IELTS Speaking Part 1 Meeting New People
Do you like meeting new people?
Yes, I enjoy meeting new people. Meeting new people is always full of thrill and excitement. Because I am always interested in knowing other people’s stories, and in some way or other, I always draw inspiration from their stories. Okay.
How do you feel when people welcome you?
It feels good to be welcomed by others, especially in a new place where you don’t know many people. And people around you make you feel welcome. And it makes it easier for you to become comfortable in that space.
Do you often meet new people?
I used to meet new people at college. But since when I came back from college, the frequency has gone down to a drastic level.
Do you like someone when you meet them for the first time?
Yes, but sometimes there is this click of a vibe. And I get this inbuilt intuition inside of me from the first meeting itself.
What strategies do you use to initiate conversations and break the ice when meeting new people?
The strategy I use to initiate conversations while meeting new people is to greet them with a broad smile on my face, and after that, for a few minutes, I remain a very good listener. I ask a few questions, and I let the other persons answer them; once I have relevant information regarding them, I search for common grounds to have a worthwhile conversation. This technique has worked like a charm for me to date.
Can you describe a recent experience where you met someone new and formed a connection? What made it memorable?
Yeah, recently, I went to a party, and one of my friends introduced me to his cousin, and we discussed many things. We both experienced positive vibes while interacting with each other. That day became memorable for us because we discussed a project, and after that, we started working on that. These days, I am getting huge earnings from that project.
How do you approach meeting new people in social settings versus professional environments?
Regarding social settings, I informally approach new people, like cracking a joke or doing something weird. In contrast, in a professional environment, I introduce myself and get to know the other person also, and based on this profile, I initiate the conversation.
What common interests or topics do you like to discuss when getting to know someone for the first time?
When I meet someone for the first time, rather than being too formal, I try to be informal, so I discuss topics that interest most people, like sports, fashion, films, lifestyle, social media, etc.
Have you ever felt nervous or anxious about meeting new people? If so, how do you manage those feelings?
Once, I went to a new place, a new city, and I was not aware of the culture of that place, so at that time, I was nervous about breaking the ice. I learned a lot about the content regarding that place online, and from there, I learned about people’s likes and dislikes. Based on that, I changed myself, and after that, I started interacting with the natives. This technique worked like a charm for me.
What qualities do you appreciate most in people when you first meet them?
People I meet for the first time appreciate the qualities of hospitable people. They greet you with a smile and do not pass unnecessary comments. Apart from this, they need to be good listeners. I don’t like one-way communication, where one person speaks, and the other listens. The interaction should be interactive.
How do you remember people’s names and make a lasting impression when meeting new individuals?
To remember people’s names, whenever I meet them, I take their contact numbers and save them so that the next time I meet that person, I will have some information regarding them.
Can you share when you met someone from a different cultural background? What did you learn from that experience?
I remember a few years back, I met a German gentleman. Since we were both history enthusiasts, we discussed the role of Germany in engineering, especially during the world wars. That discussion continued for a long time, and I gained a lot of information. From him, I came to know that real engineering started in Germany, so whenever I see someone who wants to do big in this field, I recommend that person go to Germany for engineering.
What role do mutual interests play in building connections with new people?
Mutual interest plays a substantial role in building connections because if you have some common ground, the discussion becomes easy because you get to know some information. You fetch information from the other person, which helps bridge the gap.