How Conversation Works: 6 Lessons for Better Communication

Overview

Course No. 9382
Conversation is one of the most important – yet tricky – skills we use daily. Successful conversations help you advance professionally and build meaningful relationships while contributing to personal happiness and well-being.

In these 6 practical lectures, Professor Curzan reveals key strategies to:

• Navigate tricky conversations with grace
• Open and close exchanges skillfully
• Share conversational burdens effectively
• Build rapport in professional settings
• Handle face-threatening situations
• Maintain relationships through talk

Whether networking, interviewing, giving presentations, or connecting personally, these techniques will make your interactions more productive and enjoyable.

Video Lessons

1. How to Become Conversationally Aware (32 min)
   Discover why conversational awareness matters and learn techniques for balanced dialogue, including gender differences in communication styles.
2. How the Conversational Floor Works (30 min)
   Master turn-taking strategies, opening conversations effectively, and the role of active listening and back-channeling (“um,” “I see”).
3. How and When to Be Direct and Indirect (28 min)
   Decode explicit vs. implicit meanings and learn to redirect uncomfortable questions while maintaining rapport.
4. How to Navigate Face-Threatening Acts (34 min)
   Handle delicate situations with strategies for apologies, compliments, and cultural differences in politeness.
5. How to Negotiate Professional Relationships (32 min)
   Improve workplace communication with techniques for presentations, interviews, and hierarchical interactions.
6. How to Maintain Relationships with Talk (34 min)
   Compare “report talk” vs. “rapport talk” and explore how conversation styles affect personal connections.