老是找不到梗接話題嗎？聊天時只能陪笑乾瞪眼嗎？有些人可能會檢討自己英文不夠好，所以才聊不下去；有些人則是怪罪對方話題太無聊很難接，想講也搭不上腔。但你可曾想過，這些可能都是非戰之罪呢？你可以不需要出神入化的英文能力，你也不需要有個像荒謬大師威廉沈這樣舌燦蓮花的朋友才能聊得起來，你需要的只是一點說話策略，就有機會化腐朽為神奇，擺脫句點王的稱號喔！
以下我們就用數學的概念來提供一些聊天的策略，一起來試試看吧～
加法(+)：Remember you are sharing information rather than answering an interrogation. Give one or two details to keep the conversation going.
這個策略的最大重點，就是盡量避免使用簡答或用單字回覆。
台灣人最習慣用的簡答像是：
"So so"
"Fine. / Good. / …"
"Maybe."
"Sure. / Of course."
"Me too." / "Me neither."
其實聽在外國人耳裡，若不是知道你是因為語言能力有限，不知道該怎麼好好表達自己的想法的前提下，這樣的答覆方式聽起來可能像是你對他的話題一點興趣也沒有之外，甚至可能是傲慢無禮、敷衍的感覺喔！
所以練習加法策略的第一步，就是改掉簡答的習慣，開始練習組織完整句，以及提供一到兩個額外的資訊開始，有幾種方法可以幫助你延伸答覆的資訊：
1. 舉例：such as … / like … / for example, … / for instance, …
2. 解釋原因：because … / the reason why … / therefore …
3. 提出自己的看法與立場：I think … / For me, … / In my view, …
4. 提供第二個面向：Also, … / In addition, … / and … / Besides, …
讓我們來看看怎麼應用---
Example 1
A: How's your weekend?
B: Uh…so so.
A: (很難接之傻眼貓咪無言薯條)
New B: Oh it's just okay. I didn't do anything special really, because I had a very tiring week and really need a break.
A: Why were you so tired? Anything went wrong at work? New B: I ~~~~ blah blah blah…
Example 2
A: What do you think about the movie?
B: Good. I like it.
A: (是還可以接什麼之傻眼貓咪無言薯條)
New B: It's great! I think the ending is very surprising. I can never guess a movie could end like that. I like it very much!
A: Same here! Did you notice ~~~~ blah blah blah…
減法(-)：If you really don't have much to say to the question, you may choose to detour. To answer the question in opposite, use signal language like but, however, yet etc. to offer extra information to continue the conversation.
有時你的內心OS真的就是無言以對，不知道該怎麼回答這個問題，或是腦袋真心一片空白的時候，也許可以試試逆向思考。
這個策略的重點就是避免短暫沉默可能帶來的尷尬，或是直接舉白旗說不知道結束這一回合。
台灣人對於不熟悉或不擅長的話題，最習慣回答像是：
"I don't know."
"I have no idea."
"Hmm….."
"Uh..okay."
"What?"
練習使用減法策略可以選用以下幾種方式：
1. 若不確定話題的重點，可以先向對方確認：Do you mean … / Are you saying … 幫自己爭取一些思考的時間，在對方給出更詳細的解釋時，搞不好你就有點東西可以分享了！
2. 若真心是沒有任何想法，你可以直接把發球權再丟給對方：
I have no idea about it, but I'd love to hear your thoughts. /
I know nothing about the topic. What do you think? /
I don't know what to say. Can I hear from you? / What about you?
3. 若對這個問題想法不多，但換個角度想，我們可以逆向回答這個問題，利用轉折連接來開啟新的戰場：
but / yet / however / although / on the other hand / despite / otherwise
讓我們來看看怎麼應用---
Example 1
A: What do you think about the dress?
B: Hmm…OK.
A: (那所以現在是怎樣之傻眼貓咪無言薯條)
New B: I really don't know. However, if you ask me about that shirt, I'd say it's terrible.
A: Oh no!! I bought the shirt already. I should have ~~~~ blah blah blah …
Example 2
A: Do you have any plans for the summer vacation?
B: Uh..no plan.
A: (謝謝再聯絡之傻眼貓咪無言薯條)
New B: I don't have any plans yet. What about you?
A: Well, I'm thinking to take a five-day trip to Hualien by bike. Or maybe ~~~~ blah blah blah …
乘法(x)：Ask open-ended questions. Questions that start with Wh-questioners. Try to avoid yes/no questions (close-ended questions).
或許有時候你當句點王也不是心甘情願的，而是問問題的人問得真的太爛了，情勢所逼才把你推入火坑的時候，你就可以試試這個方法。
這個策略的重點就是把發問的主導權拉回自己身上，由你來開好球，把話題變大。
對於真的很難聊下去的話題，最常有的回答就是：
"Hmm….."
"OK."
"Yes. / No."
練習使用乘法策略可以使用以下幾種方法：
1. 先轉題話題的重點，然後偷偷加上新的問題：
"Well…" / "Hmm….interesting." / "That's an interesting question."
2. 要留意你要做的是開闢新的話題，讓對方可以給出更多東西聊下去，所以接下來盡量要在問題上要避免封閉式的yes/no questions，以免同樣被一拳KO：
Who / What / When / Where / Why / How.
讓我們來看看怎麼應用---
Example 1
A: It's baking hot outside. I hate summer. Do you?
B: Me too.
A: (嗯哼之傻眼貓咪無言薯條)
New B: Well, I don't like summer, either. What season in Taiwan do you prefer then?
A: I guess I like ~~~ blah blah blah …
Example 2
A: The steak is so tasty. How about yours?
B: Very delicious.
A: (喔之傻眼貓咪無言薯條)
New B: Mine is also very delicious. What other dishes do you recommend on the menu? I'd love to take my wife here again.
A: I've tried ~~~~~ blah blah blah …
最後，這些策略可不是只能單獨應用喔！當你在活動或派對上遇見心儀的妹子或鮮肉，記得沉默在此時絕對不能當金子用，雙管齊下或甚至三管齊下都可以，相信你一定可以在短短的言談間，讓對方留下一個好印象的！
持續關注我們的文章，一起學習更多實用好玩的英文喔！
融入生活學英文，自然而然講英文！