Learning English

Neil
I'm not a photographer, but I can picture me and you together.

I seem to have lost my phone number. Can I have yours? 

Do you believe in love at first sight, or should I walk by again?

Is it hot in here or is it just you?

You're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen.

Finn
OK, right, thanks for those Neil! I'm Finn - and Neil has just said a few chat up lines. They weren't for me Neil were they?

Neil
No, they were just examples, Finn. Just examples.

Finn
That's a relief. Now, I'm no expert in chatting people up, of course. So I've just searched online and most websites say: don't use a chat-up line, like Neil just did. They're quite traditional - even quite cheesy, which means of bad quality, they're the kind of thing that make you groan, like this. (Finn groans) That's a groan. So maybe if you're very confident or if you say them in a funny way they might just work.

But otherwise, what can you say if you want to chat someone up? Can we teach you anything to help you chat people up in English? Let's listen to some examples. So, we've got Neil here again, with Helen - let's see if he can do a better job this time. Let's imagine they're waiting at a bus stop. Does Neil do a good job?

Neil
Hi. Have you seen the 185 go by?

Helen
No, I haven't. I only just got here.

Neil
Right, OK. It's really hot, isn't it? It's hot today.

Helen
Yeah, it's a... lovely day.

Neil
Yeah. So, have you got a lighter?

Helen
No. I don't smoke.

Neil
No. Neither do I.

Helen
Right...

Neil
So, can I have your phone number?

Helen
No.

Neil
Oh, right.

Finn
OK, well that wasn't too good. It started well. Neil started by asking something about their surroundings. He broke the ice. That's a good phrase. To break the ice is to say or do something in a situation where people don't know each other - maybe the situation is a bit tense, or a bit cold, like ice, then you say something that helps people relax and talk to each other.

Neil
Hi. Have you seen the 185 go by?

Finn
Now, Neil continued with another line about their surroundings: "Is it hot today?" Now that's fine, but then after that it started to go a bit wrong. Listen again. What do you think he did wrong?

Neil
Yeah. So, have you got a lighter?

Helen
No. I don't smoke.

Neil
No. Neither do I.

Helen
Right...

Neil
So, can I have your phone number?

Helen
No.

Neil
Oh, right.

Finn
Yeah, Neil was a bit too direct. He should have probably made sure she was interested, or at least a little bit interested, before asking for Helen's number. So, sorry, no points for Neil there. If you want to chat someone up, you do need to be confident, but you also need to listen: so, both listen to what they say and listen to their body language - the way they're sitting or looking at you. So, ask questions of course, but also listen.

Now, time for another example. Let's see if Catherine can do any better. She's just seen a very handsome man at a conference - that's Rob - and she wants to chat him up. It's lunch time and Rob is helping himself to a nice, free sandwich at this conference... Catherine goes across to speak to him. How does she do?

Catherine
Nice sandwiches?

Rob
You can't beat a free sandwich.

Catherine
You can't, can you? Have you tried the sushi? It's quite good you know.

Rob
Actually, no. It does look good.

Catherine
The salmon sashimi is incredible. But your cheese sandwich looks nice as well.

Rob
Oh, thanks very much.

Catherine
Anyway, how's the conference? Are you having a good one?

Rob
Yeah, yeah, not bad. I'm doing a presentation this afternoon.

Catherine
Oh what's it about, anything good?

Rob
Yeah, water pipes.

Catherine
Water pipes?! Fascinating, you'll have to tell me all about that. Can I join you while you have your cheese sandwich?

Rob
Yeah, yeah, OK then.

Catherine
Lovely.

Finn
Right - so Catherine did a few things there that helped keep Rob interested. She started by breaking the ice - which is good. She commented on their surroundings - in this case, lunch. She said:

Catherine
Nice sandwiches?

Finn
And then she suggested something just a bit different, maybe to make herself sound interesting. She said: "I like the sushi" - and asked if he'd tried it:

Rob
You can't beat a free sandwich.

Catherine
You can't, can you? Have you tried the sushi? It's quite good you know.

Rob
Actually, no.

Finn
Now Rob didn't seem too interested, so Catherine asked another question, but nothing too personal:

Catherine
Anyway, how's the conference? Are you having a good one?

Finn
They're at a conference, so asking about a conference isn't too personal. And she showed interest in what Rob was saying:

Rob
Yeah, yeah, not bad. I'm doing a presentation this afternoon.

Catherine
Oh what's it about, anything good?

Rob
Yeah, water pipes.

Catherine
Water pipes?! Fascinating, you'll have to tell me all about that.

Finn
And then, when she was confident he was just a bit interested in her, she bravely asked an important question:

Catherine
Can I join you while you have your cheese sandwich?

Rob
Yeah, yeah, OK then.

Catherine
Lovely.

Finn
So, well done Catherine. And let's summarise some points from those two conversations. First, break the ice by commenting on something around you. And then, just ask a few questions, nothing too personal, and remember, do listen to what they say. And finally - don't be scared to ask a slightly more direct question at the end - it might be your only chance! 

All these skills are important in normal conversation too, so don't worry if you're married or you have a boyfriend or girlfriend, or you just don't want to chat someone up! You don't need to chat someone up to use these skills, it's still good to know how to break the ice and how to listen well.

So there we go. The art of chatting someone up, as brought to you by BBC Learning English. Before I go, has anyone ever told you look like Angelina Jolie?