems to talk about constantly. In Spain, this topic is avoided like the plague!<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a quick guide to some of the basics do\u2019s and don\u2019ts when making small talk in Spanish:<\/p>\n
Do<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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- Stick to casual topics<\/strong> (the weather, likes, dislikes, movies, etc.)<\/span><\/li>\n
- Make eye contact<\/strong>–it shows you\u2019re interested<\/span><\/li>\n
- Respond to what you\u2019re hearing<\/strong>. In English, we\u2019ll do things like nod or respond with facial expression. In Spanish, they expect a vocal response as a sign of interest in the conversation. Here are some of the responses you\u2019ll hear a lot:<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n
- Make eye contact<\/strong>–it shows you\u2019re interested<\/span><\/li>\n
- It\u2019s okay to start with the obvious<\/strong>.<\/strong> The typical \u201csmall talk\u201d conversation we\u2019re all familiar with is the weather. It\u2019s okay to break the ice with something like this. Little things everyone is comfortable talking about, and has some knowledge of.<\/span><\/li>\n
![\"dos](\"https:\/\/mydailyspanish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Do\u2019s-and-Don\u2019ts-in-Spanish-Conversations.png\" "\\"Do\u2019s-and-Don\u2019ts-in-Spanish-Conversations\\"")
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