how do not start a conversation in
English you probably already knew how to
start a conversation using phrases hey
how's it going how are things but have
you ever thought about the next
questions you're asking to start a
conversation with someone new in English
there are some topics some English
speakers would rather not talk about
when speaking with someone new in
English in this video lesson we're going
to go through six topics six topics you
should avoid when starting conversations
in English now these topics we'll be
going through in this video lesson I've
been asked by non-native English
speakers I've even been asked these
questions when speaking in my second
language due to cultural differences
talking about these six topics when
you're meeting somebody you in English
is a little strange usually I don't feel
comfortable talking about these six
topics with somebody new and I have also
asked friends and colleagues from the UK
from the u.s. from Australia it's also
strange for them to talk about these
topics when meeting somebody new in
English they have told me that it is
also a little bit strange there is a lot
of cultural differences for this reason
I thought I'd share these six topics
with you today now before we go through
these six topics make sure to hit that
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our learning community here on my
youtube channel now the topic money is
always a sensitive topic a lot of people
do feel comfortable talking about how
much they earn if they have a credit
debit card if they have a mortgage and
asking somebody that you've just met how
much they earn or they're saving or if
they haven't learn is a little bit
strange when having or starting a car
session in English look it is okay in
time if you know the person very well to
be talking about money and finances but
if you've just met the person for the
first time and you're asking them okay
how much do you and what is your salary
like it is a little bit strange and many
English speakers won't feel very
comfortable talking about this with
somebody they've just met of course it
is a little bit different if you're
applying for a job in those sort of
situations but if you're meeting
somebody on this train for the first
time it can be a little bit awkward
speaking about money and finances with
that person I do understand that maybe
talking about your salary your earnings
your culture may be normal in English
many English speakers simply don't feel
comfortable talking about money or
finances as it is a relatively personal
topic now the topic age age is something
that many English speakers don't feel
comfortable speaking about in particular
females but also males because some
people just simply don't like talking
about numbers how old they are
they don't feel comfortable with their
age I know you that age is a sensitive
number to me and it can be for many
other females and males are like look
it's not necessarily bad if you ask
somebody how old they are but do you
keep this question for a little bit
later on in the conversation so that you
can see okay are you developing a bond
are you not developing a bond do you
feel comfortable asking about that age
because some people don't like talking
about their age with somebody new
another topic you should avoid when
starting a conversation with somebody in
English is asking about somebody's
weight now talking about when an
appearance is a sensitive topic as many
people do have insecurities if you're
asking somebody it may be have you put
on weight have you lost weight they may
not feel comfortable talking about this
with you if you've met them for the
first time it is a sensitive topic
please be aware that many people don't
like talking about their weight try to
avoid this in the
getting but you can talk about this with
really close friends people that you
have really strong relationships with
like age and we another personal
question you could avoid asking somebody
you've just met is anything to do with
sex
now when I say sex I'm talking about
maybe the sexual orientation if the
homosexual heterosexual if they're
bisexual whatever orientation they are
they're married if simple with their
divorce because a lot of English
speakers simply don't feel comfortable
talking about their sexual relationships
with somebody you now of course there
are exceptions some people have no
problem talking about the fact whether
they're married if they're single
they're seeing somebody they're engaged
but but it can be a sensitive topic
especially if somebody has recently
gotten divorced if they're widowed if
they're single for this reason many
English speakers try to avoid these
questions when starting a conversation
somebody new in English if you know is
the person that you're speaking to
brings up the fact that maybe they've
recently gotten divorced maybe that
their partner passed away maybe they're
single it's fine to talk about this but
what I think he's trying to bring up
this conversation these questions if you
don't really know the person and you
know that you don't really have a strong
bond the next topic I like to avoid
quite often when signing a conversation
somebody new is religion
look religion is really a sensitive
topic maybe your culture is okay to ask
somebody if they're Christian Muslims
they're Buddhist whatever religion
debate but in English it is quite a
personal question to be asking somebody
you now even though I am religious I try
to avoid talking about religion as it is
a personal matter and a personal choice
and I'm sure many English speakers may
be watching if you are watching let me
know your opinion in the comments below
this video it is a personal choice and I
don't really feel comfortable talking
about religion but somebody
I've just met in English it is okay to
talk about it a little bit later on in
the conversation but starting a
conversation by talking about religion
is no it's not something you would do
try to avoid talking about religion in
the beginning but later on it is okay
now another topic I try to avoid when
starting conversations in English it's
any topics about politics why people can
get quite worked up about politics about
their opinions and it does create a lot
of arguments and a lot of tension it's
an intense - happy to be talking about
when starting a conversation with
somebody new in English of course if
you're meeting somebody for political
reasons maybe you're studying politics
or you know that person is interested in
politics it's okay to be talking to that
person about politics in English but if
you're just meeting a friend maybe
you're meeting a new date or somebody in
English try to avoid talking about
politics as maybe you'll have opposing
opinions and you won't get along now I
would like to highlight that maybe at
times it is okay to talk about these six
topics and starting a conversation in
English but you have to be the judge of
situation if you feel that that person
they've talked a little bit about sex
about their age about politics about
religion then you can ask them some
questions about these topics but in the
beginning I do suggest that you try to
avoid these topics as unlike myself
sometimes I don't you're comfortable
talking about these topics with somebody
new many English speakers alike don't
feel comfortable but there are
exceptions so you be the judge of the
situation and how the conversation is
going they have a friends I hope this
video lesson will help you have better
and more meaningful conversations with
other English speakers remember if you
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with them thanks for watching thanks for
being here and I look forward to thank
you in the comments below this video bye
for now