English Communication Skills- Conversation Etiquette- How to Join a Group

How do you join in when people are gathered in groups, conversing ?

• Minimize the problem by arriving no more than fifteen minutes after the appointed time
• If you are an early arrival, people are likely to come over to you, especially if you smile and make eye contact
• If you have just walked into a gathering, first introduce yourself to the host or greeter. Gaze the room and look for the most animated group of three to five people.  More difficult are two people since they might be engaged in an intimate or important conversation. 
• To get into a group, stand on the outside with open, body language and sounds (“hmm, mmm”) nodding and smiling.  When someone invites you by words, facial expression or eye contact to step into the group, you introduce yourself and say something pleasant.
• Another strategy for entering a group is to ask a question or make a comment that relates to the discussion, such as these:
  • “What did you think of ….?”
  • “Have you heard…?”
  • “What is your opinion on …?”
  • “Yes, and …”
  • “As a thought on…”

Or enter a group with a compliment,or by agreeing with the speakers and link to your viewpoint.

Be sure to watch our English Speech Tips videos and Accent Reduction Tip videos  for more English pronunciation and accent reduction exercises.