How does the next paragraph end?

How to make conversation
Be an active listener.
Many people don't realize how important listening and paying attention are to being a conversationalist. In fact, this is perhaps the most important thing you can do to be good at making conversation.
Practicing " active listening " requires you to do two basic things : Concentrate on what the speaker is saying. This is mainly a mental action-rather than just " hearing " what is being said, you want to get in the habit of thinking about what the speaker is saying as they say it.