I have a very, very unusual etiquette question if you wouldn't mind helping me out?

[BeenThereDone_It]

Simply put: I never know how, or when, to end a conversation

It doesn't matter if it is on the telephone or face to face.

It doesn't matter if it is with a good acquaintance or a new friend.

I just don't know when it is polite to call it a day and move on.

Take today for example: I met a new french tutor in a cafe and he spoke to me in French for an hour (that's what he is supposed to do) and then we got chatting and it was very enjoyable

I wasn't sure if I was keeping him behind or if he thought he was keeping me late so I just continued chatting and waited for visual clues.

Eventually he politely glanced at his watch and I had been casually putting on my glasses to give him a polite way out and that was that. No problem

But Americans are more brash and just walk off mid sentence.

Can you advise?

(I live in America and I am English)

[Sureyoudo]

English? That must explain why this is even bothering you. Well, one thing you can know is that if you are keeping someone too long in a conversation....they will let you know. They will give you clues, like looking at watch, getting fidgety, etc. I usually just walk off right in the middle of the conversation, that is, if the other person doesn't walk off first.

[holly]

are you insulting us americans?!? how dare you! JK! I've noticed the same thing. when I want to end a conversation I just say "well, hey, I've gotta go". it's very american.I wish I could speak french you luckey duck.

[climbinguprocks]

I like that you care to learn this nuance of life.
You are on the right track with the visual que's but, if you don't get any AND you think the time is long then stop talking. Let the pause lead you to the answer. If the pause causes them to look at their watch then they likely feel the same and your done.
Remember that you to have a say in when a conversation is over.
Sometimes I wonder if people are interested in what I am saying. If I suspect they don't. I let a distraction break the conversation and then wait for them to ask me to continue. If they don't then they were not listening and we head off to a subject they are interested in. I heard this long ago and it has served me very well.

Good luck mate! Bloke?