Improving Your Conversation Skills Some common mistakes we have made in our conversations and the corresponding solutions. 1. (1) . Solutions: 1) Learn to listen to people’s words; 2) Avoid (2) type of questions; 3) Prod a little further if someone says something like"Oh, I dot’t know. " 2. Tightening up. Solutions : 1) Read the newspaper before leaving home and talk about the (3) ; 2) Talk about something in your surroundings, comment on the aquarium at the party, costumes, etc. 3. Feeling ill at ease when meeting others for the first time. The solution: Assume (4) . Procedures: 1) Imagine how you feel when meeting one of your best friends; 2) Don’t overdo it. 4. Poor delivery. Solutions: 1) Slowing down; 2) (5) ; 3) Speaking clearly; 4) Using (6) ; 5) Improving the body language, e.g. how to hold your drinks, etc. ; 6) Finding a balance between (7) . 5. Having to be right. The solution: Avoid arguing and having to be right about (8) 6. Being (9) The solution: End a subject when people are bored. 7. Conclusions: 1) Choose (10) things in need of improving; 2) Work on them every day for three to four weeks; 3) Notice the differences.