The only way to find out what people are thinking is to ask them. But you have to use a strategy to start a conversation. You may use ‘cliché’ questions or stereotype questions overused by many people. To sustain your conversation, you can add an open-ended follow-up question. Open-ended questions require a longer response. Here are cliché questions followed by an open-ended questions.
Cliché followed by open-ended Questions:
- How was the end of the story?
- How did the main character win the competition?
- How was the story?
- What was the best part of The Legend of the Sword in the Stone?
- What else? Please tell me what happened next?
Expressions to show your interest and sustain your conversation.
- And then?
- And?
- OK
- Right.
- Yes?
- Really?
- Did you?
- Are you?
- Was it?
- Did he? Was he?
- Have you?
