Good Discussion Maybe of Limited Use

This course has three aspects.

1. This course outlines conversation from a linguistic standpoint, categorizing and defining certain aspects of conversation. This aspect was of limited practical use to me, a native speaker from the US. It did highlight that conversation is more complex than one might think.

2. This course indicates where and when certain conversation patterns are best and worst applied. This may be useful if you have ever felt misinterpreted or if you wish you could convey something in a particular way. I liked this aspect a lot.

3. This course points out how conversation is changing and how it is different for different groups (e.g,. male vs. female). I felt that this aspect was mostly FYI. The science here (while sources were quoted) felt soft and obvious (reinforcing stereotypes).

I would say that considering the length of the course, it was a pretty good survey of the topic. It was well organized and I feel that I came away with a few really good ideas.

86 people found this helpful

Good Information

I feel that everyone should take this course just so we know that we're all on the same page when it comes to conversation structure and etiquette. Much of the information was basic and familiar, but Curzan nonetheless finds a way to make it entertaining and insightful. This course isn't necessary if you feel that you are already pretty good at conversation and how to negotiate one, but it does bring interesting linguistic ideas to bear on conversation structure. I do feel an urge to evangelize about how the conversation floor and backchanneling work after listening. Good, short course.

49 people found this helpful

Improving Your Face Time Skills

Have you ever offended someone with a compliment? Left a job interview with an uneasy feeling that perhaps you crossed a line? Maybe as a manager you've seen another manager work wonders with an employee you couldn't get the time of day from and were left scratching your head as to how?
These six courses are for you. We all have conversations and so know how they work to a point. However, Anne Curzan takes her skills as a linguist to bring out what is going on beneath the conversation and therefore why they don't always work the way we want them to. She gives helpful information on how to size up a situation and what to be aware of as you are trying to navigate dangerous waters. Particularly helpful in these courses is the concept of face, as in "saving face", but here expanded into a discussion about positive and negative face.
I in large part picked up this set of courses after having listened to Anne give another set of lectures on the secret history of words. She has an absolutely wonderful ability to teach and pack information into a course. Her voice is also quite easy on the ears.

43 people found this helpful

Short but Worth every second

Any additional comments?

absolutely worth listening to, Some of the information in here was new to me, even as a seasoned reader of effective communication books.
My only complaint is that I feel there was a lot more room for expansion on the topics... I believe her knowledge is far from tapped out and I'd love to hear more

47 people found this helpful

The Best!!!

If you could sum up How Conversation Works: 6 Lessons for Better Communication in three words, what would they be?

REALLY teaches nuances

What was one of the most memorable moments of How Conversation Works: 6 Lessons for Better Communication?

Some new realizations that I had about how to communicate in ways that preserve relationships--especially given that I am an experienced and effective psychologist. It was great to learn these new things--for myself and to teach my clients.

What about Professor Anne Curzan’s performance did you like?

Able to easily communicate the big concepts AND the trickier ones with ease. Professor Curzan also provided us with clear examples AND in different contexts (for example, within friendships, in professional/business relationships, with "strangers").

What’s an idea from the book that you will remember?

Not to overwhelm people with too much information, especially when the content is fairly negative.

Any additional comments?

I haven't "erased" the book from my library yet, since I want to review it again soon.

21 people found this helpful

A to the point demystifying course

If you are looking for something short and to the point and how to start or participate in a conversation, you might find this short course just right. Prof. Anne Curzan teaches English at the University of Michigan and is an excellent Linguist. In this course you will not only learn more about conversations, you will also receive some useful tips that will allow you to read a conversation better. I found, for instance, the way that one uses and phrases questions in different contexts very interesting.

So why don't I give it a five... The course though it even contains excellent role plays and is well presented, is in certain ways very basic. It is an appetiser that might be the starting point, but one needs to dig deeper. Still it comes highly recommended.

9 people found this helpful

Left wanting more

Would you try another book from The Great Courses and/or Professor Anne Curzan?

The Professor was engaging and inviting to listen to her lecture. However, the content seemed to jump around to try and reach a wide scope of listeners, from students, to professionals, to single people to married people. The topics always seemed to fall short on following through with the chapter theme. I even listened a second time to see if I missed some of the content, but reached the same conclusion.

Any additional comments?

The lectures touched on the key points needed for communication and the importance it plays from relationships, to being a parent and surviving in the workplace. Listen.

42 people found this helpful

More For The Conversationally-Blessed Among Us

I got a bit of helpful information to take away, but overall, this book was too short. The author was trying to appeal to "all folks" and didn't delve deeply enough into how one could actually improve their conversational skills in everyday friendships and social contacts. For me, it was like feeding a very hungry person appetizers.

What the author did include was helpful and I enjoyed her narration. She seems knowledgeable about her subject and has a pleasant voice and presentation. Whoever decided to make this book so short? It seems unfair to the listeners and the author.

This Great Course is a light introduction to conversation. In no way would I consider it a self-help book--maybe just a review for the conversationally-blessed folks out there.

7 people found this helpful

Repeat read

Initially I listened to this audio book for my personal benefit. Then I listened again for depth and further understanding. Then I listened again to share the info and techniques with others and I'm sure I'll listen again because it was that good.

6 people found this helpful

An truly entertaining introduction

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this audiobook because it was both highly informative and entertaining at the same time. Prof. Anne Curzan has indeed made a great series of lessons on this topic. But since I have studied some linguistics before, I found the content a little too basic for my needs. It did, however, provide me with some much needed repetition.

23 people found this helpful