Don’t Know What to Say to Your Conversation Partner?

Congratulations! You know have a super cool person to speak with. I’m excited for you.

But what should you all talk about!?

Relax, friend! You’re too stressed. I will give you a short list of things to talk to your conversation partner about.

It’s not as difficult as you think.

Check the List

First, if you have landed on this page and would like a conversation partner, you must join the Facebook Group for the Living in English: 365 podcast to sign-up for a conversation partner. You can learn more about conversation partners and why you need one by clicking here.

When you complete the sign-up form, you are asked what your hobbies are. You will receive an email from Paradigm English after you have been matched. This email will have this short list of things about your partner.

Start there.

No matter the topic or question, you should make it your goal to expand upon every point as best you can. You do this by asking follow-up questions such as who?, what?, when?, where?, how?, which? For example, if you and your partner as speaking about food, and he or she mention that they like tacos, you could then ask What kinds of tacos? Do you like flour or corn tortillas? Where is the best place in your city to eat tacos? How do you prepare tacos?, etc.

Here are more things you can use to speak about. It doesn’t matter the topic, it matters that you are speaking and practicing your English.

Topics for Conversation Partners

1. current events
2. culture shock
3. *society & politics
4. weather
5. hobbies
6. animals
7. pastimes
8. gaming
9. shopping
10. childhood
11. family & social relations
12. history
13. your culture
14. *money
15. occupation
16. favorite book
17. favorite movie
18. hometown or home country
19. technology
20. economics
21. values and assumptions
22. transportation
23. arts/artists
24. climate change
25. geography
26. entertainment
27. medicine
28. travel
29. English language
30. food
31. *religion
32. music
33. holidays
34. your accomplishments
35. *age
36. education
37. film/movie
38. Living in English: 365 podcast
39. podcasts you listen to
40. Youtube Channels you follow
41. daily life
42. fashion
43. favorite vacations
44. nature

Note: topics with an (*) might be sensitive topics in your conversation partner’s culture. You should be culturally sensitive and approach these topics with caution.

Questions to Ask Your Conversation Partner

1. What you hope to do next vacation
2. What is your least favorite sport
3. Which is your favorite sport
4. What was your last fun vacation?
5. Which music do you like or dislike
6. Coffee or tea?
7. Dogs or cats?
8. Discuss or practice things from the latest Living in English: 365 podcast episode
9. Where do you volunteer?
10. What was your favorite school subject?
11. What was your least favorite school subject?
12. What do you think of global warming?
13. Who was your favorite teacher? why?
14. Why did you (or didn’t you) decide to go to college?
15. Do you prefer watching movies at home, or in the cinema/movies?
16. What annoys you about where you live now?
17. If you could erase ONE problem in the world, which would it be? why?
18. Have you ever met Ashley Rhone? When>
19. Have you ever traveled to another country? Where did you go? For how long? When?
20. How long have you been learning English?
21. What other languages do you speak?
22. Are there any celebrities or someone in the news whom you really dislike? Why?
23. What are your life goals for the next 3-5 years?
24. Do you have any pets?
25. Have you ever met someone famous? Who?
26. Are you an only child?
27. Do you have any children, or would you like to?
28. What change do you want to bring in the world?
29. What is the goal of childhood: fun, prepare for adulthood, or something else?
30. what are you most passionate about in your life?
31. What is the most important lesson that your parents or other adult family members taught you?
32. Who is the greatest person of your nationality to live (in history)? Why?
33. What places to visit in your country and/or city
34. What’s your job? Do you like it or dislike it

Takeaways

This is a short list. It doesn’t have every topic or question, but it is a great starting point. Don’t forget to ask follow-up questions to expand the conversation. Listen to what your conversation partner says. This will help you ask greta follow-up questions and get the most out of your meeting time.

Want to know how to receive the highest benefit from your meetings with your conversation partner, and how to be the most successful? Check out this article here.