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Asia is Outside My Window

MAKE A BETTER FIRST IMPRESSION When you go abroad, it is important to make a positive impression when you meet people for the first time. If you make a good impression, it will become easier to make friends and have good relationships with classmates and host families. Here are some hits for making a positive first impression. SMILE This gesture makes everyone feel more comfortable. A good smile is one of the easiest ways to make friends. Do it often! It will improve your communication. It will also make you feel happier! NATURAL AND RELAXED BODY LANGUAGE If you are nervous, your body language might be too stiff. Relax! Let your hands move around. Show with your body that you are open and easy to talk to. Donft cross your arms or slump your shoulders. That communicates that you are closed or bored. Itfs like a body frown. Make your body smile! BE INTERESTED IN OTHER PEOPLE Itfs okay to talk about yourself, but try not to spend too much time talking about yourself. You also need to listen to others, ask questions about them, and compliment them. This makes people feel good. Show interest in other people! Ask them questions about their life. If you do, they will become more interested in you! MAKE EYE CONTACT In many English-speaking countries, looking into the other personfs eyes when you talk to them is important. It shows that you are interested in what they are saying. If you donft look people in the eyes, people may feel that you are bored, weak, or even dishonest. Try making eye contact more often! It will make you a more confident person. LOOK CLEAN AND MODEST Donft be too lazy with your looks and try not to dress too crazy or fashionable. People will judge you by looking at you. If you look like a eyankeef, epunkf or a rich fashionable person, others might feel negatively toward you. It is better if they judge you based on who you are, and not on what you look like. For first impressions, donft let your looks do your talking for you!! SPEAK CLEARLY AND CALMLY Donft worry if you think you are not talking fast enough. A slow, clear, and relaxed voice makes people feel comfortable. If you speak too quickly or nervously, it is hard for others to understand you. Relax. Think about what you want to say and say it in your own time as clearly as you can. USE THE OTHER PERSONfS NAME If you use a personfs name when you are talking with them, they will know that you are interested in them. They are more likely to listen carefully. Using a personfs name shows respect for a person. They will have greater respect for you too. Also, it will become much easier for you to remember a name if you use it often! BE A GOOD LISTENER Show interest by nodding your head and saying things such as gI seeh or ginterestingh. In English-speaking countries, people become nervous if someone is too still and quiet. Use body language and a few natural words to show that you are listening carefully. People will feel good if you do. KNOW WHERE YOU GO Show that you have good cultural knowledge of the country you are visiting. You will enjoy the country and its people more if you learn before you go. People will also thank you for it. They will respect you for understanding their culture. Know the customs before you go! You will be more confident in situations because you will know what to do. STRONG HANDSHAKES, LANGUAGE, AND QUESTIONS Be polite, but not too polite. In English-speaking countries people really admire confidence. Show that you are confident by giving a strong handshake, using direct language, and asking direct questions. If your handshake is too weak, or you avoid saying things directly because you are not sure if it is rude, then people will feel you have no confidence and they wonft be as likely to respect you. Take a chance! BE POSITIVE! A positive attitude is always better than a negative attitude. Be optimistic! Even if the situation seems bad, a positive attitude can turn it around and make it a good one. People with positive attitudes have good experiences no matter what happens. They also make more friends! Donft worry, be happy!