Task Give a heading to each of the following paragraphs Choose from the list below There are two headings that you won’t need Smile all the time Give yourself a chance Start small with people you know Rehearse what to say Compliment people on their clothes Develop your assertiveness Think of some conversation starters Before Having a shy style isn't necessarily a problem It's perfectly OK to take time to warm up to new people and situations But shyness blocks some people from being as comfortable or sociable as they'd like to be Some people want to feel less shy so they can have more fun socializing and being themselves around others Here are some tips for overcoming shy feelings: Practise social behaviours like eye contact, confident body language, introductions, small talk, asking questions, and invitations with the people you feel most comfortable around Smile Build your confidence this way Then branch out to this with new friends, too When you're ready to try something you've been avoiding because of shyness — like a phone call or a conversation — write down what you want to say beforehand Rehearse it out loud, maybe even in front of the mirror Then just it Don't worry if it's not exactly like you practised or if it's not perfect Few of the things more confident-seeming people are perfect either Be proud that you gave it a go Next time, it'll be even better because it will be easier Because shy people can be overly concerned with other peoples' reactions, they don't want to rock the boat That doesn't mean they're wimpy or cowardly But it can mean they are less likely to be assertive Being assertive means speaking up for yourself when you should, asking for what you want or need, or telling other people when they're stepping on your toes Often, the hardest part of talking to someone new is getting started Think of conversation openers, like introducing yourself ("Hi, I'm Chris, we're in the same English class"), giving a compliment ("That jacket looks great on you"), or asking a question ("Do you know when our report is due?") Being ready with a conversation starter (or a few) makes it easier to approach someone Find group activities where you can be with people who share your interests Give yourself a chance to practise socializing with these new people, and get to know them slowly People who are shy often worry about failing or how others will judge them Worries and feelings like these can keep you from trying If self-criticism plays a role for you, ask yourself whether you'd be this critical of your best friend Chances are you'd be much more accepting So treat yourself like your own best friend Encourage yourself instead of expecting to fail Most of all, be yourself It's OK to try out different conversational approaches you see others using But say and what fits your style Being the real you — and daring to let yourself be noticed — is what attracts friends Source: kidshealth.org Task The following phrases come from the text Match them with their synonyms or definitions branch out give it a go speak up for sb step on one’s toes rock the boat warm up to keep sb from A B C D E F G sth that upsets the balance of a situation try extend in a new direction prevent sb from doing sth annoy sb state clearly what you think on behalf of sb get used to and begin to like Task Find the words in the text that the following definitions refer to feeling trust in oneself excessively form an opinion about sth/sb give support and help practise for public performance find a way of solving s problem friendly, fond of other people’s company weak and timid expression of praise or admiration showing a strong and confident personality Task Answer the following questions When does shyness cause serious problems? What is meant by ‘social behaviours’? What is the role of conversation starters in fighting shyness? What is the best way to practise phone calls? What effect can self-criticism have on shy people? Why don’t shy people like to be involved in difficult situations? Can you overcome shyness by imitating confident people? Task Discuss some questions with a partner, then share your experiences with other people in your class Are there many people who would like to be less shy? Are you one of them? Are there any situations when you are extremely shy? When you feel confident and sociable? Which piece of advice did you find the most useful? Why? Have you ever tried any of them? Source: kidshealth.org After Answer Key Task 1: Start small with people you know Rehearse what to say Develop your assertiveness Think of some conversation starters Give yourself a chance Task 2: – C; – B; – F; – E; – A; – G, – D Source: kidshealth.org