In today's lesson, we're going to learn all about how to start a conversation.

在今天的課程中，我們將學習如何開始對話。

Sometimes, we call starting a conversation breaking the ice.

有時，我們稱開始對話為 "破冰"。

You can think of the ice as that initial silence between people.

你可以把 "冰 "看作是人與人之間最初的沉默。

It could be between strangers on a plane or co-workers in a lunchroom.

可能是飛機上的陌生人之間，也可能是午餐間的同事之間。

And when we break the ice, we say something friendly to start a conversation.

當我們打破僵局時，我們會說一些友好的話來開始對話。

So how do you do that?

那麼，如何做到這一點呢？

What do you say?

你怎麼說？

And what topics are best?

什麼話題最好？

Well, in our first lesson, we had an example of a greeting between work colleagues who didn't know each other.

那麼，在第一課中，我們舉了一個互不相識的同事之間打招呼的例子。

Can you remember how they got their conversation started after the greeting?

你還記得他們在問候之後是如何開始談話的嗎？

What did they say?

他們說了什麼？

Let's have another listen to that short dialogue and you can listen for the conversation starter.

讓我們再來聽聽這段簡短的對話，你可以聽一聽對話的開頭。

A pleasure, Shelly.

幸會，謝利。

Quite the set-up here, isn't it?

這裡的佈置很不錯，不是嗎？

Yes, they've really gone to town.

是的，他們真的去了城裡。

I should get them to come decorate my house.

我應該讓他們來裝飾我的房子。

Yeah, right.

是啊，沒錯。

Good idea.

好主意。

So did you hear what the first person said?

你聽到第一個人說什麼了嗎？

She said, quite the set-up here, isn't it?

她說，這裡的佈置不錯吧？

And that shows us that asking a question is a great way to start a conversation, especially if you've just been introduced.

這就告訴我們，提問是開始對話的好方法，尤其是當你剛剛被介紹時。

You can use simple and direct questions or you can use a comment with a tag question.

您可以使用簡單直接的問題，也可以使用帶有標籤問題的評論。

Just a quick note on vocabulary here.

在這裡，我只想簡單介紹一下詞彙。

The set-up of the room is the way it is organized and decorated.

房間的佈置是指房間的組織和裝飾方式。

And quite the means impressive.

而且令人印象深刻。

So Amber thinks the decoration of the room is very impressive.

是以，Amber 認為房間的裝飾令人印象深刻。

And Shelly agrees, saying, they've really gone to town.

Shelly 也同意，她說，他們真的很用心。

If we go to town with something, it means we make a big effort.

如果我們在某件事情上不遺餘力，就意味著我們付出了巨大的努力。

All right, let's try a little practice with some simple questions for starting a conversation.

好了，讓我們來練習一下，用一些簡單的問題開始對話。

Listen carefully to each example, then repeat the example yourself.

仔細聆聽每個例子，然後自己重複一遍。

Ready?

準備好了嗎？

Let's get started.

讓我們開始吧。

Can you believe how much snow we're getting?

你能相信我們下了這麼多雪嗎？

So where are you off to today?

你今天要去哪裡？

You visiting family for the holiday or just getting away?

您是來探親過節，還是隻是來散散心？

Okay, so those are examples of direct questions about things like the weather and travel.

好吧，這些都是關於天氣和旅行等直接問題的例子。

These are pretty safe topics for starting a conversation, which is why you might hear people use them so often.

這些都是非常安全的話題，所以你可能會經常聽到有人用它們來開始談話。

And you will also hear yes, no questions, like, can you believe?

你還會聽到 "是 "或 "否 "的問題，比如 "你相信嗎？

And WH questions, like, where are you going today?

還有 WH 問題，比如，你今天要去哪裡？

So those are direct questions.

所以這些都是直接的問題。

Now, how about those tag questions I talked about?

現在，我說的那些標籤問題怎麼樣了？

First, what is a tag question?

首先，什麼是標籤問題？

Well, to make a tag question, you make a comment, then add a little question at the end.

那麼，要提出一個標籤問題，你需要發表評論，然後在最後加上一個小問題。

For example, you might say, the airport is quite busy, isn't it?

例如，你可能會說，機場很繁忙吧？

Or you could say, you work in sales, don't you?

或者你也可以說，你是做銷售的吧？

Let's do a little practice with this kind of question.

讓我們來練習一下這類問題。

Remember, repeat each example after you hear it.

記住，聽到每個例子後都要重複一遍。

A beautiful day, isn't it?

美好的一天，不是嗎？

Splendid program, don't you think?

節目很精彩，你覺得呢？

You were in the afternoon workshop, weren't you?

你參加了下午的研討會，是嗎？

Now, there are a couple of tricks to tag questions.

現在，標記問題有幾個小竅門。

First, the question tag needs to match the comment.

首先，問題標籤需要與評論相匹配。

So, with a beautiful day, you need, isn't it?

所以，美好的一天，你需要，不是嗎？

Because the day is the it.

因為這一天就是它。

But with, you were in the morning workshop, you don't say, isn't it?

但是，你參加了上午的講習班，你沒有說，不是嗎？

Instead, we say, weren't you?

相反，我們會說，難道不是嗎？

The subject has to match, and the verb tense has to match.

主語必須匹配，動詞時態必須匹配。

And here's the second thing about tag questions.

這就是關於標籤問題的第二點。

A positive statement is followed by a negative tag question.

正面陳述之後是一個反面標籤問題。

Like, nice day, isn't it?

今天天氣不錯吧？

While a negative statement is followed by a positive tag question.

在否定的陳述之後，則是一個肯定的標籤問題。

Like, there isn't much snow, is there?

比如說，雪並不大，不是嗎？

Does that make sense?

有道理嗎？

Okay, so remember that little dialogue between colleagues that we heard at the start of the lesson?

好了，還記得我們在課程開始時聽到的同事之間的小對話嗎？

Let's use that for a bit of practice.

讓我們用它來練習一下。

We'll repeat the dialogue, but this time we'll beep out a couple of lines so you can add your own responses.

我們將重複對話，但這次我們會發出幾行提示音，以便您添加自己的回答。

You'll need to start with a tag question about the setup to get the conversation started.

您需要先提出一個關於設置的標籤問題，以便開始對話。

And you'll have to respond to the other person's comment.

你還必須迴應對方的評論。

Let's give it a go.

讓我們試一試。

Yes, they've really gone to town.

是的，他們真的去了城裡。

I should get them to come decorate my house.

我應該讓他們來裝飾我的房子。

So that covers using questions to break the ice.

這就包括了用問題來打破僵局。

We've practiced tag questions and some simple direct questions.

我們已經練習了標籤問題和一些簡單的直接問題。

But sometimes a question feels too direct, doesn't it?

但有時問題會讓人感覺太直接，不是嗎？

It might even seem rude with someone we've never met before.

對一個素未謀面的人，這樣做甚至會顯得很無禮。

So, there's another way we can start a conversation and that's with a simple comment.

是以，我們還可以用另一種方式開始對話，那就是發表一條簡單的評論。

This is useful for talking with strangers or someone you haven't been introduced to.

這對與陌生人或未經介紹的人交談非常有用。

What do I mean by making a simple comment?

我說的簡單評論是什麼意思？

All you do is say something about the situation or place you're in, and the other person can respond however they like.

你所要做的就是說出你所處的情況或地點，而對方可以隨心所欲地做出迴應。

Let's give it a try.

讓我們試一試。

We'll give you some good examples of icebreaker comments.

我們將為您提供一些破冰評論的好例子。

You can listen and repeat.

您可以邊聽邊重複。

Ready?

準備好了嗎？

Looks like they've got quite the evening planned for us.

看來他們為我們準備了一個相當精彩的夜晚。

There sure are a lot of people here tonight.

今晚來的人還真不少。

Looks like it's going to be a full flight.

看來這將是一次滿員飛行。

Sure is quiet in here today.

今天這裡真安靜。

Seems simple enough, doesn't it?

看起來很簡單，不是嗎？

And maybe you noticed the expression looks like, which is very useful for introducing a comment, and the word sure, which is useful for friendly emphasis.

也許你還注意到了 "看起來像 "這個表達方式，它在引入評論時非常有用，還有 "肯定 "這個詞，它在友好地強調時非常有用。

It means certainly, like it certainly is a nice day.

意思是 "當然"，比如 "今天肯定是個好日子"。

But how does this kind of conversation starter work in real life?

但在現實生活中，這樣的對話開場白是如何發揮作用的呢？

Remember, a comment like this invites a response from the other person.

請記住，這樣的評論會引來對方的迴應。

Once they respond, you can continue on the same topic.

一旦他們做出迴應，您就可以繼續相同的話題。

Let's listen to a short dialogue to see how this can work.

讓我們聽一段簡短的對話，看看它是如何發揮作用的。

You'll hear two travelers in an airport.

你會在機場聽到兩個旅客的對話。

One of them starts with a simple comment, just like we practiced.

其中一個人的開場白很簡單，就像我們練習的那樣。

Then the other person responds, and the first person continues with some explanation of the situation.

然後對方做出迴應，第一個人繼續對情況進行解釋。

Looks like it's really starting to fill up.

看來真的要開始填滿了。

Yeah, pretty busy.

是啊，挺忙的。

I think everything's kind of backed up.

我覺得一切都有點備份。

Something about a snowstorm in the Midwest I heard.

我聽說中西部有暴風雪。

So, did you hear how that worked?

那麼，你聽說是怎麼做到的嗎？

You just comment on something around you, let the other person respond, and keep talking.

你只需評論一下身邊的事情，讓對方做出迴應，然後繼續說話。

Then the conversation flows from there.

然後，談話由此展開。

Now you can try this yourself.

現在，您可以親自嘗試一下。

We'll repeat the same dialogue, but we'll beep out the first and last lines.

我們將重複同樣的對話，但會發出第一句和最後一句的提示音。

It's your job to break the ice with a comment.

你的工作就是用評論打破僵局。

Then continue talking after the other person responds.

然後在對方迴應後繼續說話。

Ready to give it a go?

準備好一試身手了嗎？

Yeah, pretty busy.

是啊，挺忙的。

OK, now we've looked at starting a conversation with strangers, but how about talking with your co-workers?

好了，現在我們已經瞭解瞭如何與陌生人開始交談，那麼與同事交談又如何呢？

Well, it's not too different from talking with people you don't know.

嗯，這和和不認識的人哈拉沒什麼區別。

You can use a question or a comment, and it's best to pick an easy or general topic, like sports or the weather or news.

您可以使用問題或評論，最好選擇一個簡單或一般性的話題，如體育、天氣或新聞。

Let's try a little practice.

讓我們來練習一下。

Listen to each example and repeat what you hear.

聆聽每個例子，並重復您聽到的內容。

OK, let's begin.

好了，我們開始吧。

Can you believe this rain we've been having?

你能相信我們一直在下雨嗎？

Did you see that race last night?

你看了昨晚的比賽嗎？

Did you hear about the latest earthquake in Japan?

您聽說日本最近發生的地震了嗎？

The euro sure seems to be in a bit of trouble.

歐元似乎遇到了點麻煩。

So, what do you think of this new guy who's running finance?

那麼，你覺得這個管理財務的新人怎麼樣？

We often ask these kinds of questions after we've already said hello to the other person, but what if you haven't said hi or hello?

我們經常在和對方打過招呼後才問這類問題，但如果您還沒有打招呼或問好呢？

Well, that's when you can use a word like or hey before your question, just as a way of introducing it.

這時候，你可以在問題前使用 "像 "或 "嘿 "這樣的詞，作為介紹問題的一種方式。

Well, that pretty much wraps it up for today.

好了，今天就到這裡吧。

We've practiced starting a conversation with questions after a greeting, breaking the ice with comments, and starting conversations with co-workers.

我們練習了在問候後用提問開始對話，用評論打破僵局，以及與同事開始對話。

Don't forget to go back and practice these techniques again, and try using your own ideas in the examples.

不要忘記回頭再練習這些技巧，並嘗試在示例中使用自己的想法。

We'll be back soon with another 9-5 English lesson.

我們很快就會為您帶來另一堂 "朝九晚五 "英語課。

Until then, so long and happy learning!

在此之前，祝大家學習愉快！