Be Friendly ! How to start a conversation?

Sample Expressions

A. 

Talk About The Other Person

Most people are glad to talk about themselves and will be pleased to respond to any questions or comments about themselves. Before you start, observe what the other person is doing, reading, saying, looking or wearing and think of something you would be interested to know more about.

At a party:

‘That’s an interesting T-shirt. Tell me, what does that symbol stands for?’

In the street:

‘You look lost. How can I help?’

‘I am looking for Body shop, would you mind telling me the direction to get there?’

After a meeting:

‘That was an interesting comment you made just now. Tell me, why do you think the property prices are escalating lately?’

To an air stewardess:

‘I have often curious about the qualifications required to be an air stewardess. Do you mind telling me about it?’

At a sports event:

‘You’re the best player here. What do you do to train?’

While jogging:

‘What kind of running shoes are those ? Why do you choose that brand?’

B. 

Talk About the Situation

At a bowling game:

‘Which team do you think will win? Why do you say that?’

At an art gallery:

‘What do you suppose the artist wanted to say?’

At a supermarket:

‘I notice you are buying artichokes. Do you by any chance know how to choose a good one? ‘

‘I notice that you bought some apple cider vinegar. I have always wondered, is it really beneficial for health?’

‘I notice that you have chosen some beetroot. I have always been curious, how do you prepare them?’

"Would you like a taste of my forbidden fruit?" ~ contributed byJasmine JellyBaby

Waiting in line for a movie:

‘What have you heard about this movie? What made you decide to watch it?’

Waiting in a queue:

‘Hi, this queue doesn't seem to be moving much, does it? Since we have to spend hours here queuing, I guess I should introduce myself: I am Dave. What is your name?’

To a neighbor:

‘Your roses bloom so beautifully. What’s your secret? What’s that you’re working on?’

‘I could not help but notice that you have a new dog. What’s his name? Where did you get it from?’

In an elevator:

‘This must be the world’s slowest elevator.’ (If the other person is interested to talk to you, he or she may response by comparing it to another elevator somewhere else.)

And here is a good ice-breaker in an elevator by David Wygant:

“What is it about elevators that make everyone so quiet? We all do the same thing in an elevator: we look at the buttons and say nothing. So, how are you today?”

At a Laundromat :

‘Would you mind showing the settings I should use for this machine?’

‘How much detergent do you think I should put in?’

In a classroom:

‘I missed the lecture yesterday, what did the lecturer talk about?’,

‘What do you think will come out in the exam?’,

‘What do you think the teacher meant by that?’

At a shop to the salesgirl,

‘What would you recommend for a party dress?’

In an airplane:

‘Which movie would you recommend? Have you watched any of these movies?’

‘Hi, I could not help but noticed the book you are reading, ‘Eat, Pray, Love’. So, what do you think about it? And by the way, my name is Dave.

In a party:

‘How did you happen to be at this party?’