How to start a conversation
How to get to know a person better
Ice Breakers
Do you know what your name means?
What do you think the best invention is?
What qualities do you value most in a friend?
What would you do if you only had 24 hours left to live?
If you could learn any skill, what would it be?
If you could invent a holiday, what would it be?
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
If you could go back in time and change one thing, what would that be?
If you could meet anyone in history, who would it be?
If you could spend one hour with any living person, who would it be and what would you choose to do?
Tell me your best advice.
Childhood
Where did you grow up?
Did you have any nicknames growing up?
What was your favorite children's book/film?
What did you want to grow up to be when you were younger?
How have you changed since you were a kid?
School/Work
What was (is) your (least) favorite subject?
What is your dream job?
If you could try out any job for one week, what job would you choose to try?
Town/Vacation
What is your favorite season /place to be?
Describe your dream house to me.
What places have you traveled to?
What do you like most/ least about living in your city/town?
Entertainment
Do you have any pets?
Do you speak any other languages?
Do you play any instruments /sport games?
What do you like to do /in your spare time/to celebrate your birthday?
What type of music do you like to listen to?
What is your (least) favorite food?
Who is your favorite actor?
What is your favorite smell/ holiday/ movie/book?
What are your favorite websites?
What was the last movie you've seen?
What was the worst movie you've ever seen?
How to get to know a person better
Ice Breakers
Do you know what your name means?
What do you think the best invention is?
What qualities do you value most in a friend?
What would you do if you only had 24 hours left to live?
If you could learn any skill, what would it be?
If you could invent a holiday, what would it be?
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
If you could go back in time and change one thing, what would that be?
If you could meet anyone in history, who would it be?
If you could spend one hour with any living person, who would it be and what would you choose to do?
Tell me your best advice.
Childhood
Where did you grow up?
Did you have any nicknames growing up?
What was your favorite children's book/film?
What did you want to grow up to be when you were younger?
How have you changed since you were a kid?
School/Work
What was (is) your (least) favorite subject?
What is your dream job?
If you could try out any job for one week, what job would you choose to try?
Town/Vacation
What is your favorite season /place to be?
Describe your dream house to me.
What places have you traveled to?
What do you like most/ least about living in your city/town?
Entertainment
Do you have any pets?
Do you speak any other languages?
Do you play any instruments /sport games?
What do you like to do /in your spare time/to celebrate your birthday?
What type of music do you like to listen to?
What is your (least) favorite food?
Who is your favorite actor?
What is your favorite smell/ holiday/ movie/book?
What are your favorite websites?
What was the last movie you've seen?
What was the worst movie you've ever seen?
How to start a conversation
1. Start with a greeting
To start, make eye contact, smile, and make a greeting:
Hello! How areyou? / Hi! How are you doing? (IF)/ Hey! How's it going? (IF)
– I'm fine / Fine /Very well, thank you/thanks. How are you? /And you?
Good morning! / Good afternoon/ Good evening!
2. Introduce yourself and find out the strangers name
Let me introduce myself. My name is _____. What's your name? – I'm _____.
Pleased/Good/Glad/Nice to meet/see you, _____. – Nice to meet you.
a) "meet" - "get acquainted with new people"
b) "see"- "meet someone you already know"
+Introducing other people:
– I'd like to introduce you to _____.
– I'd like to introduce a friend of mine, _____.
– I'd like you to meet my _______. _____, this is _____. _____, this is _____.
3. Find a common topic that you can talk about
Start with small talk by bringing up a topic that both of you have in common.
This can be based on your immediate surroundings, their attire, or the event you are attending, such as commenting on the music playing or asking how they know the host.
– How did you hear about this event?
– Do you know who sings the song that is playing?
You could also talk about general topics such as the weather, home town (where do you come from, how is it different/similar to this town),family (in general),hobbies, school orjob (not too specific), media (films, books, magazines…), celebrities,
sports, holidays (where, when… but NOT how much). Controversial topics, for example, politics, money, private life, religion, death, are considered inappropriate for small talk.
The function of small talk is to express polite interest and good attitude.
Of course, if you are meeting a close friend these topics may be excellent.
– What do think about/of _________? – I consider/suppose/believe it…/ It looks like…
– It's a nice day/weather today, isn't it? – It sure is./It's not cold at all. /It’s a beautiful day.
– What do you do during your spare time? – Well. I like V-ing…/I’m fond of V-ing.
– Where are you from? – I'm from Russia. _______ am Russian.
– Is it your first trip to ________? – No, I was here ____ years ago. /Yes.
– Have you ever been to __________? – Yes, I have. It's a ______ city. /No, I haven’t.