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ESL students all have one main frustration in common. Your teachers at your ESL school, family, everyone you know tell you that the best way to improve your English speaking skills is to practice, practice, and practice. Get out there and put everything you’re learning in your ESL class to good use. So, you go out, armed to the teeth with great vocabulary, useful expressions, and motivation to spare, but…you don’t know how to start a conversation. It can be awkward enough for those who are native speakers, imagine for those who are learning the language and perhaps are able to handle only the basics.

No matter what your level is, no matter how long you’ve been taking ESL classes, everyone has to practice. If you’re unsure as to the best way to start a conversation, here are some sure-fire hits:

1) Seize an opportunity to make a comment
If you happen to be a social event, like someone’s birthday party, Christmas dinner, or run-of-the-mill informal gathering, comment on the food, music, or décor. Chose someone to direct the comment to and say something like, “This is delicious! Do you know what this is?” or “I love this song! Do you like Gwen Stefani?” The conversation should flow from there on. Don’t forget to introduce yourself at an opportune moment.

2) Pick someone to introduce yourself to
At a social event, you may recognize someone from school, the gym, or any of your extracurricular activities. Just walk up to the individual in question and say, “Hi! You attend classes at …, don’t you? I’m …., by the way.” Maybe you know who someone is although you haven’t been properly introduced. Starting a conversation is as easy as saying, “Hi there! You’re John’s brother, aren’t you?”

3) Ask a question
Asking someone a question is an infallible way to start a conversation. You may use any excuse like, “Excuse me. Do you know what this is?” (about exotic food) or “Are you a friend of Sarah’s or Michael’s?” (at a wedding). Your options should be obvious depending on the situation. Other useful questions are:
-    “Where are you from?” (to a foreign-looking person – another ESL learner, perhaps!)
-    “Do you work/study with Josh?”
-    “How do you know Jack?”
-    “I’m not from here. Is this a typical/important tradition/custom in the US? (about Halloween/Thanksgiving or any American holiday).

Remember to say Hi or Hello first; smile and try to sound friendly and honestly interested in talking to the person. Wait and see what their answer is before going on with the next question. Don’t attack an unsuspecting individual with an arsenal of questions.

So, overcome your shyness; don’t worry about your accent or pronunciation. Try to do the best you can, after all, you’re not being tested here, like at your ESL school. The goal is to communicate! You should strive to be spontaneous and speak English in a real, informal setting. It may be difficult at first, but, as we say, “if at first you don’t succeed, try and try again”, and you’ll notice improvement in no time. You’ll be speaking like one of the locals. And making friends at the same time! What more could you ask for?

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.englishlci.com as the original source).

So, you’re in the US to work or study English, and you’re not going home for the holidays. Although it is typically a time to be with your loved ones, don’t let this get you down. Take the opportunity to experience the holiday season the American way! You will have the chance to not only learn a great deal about American culture, traditions, and customs, but also practice what you’ve been learning in your ESL classes.

Take the time to enjoy the holiday season, but also focus on improving your speaking skills. Get yourself an invite to a Christmas or New Year’s Eve party and get ready to mingle. There are some essential points you should bear in mind:

1) Be patient
Most Americans have a hard time understanding foreign accents. You may be asked to repeat or clarify what you’ve said. Don’t let this discourage you. Remember you are learning, and you are not expected to speak perfectly. Just do the best you can. You may also have a hard time understanding their accent, especially if they happen to be southern. Don’t be afraid to ask them to repeat their question; request clarification if needed.

2) Chose the right topics
When engaging an American in conversation, it is best to steer clear from topics related to politics, race, religion, or any other controversial issue. “So, what do you think about the health care crisis in the U.S.?” is NOT a good way to start a conversation, least of all on a holiday! Americans like to talk about sports, for example. If you’re not at all familiar with how football (“American” football as opposed to soccer) is played ask someone about it. They’ll be glad to fill you in on the rules. Another great topic is work. Don’t be surprised if the first question you’re asked is, “What do you do?”. They also love to talk about travel, remote locations, and exotic countries. This is a great opportunity to tell them where you’re from and share a little of your culture.

3) Go for informal
Americans prefer first names and informal greetings in general, but especially so if you are at a social gathering or celebration. There is no need address someone as Mr., Mrs. or Ms.

4) Don’t get too “touchy”
It’s perfectly acceptable to shake hands, but hold off from other forms of physical contact. Americans don’t greet each other with kisses as people do in other countries. Also, refrain from holding hands or putting your arms around people.

5) Do your homework
It is recommended that you do some research into what the typical holiday celebration might entail. Most things are not so different from what people do in your own country, but food and drink might be completely different. Find out about the typical foods and drinks and be prepared to sample holiday favorites like roast turkey, egg nog, or mulled wine.  If your beliefs prevent you from eating certain foods like red meat or drinking alcohol, try to let your host/hostess know beforehand, so as to avoid any embarrassing situations.

Remember these tips and enjoy your Christmas break. When your ESL classes resume, you’ll have lots to share with your classmates and teachers.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.englishlci.com as the original source). Get More ESL Tips Here: addthis_url = 'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.go-global.com%2Fglobal-news%2Fsurviving-the-holidays-a-guide-for-esl-students'; addthis_title = 'Surviving+the+Holidays+%26%238211%3B+A+Guide+for+ESL+Students'; addthis_pub = '';