Q&A Getting to Know Someone for the first time

By Eigopass

Situation Stephen and Alyssa are attending a wedding party at the Intercontinental Hotel in Tokyo. They have just
found the table where they have been assigned to sit. To break the ice, Stephen introduces himself and has a brief
conversation with Alyssa who happens to be sitting next to him.

Stephen:

Hi, nice to meet you. My name is Stephen. Whats your name?

Alyssa:

Pleasure to meet you Stephen. Im Alyssa.

Stephen:

Where are you from Alyssa?

Alyssa:

I am from Japan actually. My father is an American but my mother is Japanese. And yourself?

Stephen:

I am originally from Vietnam but I grew up all my life in the U.S.

Practice! Here are some questions that you may hear or ask people you meet for the first time. Look through them and write
your responses. For conversational practice, you can either have someone ask you these questions and have him/her advise you
on other ways to respond or ask these questions and have another person respond.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

What is your name?

Where are you from?
Where do you live?
How long have you been living there?
What are your hobbies?
How often do you enjoy/play hobbies? (note: hobbies should be replaced with the actual
hobby)
Are you single or married?
How long have you been married?
What is your spouses name?
How did you first meet your spouse/girlfriend/boyfriend?
What do you do? (What do you do for a living?/ What is your job?)
Do you like to travel?
Have you ever traveled outside Japan? (Where have you traveled to?)
What do you like to do in your free time?
Where are you originally from?
Do you have any siblings?
How many times each year do you see your siblings?
Do you get along with them?
What kind/type of food do you like?
Is there any food that you dislike / hate?

HOMEWORK:
1.

PLEASE THINK OF
MEET.

20 OTHER QUESTIONS YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK SOMEONE WHEN YOU FIRST

2.

WHICH OF THE ABOVE QUESTIONS DO YOU THINK ARE RUDE / INAPPROPRIATE? CIRCLE THEM AND
DISCUSS WITH YOUR TEACHER TO UNDERSTAND THE REASONS WHY THEY MAY BE APPROPRIATE OR
NOT.

VOCABULARY AND CULTURAL NOTE:

1.

Break the ice

e.g. Make sure you break the ice at the meeting before you start talking about business.

2.

Pleasure to meet you

e.g. Its a pleasure to finally meet you! Ive heard so many good things about you.

3.

And yourself?
e.g. My name is Stephen. And yourself?

4.

Originally from
e.g. I live in America now, but I am originally from Japan.