Meeting New People

Meeting new people is something your students actually do in class, so this topic has built-in relevance. These questions cover first impressions, small talk strategies, and the social dynamics of making connections in different contexts.

Questions are organized by level from beginner to advanced. A printable PDF of all the questions is available at the bottom of the page.

Beginner (A1-A2)

1. Tell me some funny “pick up lines” you’ve heard.
2. What do you usually do when you first meet someone? Do you shake hands, bow, or do something else?
3. What is the first thing you notice about a new person? (Their smile, their clothes, how they talk, etc.)
4. When you meet someone new, do you remember their name? How do you remember it?
5. Do you smile when you meet someone new, or are you more serious? What feels more natural for you?
6. When you meet new people, do you feel shy or confident? How do you act?
7. Where do you usually meet new people? (At school, at work, at a party, online, etc.)
8. Do you prefer to meet people face to face or online? Why?
9. How many new people do you meet in a normal week? Is that a lot for you or a little?
10. What is the best way to start a conversation with someone you don’t know? What do you usually say?
11. Do you like to meet your friends’ friends? Is it easy or hard for you?

Elementary (A2)

1. What are some things that you usually talk about when you meet a new person? Why do you think those are good topics?
2. Have you ever had a stranger come up and start talking to you? How did you respond?
3. Where is the best place to meet new people? What makes it a good place?
4. Have you ever met someone you hated right after meeting them? What happened, and why do you think you felt that way?
5. Who is the last person you met for the first time? What do you remember about them?
6. Have you ever made a really good friend soon after meeting them? Tell me about it.
7. What kind of person do you like to meet? What’s good about that kind of person?
8. What do you like to do when you go out with new friends? What is something fun you have done together?
9. Do you like big parties or small groups? What is good about each?
10. Have you ever met someone from a country very different from yours? What was interesting about them?
11. Have you ever been too nervous to talk to someone you wanted to meet? What happened?
12. Have you ever forgotten someone’s name right after they told you? How did you handle it?
13. What’s the most awkward thing that has ever happened when you were meeting someone for the first time?
14. What is the most unusual way you have ever met someone? What happened?
15. What gestures or body language do you use when you meet someone for the first time? What do they mean?

Intermediate (B1)

1. Do you like meeting new people? Why or why not?
2. If you want to get to know someone you find interesting, what is the best way to approach them? Why?
3. Do you think that some people are destined to meet? Why or why not?
4. Do you like meeting people who are very different from you or people who are similar to you? Why?
5. What topics do you avoid when you meet someone for the first time? Why?
6. Do you prefer to meet people in groups or one-on-one? Why?
7. When you meet someone new, do you talk about yourself a lot or ask them questions? Why do you do that?
8. Do you like to make small talk with people you don’t know, like a taxi driver or a cashier? Why?
9. Is it easier to meet new people when you are traveling or when you are at home? Why?
10. Do you think first impressions are usually accurate? Why or why not?
11. What personality traits make someone easy to talk to when you first meet them? Give me some examples.
12. Is it easier to meet new people when you’re younger or when you’re older? Why do you think so?
13. Should you be yourself or try to make a good impression when meeting someone new? Why or why not?
14. What makes it easier to talk to some strangers than others? Is it the situation or the person?
15. If you moved to a new city where you didn’t know anyone, how would you start meeting people?
16. Is it common to invite someone you just met to your home in your culture, or is that unusual? What do you think about that custom?
17. If you could have dinner with any person in the world, who would you choose and what would you talk about?
18. Do you think men and women have different ways of meeting new people and making friends? Is it similar or different in your country?
19. How has technology changed the way people meet new people? How often do you meet people online versus in person?

Upper-Intermediate (B2)

1. Why don’t strangers talk to each other as often as they used to?
2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of meeting people through mutual friends versus meeting them on your own?
3. How do cultural differences affect the way people meet and greet each other? What misunderstandings can happen?
4. What role does body language play in first encounters compared to what people actually say? Which matters more?
5. In many big cities, people live next to each other for years without ever speaking. Why do you think this happens, and what could change it?
6. How is the experience of meeting new people different for someone who moves to another country compared to someone who stays in their hometown?
7. Some research suggests people make fewer new friends as they get older. Why do you think that is, and do you think it matters?
8. Compare how people in your parents’ generation met new friends versus how your generation does it. What has improved, and what has been lost?
9. Do you think the pressure to ‘network’ for career purposes has changed the way people form genuine relationships? How is it different from just making friends?
10. In what ways do introverts and extroverts approach meeting new people differently, and what can each type learn from the other?

Advanced (C1)

1. How do social norms around meeting strangers both protect people and prevent genuine connections from forming?
2. What tensions exist between being authentic and being strategic when meeting people in professional networking contexts?
3. Why do people often find it easier to open up to strangers they’ll never see again than to people who might become part of their lives?
4. What does the rise of ‘third spaces’ like coffee shops and co-working spaces reveal about changing needs for casual social interaction in modern society?
5. People often say ‘Don’t talk to strangers,’ but then expect adults to network and socialize easily. How do you think this mixed message affects people as they grow up?
6. When someone uses makeup, filters, or curated social media profiles before meeting people, at what point does ‘presenting your best self’ become ‘pretending to be someone you’re not’?
7. Many cultures have unwritten rules about how much personal information you should share when you first meet someone. Where do these rules come from, and what happens when people from different cultures have different expectations?
8. When people from wealthy and poor backgrounds interact for the first time, both sides often feel uncomfortable. What creates that discomfort, and is it possible to move past it?
9. Algorithms now suggest which people we should connect with online based on shared interests and backgrounds. How might this change the diversity of people we meet, and what could that mean for society over time?
10. Children often make friends instantly on a playground, while adults can spend months getting to know someone. What do children understand about meeting new people that adults seem to have forgotten?

PDF: Download a PDF of all the questions