Follow-up questions that keep a conversation going
Echo one specific detail from the last answer. “You said you only go there on Fridays. What’s different then?” shows you were listening and makes the next answer easier.
Find a way back in after a pauseChoose the part you actually want to know
If someone tells you they switched careers, try one of three paths: “What happened the day you decided?”, “Who did you tell first?” or “What part of your old work do you miss?” Pick just one. Each invites a different story from the same detail.
Check a word before you build on it
Across languages, repeat the key term first: “By market, do you mean the shops or the street stalls?” After they confirm, ask what you were curious about. This is especially useful when a caption displays a noun that seems out of place.