Conversation Guide for Older Children and Adults

Conversation skills to improve your life.

By James D. MacDonald, Speech and Language Therapist

For me, conversations are the best part of my life. That's when I enjoy people and learn the most. Here are a few things I've learned to make conversations improve my life.

* FIND OUT WHAT YOUR PARTNER IS INTERESTED IN, then talk about that.

* SAY SOMETHING ONCE THEN WAIT for your partner to have his say.

* LOOK IN YOUR PARTNER'S FACE when talking to him.

* LEARN TO READ YOUR PARTNER'S FACE to see if he is interested or not in what you are saying.

* IF YOU PARTNER DOESN'T LOOK INTERESTED, let him talk or say something new.

* If someone doesn't understand you, TRY SAYING IT AGAIN; you can probably say it clearer the second time.

* If someone still doesn't understand you, SAY SOMETHING ELSE.

* ASK OTHERS FOR HELP in keeping the conversation going longer.

* Sometimes, TELL PEOPLE YOU CAN TALK, if they think you can't.

* BE SURE NOT TO DO ALL THE TALKING; stop and wait for your partner to have his say.

* FIND FRIENDS TO HAVE FREQUENT CONVERSATIONS WITH.

* Avoid saying the same thing over and over; SAY NEW THINGS.

* SAY ONE THING then let your partner take a turn.

* AVOID MONOLOGUES. Monologues happen when one person does all the talking.

* DO THINGS TOGETHER WITH PEOPLE then talk about that.

* TALK ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS with friends you trust.

* REALIZE THAT YOU KNOW A LOT; let people know that through conversations.


James D. MacDonald has been a Clinician and researcher with children with language disorders since 1968. He was Professor of Speech/Language Pathology and Director of the Parent-Child Communication Clinic at the Nisonger Center, Ohio State University for five years. He has directed the Communicating Partners Center in Columbus, Ohio since 1995. Dr. MacDonald's website is http://www.jamesdmacdonald.org