Not ‘Do you think the Bulldogs will win the Grand Final?’ but ‘Why do you think the Bulldogs have improved so much since last year?’ Not ‘Is school good?’ but ‘What’s the best thing about school? What’s the worst thing?’ Instead of ‘Did you have a good time?’, try ‘What kind of things did they do differently?’
Encouraging conversation will help him develop important language skills. Language is the most powerful tool human beings have. A young man who speaks confidently and fluently is advantaged in many ways. For one thing, his reading and writing will improve. For another, his chances of getting a job, and his chances of promotion in that job, will be much better. And for another, his relationships will be more successful if he can converse easily with his partner.