Make American Friends! Body Language, Politeness and More Tricks!

English With Miqueas

20 Mar 201606:53

Summary

TLDRIn this video, Gaius offers six essential tips for non-American speakers to effectively communicate with native English speakers. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining a comfortable personal space, controlling the volume of one's voice, practicing polite turn-taking in conversations, being mindful of hand gestures to avoid seeming aggressive, and understanding the cultural nuances of physical touch and eye contact. These tips aim to help viewers feel more at ease and make friends while conversing in English.

Takeaways

😅 Maintain a comfortable distance when conversing with Americans, as getting too close can make them uncomfortable.
🗣️ Be mindful of your speaking volume; it should be appropriate to the environment and not too loud unless necessary.
🤝 Practice polite turn-taking in conversations, allowing others to finish their thoughts before you respond.
🙌 Avoid overly expressive hand movements, as Americans tend to keep their hands to their sides and are less animated.
🤔 Be cautious with physical contact, especially with those you're not close to, as it can be seen as intrusive.
👀 Adjust your eye contact to be comfortable for both parties; Americans may look away occasionally to avoid being too intimidating.
👋 Understand that cultural norms around personal space and communication style can vary, and adapt accordingly.
🗣️ In noisy environments, it's acceptable to speak louder to be heard, but be aware of the general volume norms.
🤝 Listening is key in conversation; ensure the other person has finished speaking before you start.
👥 Be aware that direct eye contact can be intense; mirror the other person's level of eye contact to maintain comfort.

Q & A

What is the main topic of Gaius's discussion in the transcript?
-The main topic of Gaius's discussion is about making friends and understanding body language, politeness, and cultural nuances when interacting with American speakers.
What is the first tip Gaius gives for conversing with Americans?
-The first tip is to avoid standing too close to the person you're conversing with, as it can make Americans uncomfortable. Americans typically prefer a distance of about a foot or more between speakers.
How does Gaius suggest managing the volume of your voice when speaking with Americans?
-Gaius advises being mindful of the volume of your voice, as some cultures may speak louder or even yell. It's important to adjust your volume unless you're in a noisy environment where you need to speak loudly to be heard.
What is 'polite turn-taking' as mentioned by Gaius?
-'Polite turn-taking' refers to the practice of allowing others to finish their thoughts before responding in a conversation, which is an important aspect of American culture.
Why might 'rounding hands' make Americans nervous during a conversation?
-Americans may get nervous if someone is too close and moving their hands a lot during a conversation. It's advised to keep hands at sides and avoid being overly expressive with hand movements to prevent seeming aggressive.
What does Gaius mean by 'affectionate but maybe a little bit creepy'?
-This refers to the tendency of some people to touch others frequently during a conversation, like placing a hand on someone's shoulder, which can make Americans uncomfortable, especially with people they don't know well.
How does Gaius suggest managing eye contact when speaking with Americans?
-Gaius suggests adjusting your eye contact to what the other person is comfortable with. Some Americans may look away occasionally to avoid being too intimidating, while others may maintain direct eye contact.
What are the other two videos Gaius mentions that can help with making friends?
-The other two videos Gaius mentions provide tips on how to start a conversation with anyone and where to make friends.
What is the importance of being aware of these cultural tips according to Gaius?
-Being aware of these cultural tips helps to ensure more comfortable and relaxed interactions with native English-speaking Americans, and it helps to understand what is considered appropriate behavior in their culture.
How does Gaius conclude his advice in the transcript?
-Gaius concludes by encouraging viewers to watch his other videos for further advice on making friends and having great conversations in English.
What is the potential outcome of following Gaius's tips when interacting with Americans?
-Following Gaius's tips can lead to more successful and comfortable social interactions with Americans, as it helps in understanding and respecting cultural differences in communication.

Outlines

00:00

🗣️ Cultural Tips for Communicating with Americans

In this paragraph, Gaius discusses the nuances of making friends and communicating effectively with American speakers. He emphasizes the importance of understanding body language, politeness, and cultural norms. Gaius provides six tips: maintaining an appropriate personal space to avoid discomfort, controlling the volume of one's voice to ensure clarity without shouting, practicing polite turn-taking in conversations, being mindful of hand gestures to prevent seeming aggressive, avoiding unnecessary physical contact to respect personal boundaries, and adjusting eye contact to be inviting rather than intimidating. These tips are aimed at helping non-American speakers navigate cultural differences and communicate more comfortably with Americans.

05:00

👀 Adjusting to American Eye Contact and Conversational Norms

The second paragraph continues the discussion on cultural communication, focusing on the aspect of eye contact during conversations. It suggests that while direct eye contact is important, it should be balanced with occasional glances away to avoid being overly intimidating. The speaker, Matias, advises adjusting one's eye contact style to match the other person's behavior, which can help in building rapport. He also encourages viewers to watch additional videos for further insights on starting conversations and making friends. The paragraph concludes with a reminder to be mindful of cultural norms to ensure comfortable and successful interactions with native English speakers.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Body Language

Body language refers to the non-verbal cues and gestures people use to communicate. In the video, it is emphasized as a crucial aspect of communication, especially when interacting with American speakers. The speaker mentions that being too close or moving hands excessively can make Americans uncomfortable, indicating that body language plays a significant role in how comfortable individuals feel during conversations.

💡Personal Space

Personal space is the physical area around a person that they consider their own and into which they feel comfortable allowing others to intrude. The video script highlights that in the U.S., maintaining a foot or a couple of feet distance between speakers is preferred, and getting too close can make Americans uncomfortable. This concept is important for understanding cultural differences in communication.

💡Volume

Volume refers to the loudness of one's voice. The video advises being mindful of the volume when speaking, as some cultures may speak louder or even yell, which can be perceived as aggressive or uncomfortable in American culture. The speaker suggests adjusting the volume to the environment and the conversation's context.

💡Polite Turn-Taking

Polite turn-taking is the practice of allowing others to finish their thoughts before responding in a conversation. The video stresses the importance of this in American culture, where interruptions are generally frowned upon. The speaker gives examples of how to listen for when the other person is done speaking before taking one's turn.

💡Rounding Hands

Rounding hands is a term used in the video to describe the excessive use of hand gestures that might be common in some cultures but can be perceived as aggressive or intimidating in American culture. The speaker suggests keeping hands to the sides and minimizing hand movements to avoid coming across as too expressive or aggressive.

💡Affectionate but Creepy

This term refers to the use of physical touch, such as putting a hand on someone's shoulder, which might be seen as affectionate in some cultures but can be uncomfortable or 'creepy' in American culture, especially among people who are not well acquainted. The video advises against immediate touching unless it's clear that it's welcomed.

💡Eye Contact

Eye contact is the act of looking into someone's eyes during a conversation. The video explains that while direct eye contact can be a sign of confidence and attentiveness, it should be balanced and not overly intense to avoid being intimidating. The speaker suggests adjusting one's eye contact to match the other person's comfort level.

💡Cultural Differences

Cultural differences refer to the variations in customs, behaviors, and social norms among different societies. The video script discusses several cultural differences in communication, such as personal space and turn-taking, that can impact how Americans interact with others.

💡Conversation

A conversation is an interactive communication between two or more people. The video provides tips on how to engage in conversations with American speakers, focusing on aspects like body language, turn-taking, and volume to ensure a comfortable and effective exchange.

💡Appropriate Behavior

Appropriate behavior refers to actions or conduct that are suitable or acceptable in a particular social situation. The video script offers guidance on what is considered appropriate when interacting with American speakers, helping viewers to navigate social situations and avoid causing discomfort.

💡Non-Verbal Communication

Non-verbal communication encompasses all forms of communication other than the spoken word, including body language, facial expressions, and gestures. The video emphasizes the importance of non-verbal communication in American culture, as it can significantly influence how conversations are perceived and received.

Highlights

Maintaining a comfortable distance is important in American culture.

Americans prefer a conversational distance of about a foot to a couple of feet.

Being too close can make Americans uncomfortable, leading them to back away.

Volume control is crucial; avoid speaking too loudly unless in a noisy environment.

Polite turn-taking is a key aspect of American conversation etiquette.

Interruptions are generally frowned upon in American culture.

Hands should generally be kept to the sides and not be overly expressive.

Excessive hand movements can be perceived as aggressive.

Avoid unnecessary physical contact, especially with those you're not close with.

Americans may not always touch each other, so be mindful of personal space.

Eye contact is important, but it should be adjusted to the comfort level of the other person.

Some Americans may look away occasionally to avoid being too intimidating.

Adapting to the other person's eye contact habits can help in building rapport.

These tips will help you appear more relaxed and culturally aware.

Understanding cultural norms can prevent discomfort during conversations.

Watch additional videos for more tips on starting conversations and making friends.

The speaker, Matias, encourages viewers to apply these tips to improve English communication.