Getting to know you conversation questions

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These are really general ELT icebreaker conversation questions. Unlike many of our other conversation questions they are pretty basic.

Getting to know you

Personal details

• What's your name? Do you like it? Who gave you your name?
• What is your surname? What's its origins?
• How old are you? Do you like your age? Are you afraid of getting old?
• Where are you from? Which city were you born in?
• Where do you live now? How long have you been living there?
• What do you like about your living area?
• What is your home like?
• Do you get along with your neighbors?
• Have you ever lived in another city or country?
• If you had to move to another country, where would you go?

Family

• Do you have a big family?
• How many brothers and sisters do you have?
• Are they older or younger than you?
• Do you get along with your siblings? With your parents?
• Who do you have a closer relationship with?
• Are you married? How many years have you been married?
• Do you have any children?
• How old are they? Who do they take after?

Pets

• Do you have any pets?
• What are their names? Who chose them?
• How old are they?
• Did you have any pets when you were a child?
• Have you been to animal shelter? How did you feel there?

Work

• Do you work or are you a student?
• What do you do for living?
• What’s your job title?
• Where do you work?
• Have you done this job all your working life?
• What’s your dream job?
• What did you want to be when you were a kid?
• Where would you like to work?
• What jobs are you interested in?
• What professional skills do you need to improve?
• Are you a good team- worker? Or do you prefer to work alone?
• If you wanted to open your own business, what would it be?

Secondary and primary school

• When you were young, what was your favorite subject ? Which one did you struggle with?
• Do you still remember your friends from school and how often do you see them?
• What were you like back at school? Were you quiet? Studious? A troublemaker? Teacher’s pet?
• Did you enjoy primary school? Why?
• Do you have any secondary school qualifications?
• What was the best thing about secondary school?
• What is your highest qualification?
• Which subject did you get the best grade in at school?
• What educational courses have you attended in your life so far? What courses do you still need?

Hobbies/interests

• What kind of things are you interested in?
• Do you have any hobbies?
• What do you do in your free time? Do you prefer a relaxing day or an active day? Do you go out or stay in?
• If you had more time, what pastimes would you take up?
• Do you do enough physical exercise? Do you go to gym?
• What sports have you played in your life?
• What were your hobbies when you were young?
• What do you do to stay healthy?
• Do you like nature?
• Do you care for environment?
• Do you have a garden? Do you work in a garden?
• Do you believe in God?

Goals

• What was your dream job when you were a child?
• What is your goal in life? Do you set new goals every year?
• Do you have any short term goals?
• How motivated and ambitious are you?
• Is it important to have goals all the time?

See also

• Body language conversation questions
• Friends conversation questions
• Television conversation questions