How do you teach conversational skills?

[IndyCoppertone]

One of the posts in recruitment stories had me wondering, how do you teach someone how to carry a conversation and be personable?

I don't really have trouble with this, but on the flip side, I can't explain how to do it. I have some instances where it is almost painful to watch some people I know in these kind of situations. During rush, you could just put more personable people in the forefront. But how about post-college?

I see a lot of really kind people kind of dismissed because they seem standoffish and reserved when really they just don't know how to make conversation.