Begin with the work
“What are you working on?” opens a conversation around an activity rather than private details. Answer with “I’m working on…” and a specific project instead of trying to summarize your whole background.
Make the follow-up specific
Instead of only saying “Tell me more,” ask something specific, such as “What made you choose those colors?” It shows what you noticed. Choose a question you genuinely want answered rather than turning the exchange into a list of questions.
End a conversation comfortably
To close, name a detail you enjoyed and say, “Thanks for sharing.” Neither person has to promise a collaboration or exchange contact information for the conversation to feel complete.
The conversation
Hi, I really liked the picture you posted.你好，我很喜欢你刚才发的那张图。
Thank you! I’m working on a small series.谢谢！我正在做一个小系列。
What made you choose those colors?你是怎么选这些颜色的？
I wanted it to feel like a street at dusk.我想让它看起来像黄昏的街道。
I’ve been trying to write some short stories.我最近在尝试写一些短故事。
What do you usually start with?你通常从什么开始？
A place, or a very small object.一个地方，或者一件很小的东西。
That sounds interesting. Thanks for sharing.听起来很有意思。谢谢你的分享。
Make it a small practice
- Introduce one current project in a sentence.
- Prepare one specific question about a work.
- Practice ending the exchange with a short thank-you.
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