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Talking to Strangers

Talking to Strangers

Date: Jan 28 2011

Themes: Friend

Grammar: First Conditional

Intro

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2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

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One rule that almost everyone learns as a child is “Don’t talk to strangers.” But when you get older, being able to approach someone you don’t know and start a conversation becomes a good skill to have. Talking to strangers makes you a social, outgoing person.

But some adults still don’t like talking to strangers. If you aren’t in the mood to talk, it can be annoying if a stranger comes up to you and tries start a conversation with you. Ella loves to chat with people she doesn’t know, but Amy prefers to keep to herself. Find out why.

Dialog

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Ella

Ella

Amy

Amy

Ella:  So growing up, you know, one of the main rules as a kid is to never talk to strangers, right? But I feel like I talk to strangers every day, and I learn more about them than I’m supposed to, especially in my career.

Amy:  But you don’t just go up to people on the street and start a conversation out of the blue, do you?

Ella:  Well, if I like what they’re wearing I’ll be like “Oh, where’d you get that?” I think it’s easier for girls to approach girls and guys. But when a guy does it, you just get completely creeped out.

Amy:  It’s true, it can be creepy. Have you ever started talking to a stranger and just become fast friends with them?

Ella:  I do that a lot on the airplane, ‘cause you’re in such confined spaces.

Amy:  That’s so true.

Ella:  You know, there’s layovers. Like, “Hey, do you want to get a cup of coffee? I don’t know your name, but I don’t care ‘cause we’ll never see each other again.” So you get close pretty quick. I’ve done that many times.

Amy:  Do you have a particular icebreaker or anything that you use when you’re starting to talk to a stranger?

Ella:  I remember one time, this girl sitting next to me on the plane happened to have the same magazine. Or I try to find similarities first.

Amy:  See, I’m sort of the opposite. When I’m like on a plane or the bus or whatever, I do not want people to talk to me. I just have my book, and I just want to be left alone, and, you know, sometimes it’s not true but for the most part, I still follow the rule of don’t talk to strangers.

 

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

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Ella likes talking to strangers and does it all the time. She often starts conversations with people she doesn’t know when she’s traveling on an airplane, but sometimes she says things to strangers she passes on the street, too. She thinks a good way to break the ice with a stranger is to point out something you both have in common, or to give the stranger a compliment.

Amy disagrees with Ella. She doesn’t like talking to strangers. Sometimes she even gets annoyed if someone she doesn’t know tries to start a conversation with her. Both Amy and Ella agree that when guys approach girls they don’t know and try to start a conversation, it can be a little creepy.

Do you like talking to strangers? Are you outgoing, or do you prefer to keep to yourself?

 

Comments

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rendie

Dominican Republic

jeje am agree with ella

06:44 PM Jan 29 2011 |

Whitney S

Whitney S

Colombia

:D I would say I talk to strangers, but only if they seem reliable :)

Actually, I made a friend about 4 years ago in a bus and we kept in touch for a while. Then, I had to move and I didnt see him anymore, until the day before yesterday, when I was shopping I saw him in a bags store and we were very happy to see each other back again :D 

06:03 PM Jan 29 2011 |

Black_xs

Black_xs

Bahrain

Hey, well I don't know but  I don't set on one class cuz 'm yew know anyway I talk with the new students to know them personality. Second, when 'm n the bus almost everyone silent nd I hate that so I feel like I have to make some action there so I ask everyone about " wt's ur name, the age, wt yew study, wt yew like to do .. etc " so yew tell me if 'm outgoing ot not xD 

02:34 PM Jan 29 2011 |

farhangzrary

Iraq

hello

 

11:05 AM Jan 29 2011 |

sunyu922

China

I rarely talk to strangers when I am out of my work. But I have to be an icebreaker during my work because almost every day I get new students who enroll in our school to study English. Generally, I become more and more outgoing.

10:50 AM Jan 29 2011 |

fikas

fikas

Azerbaijan

Hi. I agree with Chingyun.

thanks.

09:17 AM Jan 29 2011 |

fikas

fikas

Azerbaijan

Hi. I agree with Chingyun.

thanks.

09:16 AM Jan 29 2011 |

ChingYun

ChingYun

Taiwan

I don't talk to stangers much, but if it necessary, I will, and try to release the friendly message.

Most time, I prefer to keep to myself.

07:24 AM Jan 29 2011 |

falcon56

falcon56

Turkey

hi igood evening

 

01:54 AM Jan 29 2011 |

luvik palestine

Palestinian Territory, Occupied

Hmmmm i donno really ,, but about me i can`t talk with strangers peaple i saw them in the street or whatever , i find it v. defficult , so i like to talk with people on the interner ,, it`s eazy ,,

12:18 AM Jan 29 2011 |

luvik palestine

Palestinian Territory, Occupied

Hmmmm i donno really ,, but about me i can`t talk with strangers peaple i saw them in the street or whatever , i find it v. defficult , so i like to talk with people on the interner ,, it`s eazy ,,

12:18 AM Jan 29 2011 |

lucklin

lucklin

Taiwan

It is not easy for me to talk to strangers. Because I don't know what I can use for  icebreakers. The other reason is that I am not talktive. I am a rather listerner.

11:30 PM Jan 28 2011 |

navab70

Ukraine

hello

09:57 PM Jan 28 2011 |

renemex

renemex

Mexico

It´s a very american thing, no to stare and no to talk with strangers (they teach this to their kids early and reinforce until the growing process).

I try to keep a balance between mantain a wall with strangers but making a window on, cuase you never know if you´ll need something of these people  

09:36 PM Jan 28 2011 |

evelin89

evelin89

United States

hey guys!!! We are strangers, we are talking about talking to strangers and we are. I think it is not a problem talking to people who don't know. True, we must be careful, but sometimes we get good friends, and who knows?, maybe these strangers can raise our family or be a future business partners.

09:29 PM Jan 28 2011 |

Alcatraz

Alcatraz

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

I think it depends on the cultures. in some cultures it is completely routine to talk with a stranger about ordinary things like the weather, compliments, the problems around the city or other things but on the other hand in some cultures it is a little strange for other people when a stranger talk to them about these topics. I prefer to be social and I really like to be an icebreaker but sometimes it is a little difficult. 

02:30 PM Jan 28 2011 |

xiangyu1987826

China

i don't like to talk with strangers,i feel scareed,it's a problem for me,but i do not how to solve it.

02:03 PM Jan 28 2011 |

malak lamrani

Morocco

wow.talk to people its our nature .we can not sit alone for many time that why when we dont found soneone we know .we will be must to talking to strangers

01:39 PM Jan 28 2011 |

Zambuka

Zambuka

United States

I don’t know why but for some reason people like talking to me in the bus, train :D especially old women . . . I’m very talkative , but lately got a little cautious of people .

01:02 PM Jan 28 2011 |

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