Getting to Know You: Common Questions for Beginner ESL Students

As an ESL (English as a Second Language) student, it's essential to practice your speaking skills by engaging in conversations with others. One common topic of conversation is getting to know each other. Here are some basic questions you can ask and example answer suggestions to help you get started:

What is your name?

• My name is Maria.

• I go by the name of Ahmed.

• I'm John.

Where are you from?

• I am from Brazil.

• I come from Japan.

• I hail from Spain.

What do you do for work/study?

• I am a student.

• I work as an engineer.

• I am a teacher.

Do you have any hobbies or interests?

• Yes, I enjoy playing the guitar in my free time.

• I like to read books and go hiking.

• I am interested in photography and painting.

Have you traveled anywhere recently?

• Yes, I traveled to Italy last summer.

• I went to Thailand for my vacation.

• I visited Canada for a business trip.

Do you have any siblings?

• Yes, I have one older brother and one younger sister.

• No, I am the only child in my family.

• I have two older sisters and one younger brother.

How many people are there in your family?

• There are five people in my family, including my parents and siblings.

• I have a small family with just my parents and me.

• I live with my grandparents, parents, and two younger siblings.

What do your parents do for work?

• My mother is a doctor, and my father is a teacher.

• Both of my parents are engineers.

• My parents run their own business.

Do you have any children?

• No, I don't have any children.

• Yes, I have a son who is three years old.

• I have two daughters, aged 7 and 9.

How long have you been learning English?

• I have been learning English for six months.

• I started learning English last year.

• I have been studying English for two years.

Remember to use these questions and example answers as a starting point for your conversations, and don't be afraid to ask follow-up questions to keep the conversation flowing. Practicing these questions will help you improve your speaking skills, build your vocabulary, and develop your confidence in using English in everyday conversations.

Happy conversing!