Starting a Conversation

Exercise 1

Vocabulary

stranger (noun)

/ˈstreɪn.dʒər/ – someone you don’t know; a person you haven’t met before.

Don’t talk to strangers when you travel alone.

▸He smiled politely at the stranger sitting next to him.

▸It’s strange how quickly two strangers can become friends.

approach (verb)

/əˈprəʊtʃ/ – to move towards or come near someone; to start a conversation.

He approached her with a smile

▸You should approach people confidently when networking.

▸A waiter approached our table and took our order.

compliment (noun / verb)

/ˈkɒm.plɪ.mənt/ – to say something nice about someone; a positive remark.

She complimented his jacket.

▸He received many compliments on his presentation.

▸It’s polite to compliment someone sincerely, not just to flatter them.

eye contact (noun)

/ˈaɪ ˌkɒn.tækt/ – looking directly at someone’s eyes while talking to show confidence.

Good eye contact helps build trust.

▸Some cultures avoid eye contact as a sign of respect.

▸She maintained eye contact during the entire conversation.

nervous (adjective)

/ˈnɜː.vəs/ – feeling anxious, shy, or slightly afraid.

He felt nervous before saying hello.

▸Don’t be nervous, just relax and smile.

▸Speaking in public always makes me nervous.

break the ice (idiom)

/breɪk ðə aɪs/ – to start a friendly conversation and reduce tension.

A small joke can help break the ice.

▸She asked about his weekend to break the ice.

▸Games are often used in class to break the ice between new students.

topic (noun)

/ˈtɒp.ɪk/ – subject of conversation or discussion.

Choose an easy topic like music or travel.

▸Politics can be a risky topic for first meetings.

▸Let’s change the topic — this one’s getting serious.

confident (adjective)

/ˈkɒn.fɪ.dənt/ – sure of yourself; feeling capable or self-assured.

Try to sound confident, not arrogant.

▸She looked confident while giving her speech.

▸Being prepared makes people feel more confident.

gesture (noun)

/ˈdʒes.tʃər/ – a movement of the hand, head, or body to express meaning or feeling.

A friendly gesture can make you look open.

▸He made a small gesture of kindness by paying for her coffee.

▸She waved her hand — a simple but warm gesture.

interest in common (phrase)

/ˈɪn.trəst ɪn ˈkɒm.ən/ – something both people like or share.

They quickly found an interest in common – movies.

▸Having interests in common makes conversations easier.

▸They became friends after discovering an interest in common in photography.

Exercise 2

Useful Expressions

Hi, mind if I join you?
I think we’ve met before, haven’t we?
That’s a nice {{object/clothing}}, where did you get it?
Do you come here often?
I like your energy — you seem really friendly.
What kind of music do you usually listen to?
It’s always hard to start conversations, isn’t it?

Exercise 3

Dialogue Practice

Read the dialogue aloud with your tutor.

Hi, is this seat taken?

Oh no, go ahead.

Thanks. I’m waiting for a friend but she’s late.

No problem. I’m just enjoying my coffee before work.

Nice. So, do you work near here?

Yeah, at a design studio around the corner.

That’s cool. I work in marketing. I like meeting creative people.

Me too. What projects are you working on?

Right now, mostly social media campaigns. By the way, I like your jacket — great color.

Thanks! It’s my favorite. So, how do you usually spend your weekends?

Mostly gym and friends. What about you?

I love movies and photography.

Really? Same here! Maybe we should catch a film sometime.

Sure, why not.

Exercise 4

Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks to complete the dialogue.

Alex sees someone sitting alone in a coffee shop and decides to talk to them.

Hi, (1) if I join you?

Not at all. Go ahead.

Thanks. I (2) you come here often.

Yes, I usually have coffee here after work.

Cool, I work nearby too. I just wanted to (3) the ice and say hello.

That’s nice of you. People rarely (4) me these days.

Yeah, everyone is so (5) on their phones.

Choose answers from the options below that fit in blanks 1 to 5

Answer Pool (Questions 1-6)

mind break approach noticed focused

Exercise 5

Role Play

Role-play the following situation with your tutor.

Situation

You see someone sitting alone in a coffee shop. Start a natural conversation by greeting them politely and asking if the seat is taken.
Make a small compliment, ask one question about them, and try to find something you have in common.
Your teacher will act as the other person in the café.

Exercise 6

Discussion

How do you usually start a conversation with someone new?
What makes a good first impression for you?
Do you find it easy or difficult to talk to strangers? Why?
What are some safe topics to start a conversation with?
Have you ever met a close friend by chance, just by starting a random chat?
In your country, is it common for people to talk to strangers in public places?
What kind of compliments sound natural to you, and which ones sound fake?
How can body language or eye contact help when talking to someone new?

Correction – Exercise 4: Fill in the Blanks

(1) → mind
(2) → noticed
(3) → break
(4) → approach
(5) → focused