Whether you’re a teacher or a learner, we hope these prompts inspire you to engage in meaningful and enjoyable English conversations. One of the most beautiful aspects of using conversation starters is the sense of community it builds among learners. If you’re ever feeling kinda stuck in a conversation and you’re not liking the awkward silence, then I’ve got you.
Friends
- If you are traveling somewhere you might ask where the other person is headed.
- Many coffee appreciators would love to talk about their favorite cafe, different coffee drinks, or roast preferences.
- Either way, I’m sure you’ll be able to get into a good chat with this one.
- These holiday conversation starters are perfect for getting to know new people and for sparking fun conversations with old friends.
And if it’s super out there or evil, well, it’s good to know so you can avoid them in the future. Find out how they view themselves, and don’t forget to ask follow-up questions about each of the words they chose. This is a great question because you can follow up with lots of questions about what they are obsessed with. I guarantee they’ll have plenty to talk about when it comes to what they geek out on. Always fun to follow up on the question by watching the video they thought was funny. I’m sure you’ve got a few funny videos to share as well.
If the person you are talking to is into it, they are more than happy to have a conversation about their team. We have some more useful Business English resources here, too. Check out our guide on how to make small talk for more tips and discussion topic ideas like beginning a conversation with a compliment. Our collection of conversation starters for adult ESL learners is designed to spark not just conversations, but also insights, laughter, and a deeper understanding of the world. Imagine starting your class with a question that sparks curiosity, debate, and personal reflection. In this article, we’re happy to share a carefully put together list of conversation topics and starters tailored for adults.
Grace Moser is the author and founder of Chasing Foxes, where she writes articles to help women create a life they love in big and small ways. Her lifestyle and travel advice can also be seen on Sameagedates customer support sites such as Business Insider, Glamour, Newsweek, HuffPost, & Apartment Therapy. Nothing wrong with being a little off beat or wacky! These conversation topics will definitely make your next conversation memorable for both people. These are open topics — subjects you explore with your own content. Topics train range and depth; scenarios train situations.
These conversation topics will take you waaaay past small talk. 50 ready-to-speak English conversation topics for adults with 3 opener prompts and A2/B1/C1 questions each — built for learners practicing alone, not teachers. Taking the time for a real phone conversation lets you connect in a way that texting just can’t match.
Some people hate checking their phone, and some do it compulsively. This one can get into an intense conversation about technology and society. Either way, I’m sure you’ll be able to get into a good chat with this one. Whether it be a malfunctioning app or a really frustrating game, there are plenty of apps that get rage deleted.
We all have that one snack or treat that we just can’t get enough of. And who knows, you might find your next favorite snack by asking this question. With this one, you might have to consider how the person might take it.
Finally, we have some random conversation starters that didn’t fit on any of the other lists. The key to a funny conversation starter is to either ask an unexpected question or to ask a question that will elicit an amusing answer. I really do hope that all of these tips and at least one convo starter from this list helped you out! I know how stressful it can be, so I wanted to create a list of conversations starters to make things a bit easier for you. I promise you can get good at conversing with others and be able to easily stay away from boring small talk. You can go deeper and grow in intimacy with your friends or partner and have so much more fun getting to know new people at work or even on a first date.
Crazy Topics
This one sometimes leads to an inspiring conversation about tech and modern life. Still, if the person lands hard on one side or the other, usually there isn’t much more to talk about. This is great for getting new travel ideas for yourself. And if you’ve been there, you can talk about your experience too. This one is somewhat similar to the last one but a little more specific. If you’ve already covered a lot of tour group ground with the last question, feel free to skip this one.
This is a little deeper than the typical sports question. But it can lead to an exciting conversation about human nature with a bit of a sports spin. This may be very similar to which sports they like to watch, or it could be a completely different list. Either way, talking about something the person is passionate about is always a great way to have a good conversation. While probably not the most thrilling conversation starter, whoever you are talking about probably has a bit to say about where they get their apps. Yeah, this one is going to vary greatly depending on the age of the person you are talking to.
Talking about the habits you already share can be a good way to reevaluate or even just appreciate the way things are going now. While legal in more places than freighthopping, it still can be dangerous since you never know what kind of person will pick you up, or if you will be picked up at all. You could talk about your hitchhiking stories, ask people for advice or just generally talk about the idea itself.
Mixing lighthearted questions with deeper topics helps you strengthen your bond and keep things fresh. Phone calls can be one of the best ways to build stronger relationships. Small talk topics change depending on where you are and who you’re talking to.
What do you see in the game, and how do you see it? If both of you have never played it, you could invite the other person to try it out and learn together. Of course, if you’re into it, you could talk about tactics, tournaments, favorite players, or best personal plays. Sexual practices that fall outside of what is considered “normal” by most of society. You could talk about the idea in general, explore some new ideas or talk about your own kinks, which can be fun and at times liberating. Similarly to gender identity, you could talk about the general idea of different sexual orientations, the social issues surrounding it, or personal struggles and stories.
Ask people about what music, culture, or arts festivals they like. Talking about popular events can also create a reason to meet up again if you decide to go to an event together. Talking about things you have in common rather than differences is a good way to bond. Once you find something you have in common, those topics can be revisited throughout the conversation.
Here is our list of icebreaker questions that are perfect for getting a conversation going. Have a look through and choose the icebreaker questions that you think will work best for the person or people you are talking to. They can be used amongst friends, family, work colleagues, dating partners, and anybody who just wants something to chinwag about.
Though, if the other person doesn’t seem to be too eager about opening up, don’t pry. You could also simply talk about how good it feels to lie down in a soft bed after a particularly exhausting day. Talking about one’s problems can be a great way to get something off your chest. Change is often difficult to accept, and people deal with it in different ways. Whatever is “in” at the time, whether you get it or not. Discussing new things can broaden our horizons, change our perspective, or even just be fun.
If you’ve traveled to any popular destinations, you may have come across this. Whether it’s literally going off the beaten path like when they are hiking or just the figurative beaten path like a guidebook. You can use this question to find out how adventurous they like to be. Are they more of a beach and chill or a cabin and chill kind of person? If they like sports, there is a good chance they play some kind of video game involving sports.
With this topic, you could discuss what constitutes a healthy balance, and some ways to switch off the working mode when the time for work is over. This is a topic that is particularly important to working moms, workaholics, and those that work at home. Sharing the dreams you had last night may feel pointless unless the dream was funny or was of strong emotional significance. A reminiscence about the “good old days”, be it something from one’s early childhood, school days, or a particular decade.
Everyone has social insecurities, which are often rooted in fear. Breaking down boundaries to really get to know someone and being vulnerable can be a very rewarding experience. As with religion, try not to force your beliefs onto others and go into the discussion with an open mind. The ability to correctly weigh the pros and cons of taking a risk, how to distinguish risk-taking from recklessness, and the idea of living a risky lifestyle. Physical or emotional closeness is another topic similar to sex, but lighter.
Weather, the event you’re both attending, hobbies, food, and travel tend to work well because they are easy to answer and rarely feel invasive. Asking a simple, open-ended question like “What brought you here today? Sometimes you need a question ready to go without thinking through a whole topic first. These small talk questions work in almost any setting because they are open-ended, easy to answer, and unlikely to put anyone on the spot. Getting deep into anything political is one of those topics where people of opposing views can rarely have a civilized discussion for a long time.