Ways To Better Conversation (1950)

[Music] conversation talking with others is one of the most important things you do when you know how to carry on a good conversation you interests you'll lead you to new friends good conversation is the key to a greater feeling of ease knowledge and like a good game a good conversation can be played for everyone someone gets an idea someone else comments on it another disagrees still another adds his share and so it goes everyone keeping his eye on the ball following the topic joining in and passing it around let's listen to a conversation see if you can tell what's good about it I'm sorry if I sound C but I don't like it but Jane the community club that selected this plant for the summer camp I think it looks pretty Keen why don't you like it Jane well for one thing I think the cabins are too far from the water it's inconvenient you have to go all this way down to the lake to go swimming and then all the way back again to change I see your point J and I agree I don't think anyone will like walking all that way back and forth listen everybody that walk will give your body good conditioning sort of a warm-up for your swim but seriously you know I can see where it wouldn't look very good for the cabins to be down here on the beach maybe you're right they do make a nice grouping up there on the hill don't they now what was good about this conversation some of its qualities you can find in any good game first it's inclusive everyone participates second it's spontaneous Lively and free third it's Pleasant interesting and enjoyable and fourth it's profitable something can be learned from it and a good conversation like a good game can mean more friends new interests a greater feeling of ease and fun but what about a conversation like this it's a funny looking thing isn't it well it looks like it'll be great swimming say did I ever tell you about the hat if you think you can swim you ought to see me I wonder what's on a show I don't know now now listen to this you don't know what you're talking about why I always know what I'm talking about why there was one one time when my folks and I were coming back from New York in the car you see and U uh they didn't see the the road sign that pointed toward the city so but I told them you see and if it wasn't there's almost everything wrong with this conversation isn't there when you don't know how to talk with others you miss out on fun friends and a chance to learn something a good conversation like a good game depends on skill you have to know how to keep the ball going how to handle it let's see what each person must do to make a good conversation first be courtious remember how polite and friendly each member of this group was courtesy was expressed in phrases such as I'm sorry why don't you like it Jane but seriously and all spoke in a pleasant tone on a Pleasant topic showed interest in one another's remarks and kept a cheerful attitude you can feel at ease in a conversation where everyone is courteous second include everyone each of the persons in this conversation addressed his remarks to the whole group or to different members at different times instead of always to the same person they do make a nice grouping on the he don't they I agree with Jane listen everybody third respect others opinion be ready to consider another point of VI instead of ridiculing or flatly contradicting here are some handy phrases to remember I see your point I can see how it might maybe you're right fourth contribute remember how each member of this conversation spoke up and contributed something to the discussion for one thing I think the cabins are too far from the water it's inconvenient I don't think anyone will like walking all that way back and forth why that walk will give your body good conditioning fifth stick to the subject remember how from the beginning of the conversation I just don't like it to the end it might not look very good to have the buildings down here on the beach each person stayed with a subject finally be a good listener don't try to do more than your share of the talking remember how the members of this group were all interested listeners being a good listener is an important part of knowing how to converse now let's look back at that other conversation do you think they practice the rules well looks like it'll be great swimming say did I ever tell you about the time I swim my new hair oh look if you think that you can swim you ought to see me well uh no the show oh Che you don't know what you're talking about anyway now you just listen to me is there courtesy do they stick to the subject is there respect for others opinions road sign that pointed toward the city they were going to miss the city entirely but I told them oh yeah because if if I didn't tell him you know why we are they good listeners do all contribute does the conversation include everyone yes you get along better if you practice the rules of good conversation make a habit of following these rules whenever you speak with others can you recognize these rules in action look for examples of being courteous including everyone respecting others contributing sticking to the subject and being good listeners what do you think of the plans for the new campsite oh I like it what's good about it Archie and I didn't like it at first but Woody convinced us it's pretty good yeah there see well you haven't told us your opinion yet Diane well I don't know I just don't like it of course we can't always agree say did you see the picture of the new motorboats in the paper this morning where they beautiful but just why don't you like the camp plan for of us are Forest well I just don't like the picnic tables over here and maybe there could be a road coming along this way on into the back of the cabin how much would a road cost I don't think the community could afford one but I can just see us out there now with pcks and shovels when you follow the rules when you practice the skill s you can have a good conversation one that is spontaneous inclusive Pleasant and profitable he when do they expect to have the camp completed next summer I hope boy I'll see and we'll have to have a picnic the very first day the grounds are open yeah that's all right all right fishy heard [Music]