How to have WILD SUCCESS at Being the Guest of Americans

Important Tip: How to Succeed in Having a Great Time with Americans You Do Not Know!

Having some control in the conversation

and making a real American friend at the same time!

OK, you have decided to have a try at meeting Americans. You sign up for an event and you go there. Now you are at a dinner table with 3 fellow students and 4 Americans strangers! All of a sudden you realize " I don't know what to say! " The Americans are smiling and eating the food, but your mind is racing wildly, trying to figure out what to say and how to be a good guest! What do you do?

First, relax! The truth is, probably everyone at your table is a little nervous - maybe even the some of the Americans!

Next, YOU can be the one to bring some fun and interest to the conversation. How? By remembering one of the best secrets of good conversation: most people really enjoy talking about themselves! That is certainly true with most of the Americans you meet. So all you have to do is ask a few simple questions. That will get any of your hosts to happily respond. In fact, they will often be relieved! Now you both have something to talk about! So what are some good questions to ask an American you don't know at a dinner like this?

ASK THEM ABOUT THEIR WORK

1) "Can you tell me about the kind of work you do?"

2) Once they answer this question, take it further by asking, "What do you like most about your work?" and then follow that with "What is the hardest for you in your job?"

3) Then you could ask, "Do you think you would choose your profession again if you could live your life over?" And then "Why?" or "Why not?"

QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR FAMILY

If you see that they are married, a great question is "Tell me, how did you meet your wife/husband?" Americans often enjoy telling the story of their early days before marrying.

Another: "Do you live close to your parents?" This is a great topic because almost NO Americans live the way many international students do in this regard, in the same home with parents. So after they explain their situation you can ask, "Do you know how we typically do this in our culture?" And then explain how things work in your country.

Do they have children? Ask "Tell me about your children: their ages!" Next "do you think their pesonalities are similar or not?" And "How are they different from each other?" Here is a great one: "Do you have to parent these different personalities differently or the same?"

GET THEM TALKING ABOUT THEIR HOBBIES

"Do you have a favorite hobby?"

"What do you think it is about this hobby that makes this so enjoyable for you?"

"What are the last three books you have read and if you liked them, why?"

"Where do you (and your family) typically like to vacation, and why?"

Well, now you are probably getting the idea. Ask questions! The more good questions you ask, the better your time will be - and the more you will "get inside" the life of your American host.

Most of all: Relax - because when you ask questions you are in charge! This is how friendships with Americans get a great start: you are asking about them and are learning about their lives. They will ask you about yours, and you are both on your way to having a new friend!

OK, are you ready to say "Yes" and register for this event?

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