How and what to talk about with Americans: personal experience - ForumDaily
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How and what to talk about with Americans: personal experience

Often, even knowing a foreign language well, there are awkward pauses when communicating with a foreigner. They are mainly related to the fact that we do not know what to talk about with a person from another country. Especially for such cases, the author blog "Elena in America" ​​on Yandex.Zen told what Americans like to talk about and how to make the conversation pleasant and friendly. Next - from the first person.

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1. Americans love to say:

  • about places of origin: Don't be surprised when you hear your accent and ask where you're from. Pay them back in kind - ask where they are from. Continuing the topic, say or ask something like, “Oh, you're from Chicago! We were there a couple of years ago. Amazing city!”
  • About work: who do you work, where do you work, how long do you work there
  • about sport (especially about American football, baseball, basketball and hockey) - I recommend knowing at least the names of the local teams
  • about weather - will help out in any situation.

I don’t recommend talking about race, religion, and, lately, politics.

2. Keep your face relaxed or at least half-smiling. Otherwise, they will think that something bad has happened to you, and they will pester you with the question: "Are you ok?"

3. The vast majority speaks only English - this is enough for traveling around the country and abroad.

4. Some Americans, especially the elderly, may have difficulty understanding a strong accent.

5. They love to shake hands with everyone. In a more informal setting, they love hugs. Kissing on the cheek (or touching the cheek to the cheek) is not very common.

6. When talking, look them in the eyes - you have nothing to hide.

On the subject: American - funny, Russian - unfriendly: how foreigners perceive accents of English

7. In an informal situation they call me by name, in a more formal situation sometimes too (for example, at a doctor’s office they sometimes call me into the office by name: Ilena, Elina, Elena - whatever your imagination allows); in a formal setting you might hear "Mr. + last name" or "Ms. + last name."

8. Acronyms, phrasal verbs, slang and idioms are often used in friendly communication - be sure to study spoken English.

9. Don't be shy about possible mistakes and accents - Americans are usually very polite and patient with foreigners.

10. What questions can you expect: Where are you from? What are you doing in America and how long will you be here? How do you like in the USA? Where is your family? and others.

Original column published on the blog. “Elena in America” on Yandex.Zen.

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