Insecurity, shyness or the plain awkwardness of a particular situation might explain some of your teen's behavior. But being a part of a conversation with someone requires social skills. If you've never taken the time to teach your teen appropriate conversation skills, now is the time.

Teens are engaged in more activities and meeting more people then they ever did in their pre-teen years. As a result, they need to know how to interact appropriately. Otherwise, they will leave a bad impression and suffer unnecessary failures. In addition, many seek part-time jobs and will need to know how to carry on conversations during interviews.

Here are a few helpful hints, from the basic to the complex, you can share with your teen to improve his or her conversation skills:

• Look at the person.
• Answer any questions asked of you, and give complete answers. Avoid "Yes" or "No" answers because that doesn't give the other person any information to use to keep the conversation going.
• Avoid negative statements. Talking about past problems, bragging or name-calling leaves a bad impression.
• Use appropriate grammar. Slang is acceptable when talking with friends but should be avoided in other situations, including during job interviews or in front of household guests.
• Start or add to conversation by asking questions. It can be as easy as asking what the other person thinks about something.
• Be an active listener. By listening to what others say, you can build on that and include their ideas in the conversation.
• Smile and show interest. This is not always easy, especially when you don't agree with the person. However, a smile can be a great way to prevent a conversation from turning into an argument.
• Keep up on current events. People who can talk about what's happening and are good at conversation are usually well-liked and admired by others.