Lily asks
How do you feel about meeting new people? Tell me about a time you did.
How to build your answer
Habits: four moves, about a minute.
- 1What you doThe habit, plainly. “I usually…”
- 2When and how oftenEvery morning? Once a week?
- 3WhyWhat you get out of it.
- 4A real exampleThe last time it happened.
Lily's answer, three ways
The same story, from easy to advanced. Tap a highlighted phrase to learn it.
Easy
Lily's voice note
I'm a bit shy at first, to be honest, but I like it once I start talking. Last autumn I joined a pottery class on Thursday evenings. I didn't know anyone there, and I nearly went home. But then the woman next to me dropped her pot on the floor, and we both laughed. That broke the ice. We chatted all evening, and we really hit it off. Now we get a drink after every class. So yeah, it's worth being brave.
Phrases to borrow
a bit shy
/ə ˈbɪt ˈʃaɪ/
quiet and nervous with new people
I'm a bit shy when I meet new people.
/breɪk ðə ˈaɪs/
say or do something that makes people relax together
A funny question can break the ice.
Natural
Lily's voice note
I like meeting new people, but the start can be a bit awkward. I'm not great at making small talk. Last autumn I joined a pottery class on Thursday evenings, and I didn't know anyone. For the first twenty minutes I just stared at my clay, and I nearly went home. Then the woman next to me dropped her pot on the floor, and we both burst out laughing. We got chatting after that and talked all evening. Now we go for a drink after every class. I'm really glad I stayed.
Phrases to borrow
a bit awkward
/ə ˈbɪt ˈɔːkwəd/
slightly uncomfortable or embarrassing
The silence was a bit awkward.
make small talk
/meɪk ˈsmɔːl ˈtɔːk/
chat politely about unimportant things
I hate making small talk at parties.
get chatting
/ˈɡet ˈtʃætɪŋ/
start talking to someone, often by chance
We got chatting at the bus stop.
Advanced
Lily's voice note
Meeting new people always takes me out of my comfort zone, but that's sort of why I like it. Last autumn I joined a pottery class on Thursday evenings, not knowing a soul, and I was so nervous I nearly went home. Then the woman next to me dropped her pot. It hit the floor with a sad little splat, and we both laughed. After that we struck up a conversation and didn't stop all evening. We swapped numbers at the end, and now we get a drink after every class. It just goes to show, you never know who you're going to meet.
Phrases to borrow
out of your comfort zone
/ˈaʊt əv jɔː ˈkʌmfət ˈzəʊn/
in a situation that feels new and a bit scary
Speaking in public takes me out of my comfort zone.
strike up a conversation
/straɪk ˈʌp ə ˌkɒnvəˈseɪʃn/
start talking with someone you don't know
I struck up a conversation with the barista.
swap numbers
/swɒp ˈnʌmbəz/
give each other your phone numbers
We got on so well that we swapped numbers before the bus came.
you never know
/juː ˈnevə ˈnəʊ/
it's possible, even if it seems unlikely
Bring an umbrella. You never know.
Your turn: answer Lily
How do you feel about meeting new people? Tell me about a time you did.
Answer out loud, in your own words. Try one phrase you just borrowed.
People & relationships
a bit awkward
slightly uncomfortable or embarrassing
“The silence was a bit awkward.”
heytardy