英語島雜誌

當你突然需要和外國人溝通聊天的時候，腦中一片混亂是正常的，不過別擔心，最後一個建議，也是最實際的方法，就是先學一些簡單實用的開場白（openers），當如果別人問候你"How are you doing?" 但你又真的沒發生什麼有趣的事，不妨回答“Nothing much, but how about you?” 這時對方很容易開始發表意見，因為聊天，需要的是一來一往的熱絡，而不是一個人高言闊論。

詢問感受How - feeling

寒暄問句NOW

你好嗎？
How are you?
How's it going?
How're you doing?

最近如何？
How's things?

一切如何?
How is everything?

你現在感覺怎麼樣？How are you feeling?
（如果朋友原本不開心或身體不舒服，就可以這麼問）

關心近況RECENTLY

詢問人最近如何，大多用完成式，因為是自從我們上一次見面到現在的這一段時間。

你最近好嗎？
How have you been?
How have you been doing?

最近都還好嗎？
How are things recently?
How have things been?
How's everything been going?

怎麼答，決定你要透露多少

外國人聽你怎麼回答這些客套問候，就會知道你到底想不想聊下去，如果只回答："Fine."，聽在外國人耳裡會覺得你其實不太想聊下去，所以你的回答會決定對方要不要跟你聊下去。

寒暄：

Not much. Just working a lot as usual. 還好，跟平常一樣工作很多。

小聊：

I went to see the new Blade Runner film last Saturday. It was actually not bad! 我上禮拜六去看了新拍的銀翼殺手，其實蠻好看的。
Fine thanks. How about you? 還行，你呢？
Not too bad, yourself? 不算太差，你呢？

深入：

My daughter had the flu the last few days, so I've been busy looking after her while she’s been off school. 我女兒前幾天得了流感，所以她請假在家我就忙著照顧她。
Not so good actually, I've been a bit sick. 其實不太好，我人有點不舒服。
Pretty tired. I've been working a lot recently to get the project finalized. 很累，我最近都在完成一個案子。