Conversation 1

A     : Ouch! This is really ridiculous (menggelikan) you know! I hate this situation!

B     :Hi calm down please! Don’t be so emotional guy!

A     : You just don’t know what I feel! Everything is getting worse, because of him.

B     : Stop blaming (menyalahkan) other people. Be patient, and think positively.

A     : You know what? He forgot to book my ticket to join the seminar tomorrow, and the ticket

is sold out. Can I still be calm?

B     : Well, you don’t need to be angry, take a deep breath to control your emotion.

A     : Okay,…( take a deep breath ) so,….what do I do next? I’m still upset (terganggu)

B     : Next, think positively, turn your anger into energy. And here we go,…you can do the
action for the next step.

A     : You mean, that I don’t need to get the ticket? And I should get another seminar next time?

B     : Yup,…exactly. You can’t change the situation anywhy. So manage your emotion to feel

better. If you can’t change the situation, change the way you think. That’s called emotional

intelligence.

A     : Emotional intelligence? Maybe I need to know more about it.

B     : You should learn emotional intelligence.

Conversation 2

How do you cope (menangani )stress?

A     : Are you still working now?

B     : Yes, I might work over time again.

A     : Why don’t you try to be free and enjoy your  life?

B     : I wish I could. But there is much work at the office. I work under pressure as well.
A     : Do you do it by yourself or with your colleagues (teman/kolega) ?

B     : All by myself. It’s tiring (melelahkan) and stressfull. I’m still thinking about how to ease
(menentramkan, menenangkan) my mind after working hard. How do you cope stress?

A     : According to (menurut )the book I’ve read, we should try to enjoy our job. And set time to
relax every weekend. Do something fun for ourselves, forget about job for a moment to refresh
our mind.

B     : How many hours do we need for sleeping a day?

A     : Eight hours per day is enough. And live healthily. Do exercise regularly.

B     : I hate doing sport.

A     : You can walk, or just run to stay healhty. It’s good for us. And always think positively,

forgive anyone who hurts you.  Simple right?

B     : Well, thank you for your advice.(saran)

Bank Conversation
A             : I need to get some information for your loan ( pinjaman) appraisal.

B             : Yes please. Should I fill out the form?

A             : Yes you should, but I should ask you some questions first. How much loan do you
require?

B             : I need USD 5,000

A             :  What do you do for a living?

B             : I run my own bussiness by renting house and cars also.

A             : How much is your income per month approximately?

B             : Around USD 500 to USD 600.

A             : What was your gross income last year?

B             : It was USD 7,100.

A             : Do you have any credit cards?

B             : Yes I do, I have 2 cards.

A             : How much debt do you have on your credit cards?

B             : Totally about USD 6,000.

A             : Do you have any outstanding loans?

B             : Yes, It’s around 5,000.

Do you have your bank account?

A         : What is your plan today?

B         : I’ll go to the Bank.

A         : Why do you go to Bank?

B         : Because I’ll save my money.

A         : Really? Do you have your bank account?

B         : Yes, I do.

A         : When did you open it?

B         : Last year. I opened it to help my father easier sending money to me.

A         : What kind of bank account do you have?

B         : Central Express Bank.

A         : Why do you choose that bank?

B         : Because the transferring process is very fast, and the monthly fee is low.

A         : I also want to open a bank account but I don’t know how.

B         : You just need to go to the bank and find the customer service desk, and tell that you
want to open a bank account.

A         : Is there anything I need to bring with me?

B         : Just bring your valid ID card.

A         : Can I get the ATM card?

B         : Yes, of course. All new accounts now come with an ATM card.

A         : OK, thanks for informing me.

Job Conversation

A     : How was your interview?

B     : It was bad. I failed to get the job.

A     : So?!

B     : I give up.

A     : What! You can’t be like that! You must strive to get a job!

B     : I think I change my mind. I will try different thing. I dont’want to place too much reliance

on being an employee. I will try to run a business.

A     : What business will you run?

B     : Do you think that running a food stall will be prospecting nowadays?

A     : It can be. But have you prepared yourself mentally and financially?

B     : I can start from what I have and I’m very ready to do it.

A     : You should choose a strategic place and the right segment too. You must do a very careful

research to make a good result.

B     : I know it. It’s much easier to start a business than to run it well.

What time is the meeting over?

A     : Good morning, Brother company how may I help you?

B     : Good morning, I’m Peter from  D’loyd. Could you please put me through Mrs. Brenda?

A     : I’m sorry, she’s attending the meeting right now.  Would you leave a message or call back

later?

B     : What time is the meeting over?

A     : I’m not sure, but it usually takes about two hours.

B     : Alright, could you please tell her to check her email address because I’ve sent her  an

important document?

A     : Certainly Sir, I will. Any other message Sir?

B     : Yes, Please also tell her  when will be the best time for us to meet this week?

I should meet her this week.

A     : Do you mean to meet her at our office …or…at your office Sir?

B     : No matter. I can meet her at her office or my office.

A     : Alright Sir. I’ll tell her right away

Office Conversation

I need it to discuss our new project

A     : Have you done your yesterday’s daily report?

B     : No, I haven’t. I had to attend the seminar all day long yesterday. I’ll do it right now.

A     : Why didn’t you ask your co-worker to do it yesterday?

B     : They were all busy yesterday.

A     : Well, can you make it before 11 today? I need it to discuss our new project.

B     : Yes sir, I will. What else should I prepare?

A     : We are going to hold a general meeting tomorrow morning at 7 am. Can you go home late

today? We need to prepare all of the reports. And you must make them in power point.

B     : No problem Sir, I will be ready for that.

A     : Please inform all of the managers to join the meeting tomorrow.

B     : Should I type the agenda for the meeting too?

A     : Oh yes, I almost forget. Please type it, then copy it to 15, and distribute them to all
department managers.

B     : Surely.

Travelling

Why do you decide to go on vacation there?

A     : What do you plan for the next holiday?

B     : I plan to visit Egypt, and I’ve booked the accomodation.

A     : Sounds perfect! Why do you decide to go on vacation there?

B     : I heard that there are many historical places there, and I really enjoy learning history.

A     : And you know what? I got room number 13, with a mountain-view for quite cheap price!

B     : Don’t you know about number 13? It’s unlucky number.

A     : So?! It’s a cock and bull story! (cerita belaka) I don’t believe such a superstition(tahayul)!
Do you believe in

superstition?

B     : I experienced bad things when I neglected (mengabaikan) a myth. I didn’t pass the test
because my registration number was 13.

A     : It doesn’t make sense at all for me. You didn’t pass just because you didn’t study hard.

B     : But it happened to me.

A     : Life is what you make it! If you believe something, it will happen!

Did you get her phone number?

A     : Hi! Where have you been so far?

B     : I’ve been in my hometown for a couple of days.

A     : I see. What’s your plan for today?

B     : I’m going to go to book store. Will you join me?

A     : Oh, I went there yesterday. Do you remember Anne our old friend at Junior High School?
B     : Wait,…..the curly hair with the dimple on her cheek?

A     : Yes exactly. You know, she lives in this city now.

B     : Did you meet her by coincidence?

A     : Yes I did. At first, she was staring at me, and I wasn’t sure that she was Anne. But she
called

my name and finally we talked a lot about many things.

B     : Did you get her phone number?

A     : Yes I did. Here it is.

B     : Let me write it down. I will call her sometime.

101 Conversation Starters

Ice Breakers
 Where did you grow up?
 Do you have any pets?
 Do you have any siblings?
 Do you know what your name means?
 What type of phone do you have?
 What did you do this past weekend?
 What are your plans for this weekend?
 What do you like to do in your spare time?
 What is the first thing you do when you wake up?
 What is the last thing you do before you go to sleep?
 What is your middle name?
 What was the last thing you purchased?
 What is your favorite holiday?
 What is your favorite day of the week?
 If you could meet anyone in history, who would it be?
 What do you like to do to relax?
 Are you a saver or a spender?
 Do you play any instruments?

Childhood Questions
 What was your favorite children's book?
 What is your first childhood memory?
 What type of kid were you (e.g. spoiled/ manja, rebellious suka melawan, well-behaved baik
budi, quiet, obnoxious menjengkelkan...)?
 What is one thing you miss about being a kid?
 What did you want to grow up to be when you were younger?
School/Work Topics
 Where did (do) you go to school?
 What was (is) your favorite subject?
 What was (is) your least favorite subject?
 What's the first thing you do after school/work?
 Were you the class clown or teacher's pet?
 What do you do for a living?
 What is your dream job?
 If you had $10 million, would you still be working/going to school?
 What was your least favorite job that you've ever had?
 What is something that you have gotten in trouble for at school/work?

Relationship Questions
 What is the first think you notice about a guy or girl?
 Have you ever been in love?
 Do you believe in soul mates?
 What are your turn offs?
 Do you believe in love at first sight?
 Do you prefer short hair or long hair on a guy/girl?
 What do you look for in a guy/girl?
 Who was the last person you called?
 Would you rather be rich and never find true love or be poor and find true love?

Sports Conversation Starters

 Who is your favorite athlete?
 How often do you exercise?
 What is your favorite sports team?
 Do you play any sports?

Vacation Questions
 Where was the last place you went on vacation?
 Where do you plan on going for your next vacation?
 If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
 What countries have you traveled to?
 What was your worst vacation experience?

Food/Drink Topics
 What is your favorite drink?
 What is your favorite food?
 What is your favorite meal of the day?
 Are there any foods that you dislike or will not eat?
 Are there any foods that you would like to try?
 What is your favorite restaurant?
 What is your favorite pizza topping?
 What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
 What did you have for dinner last night?
 What is the signature dish that you cook?

Entertainment Topics
 Who is your favorite actor?
 What is your favorite movie of all time?
 What was the worst movie you've ever seen?
 What is your favorite TV show?
 What was the last movie you've seen?
 What type of music do you like to listen to?
 Who is your favorite music artist?
 What was the last book you read?

Personal Questions
 Who do you look up to?
 Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
 What are you scared of?
 What is the best piece of advice you've received?
 What do your parents do for a living?
 What is your biggest regret?
 What is your most embarrassing moment?
 What is the craziest thing you've ever done?
 What are some of your short-term goals?
 What are some of your long-term goals?

Misc. Conversation Starters

 Do you sleep with a stuffed animal?
 Tell me about your first car.
 Do you drink coffee or tea?
 If you could have any super power, what would it be?
 If you were stranded on a deserted island and you could have only 1 item, what would it be?
 Do you believe in luck?
 Do you play video games?
 Do you believe people are inherently good?
 How often do you shower?
 What is your favorite board game?
 What is your favorite charity?
 Have you ever gotten a speeding ticket?
 Do you prefer cats or dogs?
 Would you prefer to live in the city or a rural area?
 What is your favorite season?
 Do you speak any other languages?
 Have you ever cried because you were so happy?
 What is the best thing that happened to you during the past week?
 What is the worst thing that happened to you during the past week?
 Do you sing in the shower?
 What is the most valuable thing that you own?
 What would you do if you only had 24 hours left to live?

http://conversation-starters.com/

10 Conversation Starters for Small Talk

Myself and many of my coaching clients have tested numerous small talk conversation starters,
and I’m going to share with you 10 of the best ones. Correlate these starters with your interests
and the social context, and you can confidently rely on them.

1. “What do you think of this event/ party/ gathering?” – Simple and straightforward.

2. “Who do you know here?” – Also a good way to meet more people and make new friends.

3. “What field are you in?” – Works great at networking and business events.

4. “Have you ever been to this place before?” – Terrific starter if you like the location you’re at.

5. “That’s a nice watch. Where did you get it?” – Also works well for other accessories or
clothing items.

6. “Tell me about yourself.” – A nice, broad request. It can really get the other person talking.

7. “Have you heard about (major and recent event)?” – A bit of talk about the latest news never
hurts.

8. “Where are you from?” – An excellent conversation starter for events with people from
multiple cities or countries.

9. “How is your day going?” – Kickoff the chat by getting the other person to share their day.

10. “What are you drinking?” – A particularly good one if you have an interest in drinks or
drinking.

Use these simple and effective conversation starters when you’re making small talk, and you’ll
get the conversational ball rolling.

I know that small talk may seem pointless, but it is a valuable part of social interactions,
especially with new people. It’s a way to test the waters and to engage another person. Know
how to make small talk and how to move beyond it, and you’ll actually enjoy it.
Small but significant improvements such as getting good conversation starters can noticeably
enhance your social life. However, it’s important to realize that they’re not in and of themselves
a complete solution.

Working as a communication coach, one thing that became obvious to me is that most people
who could benefit from learning how to start a conversation effectively also have other sticking
points in the area of conversation skills they need to address.

Once they learn how to start a conversation, they need to learn how to keep it going, how to
make small talk, how to express themselves authentically or how to create a connection with
others. They often need to work on their conversation skills as a whole.

If this is the case for you, it’s time to consider going beyond conversation starters and figuring
out the best ways to improve your conversation skills. Here are the methods I believe to be the
most helpful:

1. Go Out, Get Social

It’s tempting to search for ways to improve your conversation skills that don’t demand engaging
in conversations with people, so that when you do engage, you impress them with your masterful
conversation skills from the get go.

Unfortunately, life doesn’t work like that. In order to improve your conversation skills, the
single most important thing you can do is to go out more and socialize more.

Your ability to make masterful conversation develops through persistent practice more than
anything else. As you meet people, initiate conversations and always seek to make better
conversation, you slowly but surely improve in this area.

2. Model Good Conversationalists

Another thing that will help you immensely is to study the conversational style of successful
conversationalists. The key idea here is not to clone them, but to pick bits and pieces from their
conversational mannerisms and implement them in your own conversational style.

You can start by analyzing charismatic characters in movies or books from the comfort of your
own home, but eventually you need to study real-life individuals with good conversational skills
from a close proximity. Modeling these persons will provide a huge benefit for you.

3. Learn Principles and Techniques

An entire industry exists that’s focused on helping people become better conversationalists and
enrich their social life. Some of the ideas popularized in this industry are hooey, but some of
them have a lot of value and work wonders in practice.
There is no point in reinventing the wheel when others have done a lot of the work for you. The
least you can do is to pick up a few good books on the topics of conversation skills, learn specific
principles and techniques and put them into practice. If you want more, consider courses and
training on this topic.

4. Have a System for Practice

There are two reasons why many people fail at improving their conversation skills: they either
apply corny and ineffective ideas, or they don’t have a system to practice and make progress.

This second point means that people will pick a few tips, practice them a few times and then give
up. You need a better approach to see visible improvements in the way you converse with others.
You need to pick specific improvements goals for yourself, to set daily practice activities and to
do these activities.

More than anything else, you want to act more than you read, and you want to do it
methodically. Your skills develop by taking massive action in small, logical steps. If you want to
move from using good conversation starters to charming people conversationally, this is the
mindset you want to be in.