25 Getting-to-Know-You Conversation Questions (Talk About Yourself, A2/B1)
- Alex
- Sep 26
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 23
Go to the English Conversation Questions Hub for more discussion topics you can use for self-study or for the ESL classroom.
25 Getting-to-Know-You Conversation Questions for ESL Learners
Level: pre-intermediate (A2) / intermediate (B1)
Download and print the 2-page PDF for your classroom:
When you meet someone new, it’s natural to introduce yourself. You might say, “Hi, my name is [your name]. It’s nice to meet you.” After that, the other person will probably ask a few questions to get to know you better. In other words, they will want to learn more about you.
But will you know how to answer? Can you talk about your birthday, your interests, your family, your education, and your job? In short: Do you know how to talk about yourself in English?
That is the purpose of this page! To practice asking and answering common getting-to-know-you questions with confidence and accuracy.
The getting-to-know-you conversation questions below are ideal for the ESL classroom or for self-study. They are meant for pre-intermediate (A2) and intermediate (B1) English learners, but more advanced learners can enjoy them as well. This resource is meant to help learners practice their speaking skills, and to learn and use some new vocabulary. With these conversation questions, students will activate the present simple, past simple, and a bit of the present perfect tense.
Are you ready? Start talking about yourself, and let's get to know each other better!
Warm-up:
What's your name?
Example answer: My name is Hikaru.
How do you spell [that/it]? (Also: "Could you spell that for me, please?")
Example answer: It's spelled H-I-K-A-R-U.
Geography
Where do you live?
Example answer: I live in Sydney.
Where were you born? Did you grow up there too? (Grow up means to become mature. "Where did you grow up?" means "Where did you spend the majority of your childhood and have your important childhood experiences?")
Example answer: I was born in Hokkaido, Japan, but I grew up in Kyoto.
Which countries have you visited?
Example answer: I've visited Spain, Vietnam, and the U.S. And now, I'm in Australia.
Family and home
Do you have any brothers or sisters? (A collective word for brothers and sisters is siblings. A person without siblings is called an only child.)
Are you married or single? (This is a personal question that is not usually asked by people, but it is important to understand these words.)
Do you have any pets? Did you have any pets when you were younger? (Pets are animals that are part of your family.)
Do you live in a house, an apartment, or a condo?
Age
When is your birthday? (Also: "What's your birthday?" or "When were you born?")
How old are you? (This is a sensitive question for some people. If you don't want to respond, you can say, "It's a secret" or "[Older/Younger] than you!")
Abilities
What languages can you speak?
Are you a good cook?
Can you play any musical instruments? If so, do you play regularly?
Interests
What do you like to do on weekends?
Do you have any hobbies? (Hobbies are activities you enjoy doing in your free time.)
What's your favourite movie or book?
What did you like to do and what were you interested in when you were younger?
Education
Where did you go to school? (This usually means "Where did you go to college or university?" If you are a young person, you can talk about your elementary school, high school, or current school experience.)
What did you study? (If you are a young person, you can answer the question, "What [was/is] your favourite subject in school?")
Did you have any favourite teachers? If so, what made them special?
Work and routines
What do you do? (Also: "What's your job?", "Where do you work?", or "What do you do for a living?")
Do you like your job?
What's your daily routine?
How often do you study English? What do you do to study?
Getting-to-know-you conversation questions picture practice
What can you tell me about these people and their lives? Practice using the third person present simple to talk about them. For example, "Her name is Stella. She likes _____." If you have a partner, take turns asking questions about each person. Be creative!
So, did you learn something about yourself and your classmates today? I hope so! If you enjoyed practicing your English with these conversation questions, and you would like to support my work, please consider buying one of my books. Thank you for your support! Until next time, keep learning, and keep practicing.
Related pages
How to Talk about Yourself (video lesson and quiz)