FIU Language Day!

GENERAL TIPS

• Decide the best time to practice.
• Decide which tool to use for meeting (Zoom, Skype, WhatsApp, etc.).
• State your expectations:
  • length of meetings
  • frequency of meetings
  • expectations of conversations
• Divide the time equally: several short bursts of language or longer periods on each language.
• Plan and be prepared: decide on conversation themes, tenses, etc. 
• Focus on conversation, not grammar.  Limit corrections.
• Decide on how and whether you want feedback. 
• Do not be afraid to make mistakes. 
• Be proactive. Language conversations involve give and take. The more you practice, the more you learn.
• HAVE FUN! Meet someone new, learn about a new culture, and make new connections!

CONVERSATION  STARTER TIPS 

It is best to decide on a topic before your meet-up.  Not sure what to talk about?  Maybe start with getting to know you questions (see below and this Google Doc for ideas).

 * If you could be the same age forever, what age would you choose? Why?

 * How old were you when you… …learned to drive? …moved away from home? …had your first kiss? …got your first job?

• How old do you think you’ll be when you… …get married? …have children? …retire?
• What do you think is the ideal family size? Why?
• Do you want to have children? If so, how many? If you want children, would you prefer boys or girls? Why?
• How close are you with… …your parents? …your siblings? …extended family (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins)?
• What do you do when you get together with your family?
• What do you like most about your job? What do you dislike about your job? If you could have any job, what would it be? Why? What job would you most hate doing? Why?
• If you could go back and choose a different career, what would you choose? Why?
• What is your favorite subject in school? Why? What is your least favorite subject in school? Why?
• Who was/is your favorite teacher? Why?
• What languages do you wish you spoke? What languages do you think would be hardest to learn? What languages have you tried to learn? What are your favorite words or phrases in languages you’ve studied?
• If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose?
• Describe your ideal apartment/house.
• Do you have roommates? What are the best and worst things about having them?
• If you could have any animal as a pet, what would you choose? What names would you consider giving a pet?
• Do you have any good jokes you can share?
• What sorts of stories did your parents tell you when you were little?
• How important are good manners?
• What sorts of things do you need to do to be considered polite?
• How do you greet strangers?
• How do you greet your friends and family?
• What’s your favorite food?
• What’s your favorite dish to make? How do you make it?
• What foods do you hate?
• What sort of food would you most like to try?
• What foods are popular where you live?
• What religion is most common where you live? What other religions are practiced where you live? How is religion viewed where you live?
• What’s your favorite holiday? What holiday do you think is least important? If you could start your own holiday, what would be celebrated? How would you celebrate? What’s your favorite holiday tradition? What holiday do you think is most popular where you live?
• What do you do for fun on nice days? What do you do for fun when the weather is bad? What do do you like to do when you get together with friends? What do you like to do when you get together with family? What do you do for fun by yourself? 
• Do you vote? If so, how often? How do you place your vote? How is your town/city run? (E.g. mayor, council, etc.) What problems is your community/city/country facing? What problems are you most concerned about?
• What’s a comfortable wage in your country? How much does an apartment/house cost? Do people where you live put money in the bank or keep it at home? Do people often invest where you live? If so, what do they invest in? Is it important to save money? Why or why not?
• How many bedrooms are in apartments/houses where you live? What’s in a kitchen where you live?
• What’s your average day like?
• How would you describe your personal style? What fashion trends do you like? What fashion trends do you hate? If you could only wear one outfit everyday, what would it be? What outfit do you think looks best on you? If you could copy someone else’s style, would you? If so, whose? Do you prefer formal or informal dress? Why?
• Is shopping fun or a chore?
• What do you do each morning to ensure you look your best? If you had to change your hairstyle, what new hairstyle would you choose?
• If you could play any sport professionally, what would it be? What sport do you like the least? If you could create your own sport, what would it be?
• What instrument do you wish you could play?
• What style of art do you like best? If you could hang a famous painting on your wall, which would you choose? Why?Have you ever made up a game? If so, what was it like? What game would you choose to play to liven up a party?
• If you had to go a week without a computer, could you? What do you use your phone for? What’s your favorite feature of your phone? What do you find most annoying about your phone?
• What’s your favorite social media channel? Why? Do you feel social media has improved the world? Why or why not?
• What tech gadget is your favorite? What new tech gadget would you most like to own? What new technology would you most like to become available? (E.g. time travel device, another new iPhone, self-replenishing ice cream tub, etc.)
• What’s the worst movie you ever saw? Who would you want cast as you in a movie about your life? If you see a movie in a theater, do you purchase snacks? If so, what?
• If you had to watch one TV show on repeat for the rest of your life, what would it be? What TV character do you wish you could hang out with?
• What singer/musician could you listen to all day without getting annoyed?
• What book genre is your favorite? What book protagonist do you have the most in common with?
• If you want a night out, where do you go? When you go out with a group, who pays?
• What was the most relaxing place you ever traveled to? What was the most exciting place you ever traveled to? Where do you like to stay when you go on vacation? (E.g. hotel, hostel, short-term rental, etc.) What was your favorite thing you ever did on vacation?
• If you won an all-expenses-paid trip anywhere in the world, where would you go? If you had to choose only one location to take every vacation for the rest of your life, which would you choose?
• What mode of transportation do you use most often in your daily life? What mode of transportation do you find most comfortable? What mode of transportation do you find most frustrating? Why? Do you prefer a window or aisle seat?
• Do you keep any plants in your house? What type of flower do you like best? Do you have a garden? If so, what’s in it? If you could plant a dream garden, what would be in it?
• What animals are you afraid of? What animals do you think are the cutest? What sorts of animals do you see frequently?
• What’s your favorite season? Why? What’s your least favorite season? Why? If you could stay in one season all year, would you? If so, which season?
• What environmental issues concern you most?
• What international news concerns you most? How do you think governments could create better understanding between nations?
• What’s the worst weather disaster you have experiences? What weather disasters do you see on the news that scare you? 
• What’s the most uplifting news story you’ve heard recently?
• What’s your greatest accomplishment in life? Of your accomplishments, what do you think made your parents most proud?
• What do you hope to do career-wise in the future? Where do you see yourself in five years? In 10 years? In 20 years?

Interested in Learning more about FIU Language Day and/or Language Conversations?