Hey guys. Today we're going to talk about some ways you can politely end a conversation.
So in different cultures, there are different ways to do
these sorts of things: starting a conversation, ending a conversation.
So we're going to tell you some of the ways in our culture that are common.
..Which isn't to say that other ways are wrong, it's just that this is what people are
used to hearing as kind of an ending, so they'll recognize it that way.
If you say something they're not used to, or they're not expecting, they might feel like
it's a little rude, or they might just feel a little uncomfortable.
So we'll give you some some common ways that you can try out.
So first we're going to go through ten examples and after each one we'll pause and you think
about whether you feel that was rude or polite. Okay?
blah blah blah Okay, goodbye!
blah blah blah blah I'm very busy. Bye.
blah-blah-blah-blah-blah It was so good to you, but I really need to go. See you later.
Okay.
blah-blah-blah-blah-blah Oh look at the time. I really have to go. See you soon.
Okay, see you.
blah blah blah blah I'm feeling sick. I have to find a toilet.
gross
blah-blah-blah-blah-blah Sorry I need to run. Let's make a plan to get together soon.
Yeah, ok. That'll be fun. Bye.
blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah I'm tired of this conversation. Bye.
[Fake crying]
blah blah blah blah I can't talk anymore. I have to go to the garage and pick up my car,
and then I had to pick up my husband to take him to his appointment,
and my son has a dentist appointment at six o'clock, but first I have to get
grocery at the grocery store because we're all out of milk and then I have to...
blah blah blah My husband is waiting for me. I'm so glad we got to talk
but I really need to go. Let's get together soon.
Okay, that'll be great. Nice to see you again. Bye.
blah blah it was nice talking to you, but I should let you go.
Okay, no problem. Bye. See you.
Okay, so based on these examples, we can think of some
basic guidelines we can follow to have a positive ending to a conversation.
One is that we want to be firm, but polite, right? So I'm being polite, but I'm also
being pretty solid. I do need to leave, or I want the conversation to end, so I'm
going to make that happen. "Sorry I need to go" -- firm but polite.
Another kind of guideline is to give a short and reasonable excuse.
Don't tell all the things you need to do, but say, "my husband is waiting for me" or
"I have to go" or..whatever it is..a short.. "I have a lot to do today." Whatever. As long as it's
short and reasonable, it's a great way to end. Making an excuse might seem rude in
some cultures, but in ours it's kind of expected That's right.
Another thing you could do is make a positive statement, right? A really common one
would be "oh, it was really nice to see you" or "I'm glad we ran into each other"
or "I'm always happy to see you, Larissa." Something like this, right? So then they
feel like you're ending the conversation, but you enjoyed what small conversation you had.
Ad a really great way to end is to suggest some plan for
the future. So "let's get together soon" or "we should make plans for the future".
Now, keep in mind this is... Sometimes we just say this to be polite and to end the
conversation. We don't always mean that we want to make plans. So you probably
shouldn't send an email the next day trying to arrange those plans. Wait for
that person to contact you because it might... They are being kind, but they might
not really mean "let's make concrete plans."
Sorry guys, we really need to go. We need to make another video.
But it's been really fun showing you these tips
and we hope to do this again soon.
blah-blah-blah-blah No. [laughter]
blah-blah-blah-blah-blah-blah No. [laughter]
This is what she wants me to do!