“A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow.”
—William Shakespeare
Friendship is a very important human relationship and everyone needs good friends.
However, it is not easy for all the people to make new friends, that is, for some people it is easy while for others it is not an easy job. Below are some helpful tips on how to make and keep friends.
Get in touch with others. The first step to making friends is getting in touch with other people. Health clubs, places of worship and charities are some places where you can meet new people and build friendship, but attending these places is not enough, and you will need to make yourself known by becoming an active member.
Be cheerful. A smile on the face is a sure way to attract (吸引) new friends as people are always likely to stay with those with a cheerful mind. No one wants to keep company with someone who is constantly unhappy.
Start a conversation. Starting a conversation is the second most important step in making new friends. Do not wait to be spoken to; you can always start the conversation. Being able to make small talk is a very useful skill in connection with other people no matter where you are.
Stay in touch. For a friendship to grow you need to stay in touch. There are several ways of staying in touch with your friends and these include phone calls and online social networking sites.
Do things together. Choosing friends with common interests is important in building friendship as these interests would always bring you and your friends together and hanging out will always be a pleasant experience. The less you have in common with your friends, the more likely the friendship will not grow.
Let it grow. It is a good thing to stay in touch but try not to choke your new friend with calls, messages or visits as this would likely wear him or her out and at last he or she may not want to be your friend anymore. The best friendships are the ones that grow naturally.
Enjoy your friendship. The best way to enjoy your new friendship is to allow your friends to be themselves. Try not to be critical of their personality and try not to change them from who they are to what you want them to be.
Task: Judge the following true (T) or false (F)．
1．According to William Shakespeare, a good friend should feel the same as you when you are in trouble.( T )
2．According to the passage, not all the people are good at making new friends.( T )
3．To make new friends, the most important step is to keep smiles on the face.( F )
4．It is very important to choose friends with common interests to set up friendship.( T )
5．The best way to enjoy your friendship is to change your friend into what you are.( F )
