How to Be Interesting in English Conversations (Even If You’re Shy)

This lesson was originally published in March 2019. It was updated with a new video and new content in February 2025.

Have you ever worried about sounding boring in English conversations?

Maybe you’ve walked away from a conversation thinking:

• Did I say enough?
• Did I ask the right questions?
• Did I sound interesting, or was I just… forgettable?

You want to have great conversations in English, but you…

❌ Struggle to keep the conversation going.
❌ Feel awkward when you don’t know what to say next.
❌ Worry about sounding boring—or worse, like an interviewing robot.

And if you’re naturally shy or introverted, this can feel even harder.

Yeah, me too. I’ve felt this in my second language… and even in English.

Maybe it’s just a natural fear introverts have—that quiet worry of am I interesting enough?

Whatever the reason, of course, we all want to be interesting.
We want others to enjoy talking with us.

But here’s the good news: you don’t have to be the loudest person in the room to be interesting.

You don’t have to force yourself to be outgoing. And you definitely don’t have to change your personality.

In fact, having interesting conversations in English is easier than you think.

And in this lesson, I’m going to show you exactly how to have interesting English conversations—even if you’re shy.

Here’s What You’ll Learn in This Lesson:

✔ How to sound more interesting in English without feeling fake or forced.
✔ The #1 trick to making people enjoy talking to you.
✔ How to ask better questions in English (so you don’t get stuck in awkward silence).
✔ How to stop over-explaining and let your story unfold naturally.
✔ How to start and end conversations in English with confidence.

💡 Want to take your English conversation skills even further? You might love these lessons, too:

• How to Have Small Talk in English

• How to Start a Conversation with Anyone

• Great Questions for Talking about Travel

• 5 Ways to Be Friendly in English

• Be Kind and Polite in English at Work

Now, let’s dive into the 8 strategies that will make your English conversations feel effortless.

How to Have Interesting Conversations in English — 8 Steps

1) Be Interested, Not Just Interesting

Here’s the truth:

The most interesting people? They’re not the ones who talk the most.
They’re the ones who make others feel interesting.

Think about it:
How do you feel when someone really listens to you—when they genuinely want to know about you, your thoughts, your experiences?

It feels great, right?

So, instead of trying to impress people with long stories, focus on asking better questions — questions that invite real conversation.

✅ Instead of: “Do you like your job?” (Yes or no… and now what?)
🔥 Try: “What’s something about your job that people don’t realize?”

✅ Instead of: “Do you like traveling?”
🔥 Try: “If you could go anywhere tomorrow, where would you go and why?”

When you ask the right kinds of questions, people walk away thinking you were great to talk to.

And that’s a win-win.

2) Find Common Ground (Without Forcing It)

Now, one of the easiest ways to keep a conversation going?
Find something in common.

But here’s the thing—you don’t have to force it.

Sometimes, you won’t know what you have in common right away, and that’s okay.

The best way to figure it out? Ask open-ended questions like:

💬 “What do you wish you had more time for?”
💬 “If you could spend a whole weekend doing one thing, what would it be?”

Their answers will give you clues about what excites them.

And once you find something—even something small—the conversation will feel so much easier.

3) The Secret to Questions That Keep the Conversation Flowing: Open Questions

Not all questions are created equal.

Some stop a conversation. Others keep it going effortlessly.

Here’s the difference…

❌ Closed Question (Stops the Conversation):
“Do you like reading?” → (Yes. … And now silence.)

✅ Open Question (Keeps the Conversation Going):
“What’s the best book you’ve read recently?”

A simple trick?

If your question starts with Do you…? Is it…? Are you…?
Try replacing it with What…? How…? Why…?

💡 Instead of: “Do you like coffee?”
🔥 Try: “What’s your go-to coffee order?”

💡 Instead of: “Are you into sports?”
🔥 Try: “What’s a sport you love watching or playing?”

See the difference?
When you ask better questions, people naturally open up—and the conversation feels effortless.

4) Participate by Sharing a Little About Yourself

Conversations are a two-way street.

If you ask a question, the other person will probably ask you back—so be ready to share a little about yourself.

For example:

Let’s say someone says, “I love cooking!”

❌ You could just say: “Oh, that’s nice.”
✅ Or you could say: “That’s great! What’s your favorite dish to make? I just tried making homemade pasta last week… and let’s just say, it did NOT go well.”

Now you’ve shared something and kept the conversation going.

5) Handle Awkward Silences with Ease

We’ve all been there—the conversation is going well, and then… silence.

It feels awkward, but it doesn’t have to.

Instead of panicking, try this:

💡 Reflect on what they said: “Oh, that’s interesting! So, how did you get into that?”
💡 Add a quick thought: “That reminds me of something I read recently…”
💡 Ask a follow-up question: “What’s the best part about doing that?”

These small responses keep the conversation moving naturally.

6) Show Interest in Different Perspectives

You won’t always have the same experiences or opinions as the person you’re talking to.
But that doesn’t mean the conversation has to stop.

Instead of feeling unsure of what to say, try showing curiosity:

💡 “Oh, I hadn’t thought about it that way!”
💡 “That’s an interesting perspective!”
💡 “I see what you mean! For me, I think of it more like…”

This keeps the conversation engaging and natural—even when you see things differently.

7) Keep Responses Clear and Confident (Without Over-Explaining)

Ever been in a conversation where someone talked… and talked… and talked?

It’s easy to over-explain, especially when you’re nervous.

Instead of sharing everything all at once, try this:

🔥 “I love yoga! It’s my go-to for stress relief. Have you ever tried it?”

If they’re curious, they’ll ask more—and then you can share your full story naturally.

8) Ending a Conversation Without Feeling Awkward

Not sure how to end a conversation smoothly? Try this:

💬 “It was great talking with you! I really enjoyed hearing about your trip to Spain.”
💬 “This was fun! Let’s continue this conversation another time.”

Simple. Natural. No awkward goodbyes.

Your Turn!

Now that you have these strategies, it’s time to put them into practice.

Imagine you’re at a coffee shop, and someone starts a conversation with you.
What’s one question you could ask to keep the conversation going?

Drop your answer in the comments—I’d love to see what you come up with!

And if you’re ready to take your fluency to the next level—where you can feel truly comfortable and natural in conversations—then Fluency School is for you.

It’s my step-by-step program designed to help you bridge the gap between understanding English and speaking it with confidence.

🔹 Join Fluency School Here

See you next time! 😊

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