Some foreigners in the US learning English hesitate to start conversations with native US English speakers. If you can relate to this, this post is for you. I’d like to share some common questions you can ask your American colleagues, classmates or friends to start conversations.
7 Ways To Make Small Talk and Start Conversations with US Citizens
You could talk about something you really want to try
I heard there are good coffee shops around here (or say the city you are in, Seattle, for instance is known for coffee). Where can I go to try some good coffee?
Where is a good place to go for [coffee]
7 Ways to Start Conversations over Coffee
Learn about their background
Where are you from? (Ask anyone, citizen or not.)
Are you originally from [name of city you are in]? (Ask a classmate or colleague you think/guess grew up in the US.)
What part of the US are you from?” or “Where are you from in the US?” (Ask a colleague or classmate you know has moved around a lot.)
Talk about the weather
It was a little cool this morning. Is it typical weather for this time of year.
I felt a bit cold today, but maybe it’s cause I’m not used to this weather. It doesn’t snow where I am from.
How your classmates or colleagues get to work or school
How do you come to work/school?
Do you take the bus to work?
Note: Instead of saying ‘bus’ or ‘train,’ locals may use the local brand name of the public transit, like Trax in Salt Lake City, The T in Boston, Marta in Atlanta, Valley Metro in Phoenix or the RTC in Las Vegas. For instance, “Do you take the Trax to work?”
Trax Approaching the University of Utah South Station
What other conversational openers have you used? Feel free to share your experiences using these or other starters and how they worked out for you.