Would you like to make some more new friends? (II)

04 Sep 2009

Friends are important in our lives. However, why do some people simply pass by and some end up as our friends?

So, treasure everyone you come across in your life! Let's continue to look at some suggestions on how to build friendships with people who you have just met.

Like meets like. 志趣相投
It's usually easier to form friendships between people who have similar interests. If you're crazy about sports, join a local team for training or competitions. If you love music, form a band or hit the dance floor. There are evening and weekend classes on just about any subject you can imagine, and even if you don't hit it off with anybody there, you'll still be picking up new knowledge or skills and will pick up something interesting to talk about.
通常擁有共同興趣的人較易成為朋友。如果你是運動狂熱份子，可以考慮參加一些本地的運動團隊訓練或比賽。若然你熱愛音樂，組織一隊樂隊或跳舞，也不失為一個好的選擇。另外，你也可以於平日夜晚或周末參加各式各樣的興趣班，即使你不能在那些活動裡認識一些和你聊得來的朋友，至少你也學習了新的知識或技能，為你加添有趣的話題。

Talk the talk. 投入聊天的過程
Smile and try to look relaxed (even if you're not) when meeting new people. Introduce yourself early and take an interest in the other person's answers. Ask questions that allow the conversation to flow easily, rather than those that are just going to be answered with a simple "yes" or "no"?
當與新朋友聊天的時候，即使你並不真的對話題感興趣，也應該保持微笑，盡量表現得自如。主動先介紹自己，並令對方覺得你有興趣了解他們更多。嘗試通過發問令聊天的過程輕鬆自然，避免答案只圍繞「是」或「不是」。

Don't forget to follow up. 切記要跟進
If you get on well with someone, offer to swap email addresses or phone numbers and keep in touch. Don't just abandon your old friends either and contact them every now and then if you've moved far away.
如果你與某人相處愉快的話，記得與對方交換電郵地址或電話號碼，讓彼此保持聯絡。與此同時，不要忘記你的老朋友，即使已經很久不見，也應不時和他們叙舊。

Be patient. 保持耐性
You're not going to find a soul mate or new best friend in one afternoon. It can take a while to get to know people, so just relax and go with the flow.
要在短短一個下午，認識一位知己或新的好朋友，這個可能性似乎不大。認識新朋友需時不少，何不保持輕鬆的心情，順其自然。

Wall Street Institute 英語學院創立於1972 年，是現時全球最具規模的國際英語專科教育機構，分校超過400間，橫跨5大洲28個國家，憑藉37年的經驗，已成功協助全球超過200萬人成功提升英語水平。Wall Street Institute 的香港分校成立於 2000年，至今在港已開設了5間分校，及1所專為公司及機構提供英語培訓服務的企業英語培訓中心。(www.wallstreet.edu.hk)