In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: Good conversationalists make this easy, but even with closed off people, you can learn to find doors to open into other topics and avenues, looking for a personal connection that can give you something to really talk about together. It's kind of an art, but there are some tricks to developing it in yourself. Ask about someone's history with a particular subject. If someone mentions going running, ask them how long they've been running, whether or not they enjoy it, where they go running, and other associated questions. Ask about someone's opinion of a particular subject. If someone mentions working at Burger King during high school, ask what it was like. Solicit their opinion. Always be following up. There's no problem in following up someone's short answer with, "Why's that?" or "How?" Smile, to avoid seeming like you're prying, and that you're actually just curious. People like to talk about themselves, so don't be afraid of soliciting their opinions and doing a little probing into their mind. While some people who are more guarded may be reticent to talk, others will enjoy being able to share their opinion with someone who is generally curious. You can always back-track if you need to, and say, "Sorry, I don't mean to pry, I'm just curious." Don't be silent while you think of answers to questions you've been asked, just start paraphrasing what the other person has said and let yourself start talking. If you're a generally shy person, it's likely that you're overthinking what you say before you say it, and often it'll come out just as well, if not better, the less you censor yourself, and the more you just allow yourself to speak. Lots of people worry about "sounding dumb" or that they're going to not say the "right" thing, but this usually results in unnatural speech patterns and awkward timing in conversations. If you want to be more talkative, practice responding, even if you're not positive what you're going to say. Sometimes, a subject will just die out, and then awkwardness can quickly set in. If you don't have anything more to say about a particular subject, don't be afraid to hop to something else, even if it doesn't necessarily follow. If you're having drinks and talking about football, and then football dries up, gesture to the drink and ask something like, "How is that? What's in it again?" Talk drinks for a while while you think of other subjects. Talk about what you want to talk about, and what you know a lot about. Things that you're very knowledgeable about are interesting to other people, at least people who are worth talking to. If you run out of things to talk about, it's good to have a pretty good grasp of current events, common topics, and big headlines, so you can talk about something that your conversation partner is likely to have heard of, and you can find common ground. You don't even have to know a lot about topics to engage in conversation. Say something like, "What's the deal with this new Senate controversy? I haven't really heard specifics. Have you?" You don't have to be a man to fall into the "mansplaining" trap. Never assume that the person you're talking to doesn't know anything about a topic, even if it's obscure, or very specific, or it may come off as condescension.
Summary: Look for open doors in the conversation. Don't be afraid to go deep. Think out loud. Don't be afraid to switch topics. Stay informed about current events.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: This will make it easier to whisper in her ear, which would be awkward directly from the frontit could appear as if you're going in for a kiss. If you'd still like to add some element of surprise, wait until she turns her head away from you before approaching her ear. If you already know her fairly well, you could try to surprise her by whispering from behind her. But do this only if you know she's not easily frightened, since it could produce a big scare. If you especially want to avoid startling her, you can try placing one hand gently on her shoulder before approaching her ear. If you're on her right side, use your right hand to cup your mouth. If you're on her left side, use your left hand to cup your mouth. This way your whispering will be shielded from the hearing of any others who might be in front of her or to her side. If her hair is covering her ear, avoid brushing it away if you've just met her that day. If you've been on at least a couple of dates, brushing her hair aside should be acceptable. If you've only just met the person, avoid making direct contact between your cupped hand and her ear. If she's your girlfriend or if you've been dating for some time, it should be okay to press your hand lightly against her ear while whispering. If you're in a noisy area such as a busy bar or at a party, you may have to speak above a whispering tone in order for her to hear you. Be careful not to yell, though. A tone slightly above a whisper should be audible, since your mouth will be close to her ear. But if there is little or no background noise in your area, speak slowly in a whisper. If she immediately moves away from you even before you get a chance to whisper, or after, you'll know to avoid trying to make physical contact with her for the moment. But if she responds with a smile, giggle, and sustained eye contact, you've done well. Yet be careful not to take a positive reaction as an invitation to move a step beyond by hugging her or holding her hand right away. Be content with having made her laugh and smile, and wait for a response from her, such as touching your hand or moving closer to you, that shows she's probably comfortable with more involved flirting.
Summary:
Stand or sit to the side of her. Cup your hand around your mouth. Approach her ear. Ensure that she can hear you. Follow up according to her reaction.