3+Having+a+Conversation

__Having a Conversation - Week 2__

__Discussion Question__
Pick ONE of the Discussion Questions from the Discussion Questions Page. Choose from Posts #16-18. Add to the Discussion tab on the Discussion Questions Page.
 * ====**Conversation Starters Post #16** ====
 * ====**Good Manners Post #17** ====
 * ====**Verbal vs. Non-Verbal Communication Post #18** ====

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__Lesson__
How do you start a conversation? What if everyone around you is having a conversation that you would like to join but you don't know how to join in politely? Is it okay to join in other people's conversations when you are interested? It all depends. These are some of the reasons that we have to be able to read body language on other people and make sure that our body posture is correct when we approach others. There are a few important parts to having a conversation: your body posture, reading the other person's body language, listening to the other person, and staying on-topic with what the conversation is about. media type="file" key="wiki-conversation2.wav" width="300" height="50"

**Your Body Posture** Make sure that you are standing (or sitting) with body posture that is inviting to others. Do you want to talk with someone who is slouching and looking at the wall? Neither does anyone else. You need to keep your head up, eyes focused on the person you are talking to or listening to, your arms open and welcoming, and your legs relaxed. When we get tense is when someone will feel put-off by us. They might think that you don't want to talk to them or you have a poor attitude when you have improper body posture. Practice these tips when talking for the next few days. media type="file" key="wiki-conversation2a.wav" width="300" height="50"

** Reading Others' Body Language ** Reading someone else's body language can help you a lot when you are approaching them. If they have crossed arms and an angry face, should you ask them for a favor? No. If they have a smile and seem to be "floating" down the hallway, should you tell them bad news? No. When starting a conversation with someone else, try looking at their body language. Look at the faces they are making. Are they friendly or upset? What about the way they are standing? Are they facing away from you like they want to walk away or are they angled toward you like they're inviting you in? Listen to the way their voice sounds. Does it sound stressed or happy? Are they talking really fast or really slow? Why do you think this is? Look around at others people's body language for the next few days. Then, when you're comfortable, approach someone who seems open to a conversation. media type="file" key="wiki-conversation2b.wav" width="300" height="50"

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">** Listening to Others ** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Listening in a conversation sounds easy, but is often the hardest part. People are often frustrated with what they want to say so they stop listening to the other person. In order to be a good friend and a good listener, you need to make sure you are paying attention to the person you are having a conversation with. Listen to everything they have to say because it is important to them. Don't you want them to listen to and hear everything that you have to say? Have the courtesy to do the same for the other people you talk to. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">media type="file" key="wiki-conversation2c.wav" width="300" height="50"

<span style="color: #d22f2f; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 115%;">**Staying On-Topic with the Conversation** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What does on-topic mean? Staying within the same topic and ideas as what has been said in the conversation is very important. Having some new ideas to add to the conversation is okay, but having random and off-topic ideas is not okay. This confuses the other people in the conversation and usually ends the conversation.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Click on the link to read more about How to Have a Great Conversation.

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<span style="color: #d22f2f; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 125%;">__Assignment__
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Explain to me how you are going to start a conversation with the person who sits to the right of you in your general education room. What will your body posture look like, how does theirs look? When will you start this conversation? During a subject or free time? While they're excited about doing something else or when they're bored? When are they bored? Observe them for a day to see when it would be a good time. Then think of what topic you could start the conversation with. Something that you both have in common. Should you talk about 5 DIFFERENT things, or SIMILAR things?

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Answer these questions on this wiki here (under "assignment"). <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">[students will be graded on their responses to the questions asked - this will let me know whether they understand and read the lessons or not - worth 10 points]

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<span style="color: #d22f2f; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 125%;">__Wiki Entry__

 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Write a "wiki entry" (or journal entry) here with what you learned about today. [[image:Double_Check_Writing_Reminders_Picture.JPG align="right" caption="Picture taken from link" link="@http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1366&bih=634&tbm=isch&tbnid=Rdj_ENhMW4o4DM:&imgrefurl=http://mrsisclass.blogspot.com/2011/03/more-writing-paper-version-requests.html&docid=DT3k88zavTGZJM&imgurl=https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ski7d3HM0rU/TYZJMY8JFOI/AAAAAAAAAA0/eznZWvUm5WY/Double%252BCheck%252BWriting%252BReminders%252BPicture.JPG&w=388&h=469&ei=C3DVTvWRCuOjsQLkmO3zDg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=177&vpy=128&dur=5670&hovh=247&hovw=204&tx=100&ty=105&sig=104483950886069724645&page=1&tbnh=144&tbnw=117&start=0&ndsp=22&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0"]]
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Make sure to use complete sentences, capital letters, and correct punctuation.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The number of sentences you have to write depends on who you are. I have written a code to tell you how many sentences to write.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The code is the First letter of your teachers name followed by the first letter of your last name.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For example, if Mrs. Korenchuk is a student in Miss Chomic's room her code would be CK.
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">MS-1 sentence
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">MO-4 sentences
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">GS-2 sentences
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">GA-8 sentences
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">MH-7 sentences
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">DT-3 sentences

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<span style="color: #d22f2f; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 32px;">Please write your wiki entry below.