Making small talk in class

[jcb1772]

Okay...about a week or 2 ago I posted that there was this shy girl who had been tensing up and getting all awkward around me and we'd past by pretending not to notice each other in the halls, etc (for no reason, really, just sort of came to be that way). After reading some advice from Tonythetiger, et al, I decided I'd try to approach her in a class I have with her. Outcome? Never got a chance to...but something else more promising came up...

Turns out this girl is going to be my work partner for the next whole trimester (talk about lucky!--it was a draw of the hat). Anyways, this means I'll be having plenty of opportunities in class to make small talk. Now, she's very shy when talking to guys (me especially since we're already aware of each other's presences)...and I'm horrible at initiating conversations. Any ideas on topics I can just bring up when we're working together besides our work? Small stuff that would show her that I'm at least a little interested without being overly agressive (remember, she's shy and almost certainly hasn't had a bf before). Would teasing her be a good way to break the ice? I was thinking about doing something like "ya know, I think you should do all the work" in a jokingly fashion at the start...haven't decided if that's good or not.

So, any ideas? Thanks in advance.
JCB

 

[Mr. Debonaire]

Play around with her a bit, but if she's shy then go easy. shy girls are sometimes really insecure, so telling her to do all the work, she might think your serious. then you'd be like no im just kidding, awkward awkward

quietly make fun of the loudest kid in class when your with her, she'll appreciate it because she secretly can't stand him. unless its you this will build rapport, then you can hang out and later go for the kill

 

[jcb1772]

Yeah something like that would work. I just want to be able to build up enough rapport so that we become comfortable talking to each other outside of class (which would make it easier for me to ask her out...btw, we're both only freshman). But my biggest fear is either not saying enough when we're working together (being all quiet, awkward)...or saying a lot of STUPID crap...which I sometimes do when I'm really nervous and looking for anything to come out of my mouth.
Any other ideas on what to say to break the ice here? I've got a god-given opportunity to get to know a girl I'm interested in here...screwing up is not an option.

 

[huge_guy_pimpin]

Originally posted by jcb1772
Yeah something like that would work. I just want to be able to build up enough rapport so that we become comfortable talking to each other outside of class (which would make it easier for me to ask her out...btw, we're both only freshman). But my biggest fear is either not saying enough when we're working together (being all quiet, awkward)...or saying a lot of STUPID crap...which I sometimes do when I'm really nervous and looking for anything to come out of my mouth.
Any other ideas on what to say to break the ice here? I've got a god-given opportunity to get to know a girl I'm interested in here...screwing up is not an option.

say hi, and talk about stuff u see in the class, or something interesting, ask her interests, then do what is called "nouning" for every answer she makes grab a part of this and ask question to continue conversation.

 

[jcb1772]

Ok well I didn't have as much time today as I'd have liked to have to talk to her since we ran out of time...but in the brief chat we did have, she didn't really show any positive or negative signs as far as interest goes...it was just your typical friendly talk. But this has worried that I'm going to fall into the Friends Zone. How do I speak to her to show that I'm interested in maybe being more than friends without being too AFCish/desperate or sudden? Does it have to do more with WHAT I say or just HOW I present myself?