Break the ice without breaking the flow of conversation

Your first meeting with a student is going to be your “ice-breaker”. You will have a light conversation; you will ask general questions, you will answer general questions from your students too. Make sure that with every piece of information, you get close to who exactly your student is and what he/she needs from you, and therefore how you can help them better. Everything is interrelated. You need to keep the flow throughout the whole conversation. When engaging in initial conversation with your student, try to make it interesting and involving. Make them feel as if you are really creating this comfortable atmosphere for them. Usually most first conversations start with questions about the student’s country and heritage. However, you can always break the ice by asking different questions. In general, students are used to questions about their country and heritage. So they have ready-to-use answers to all these questions. You will surprise them by not focusing on these questions first, but rather ask them about their hobbies, or their day, their school, etc. Later in the lesson, you can ask about their family and country, traditional food, etc. Look at the following example:

Tutor: So what do you do for fun?
Student: Fun…
Tutor: What is your hobby? Do you play any sports?
(when you notice that the student does not understand a more general question, you can sort of suggest things for them, specify something very concrete: e.g. sports)
Student: Ah, sports, yes. I like basketball and baseball.
Tutor: That’s great. So do you play with your friends?
Student: I only watch TV.
Tutor: Oh, so you don’t play basketball or baseball. You only watch them on TV?
Student: Yes.
Tutor: Do you like watching TV? (make a smooth transition to a different topic)
Student: Yes, I like movies.
Tutor: Really? What’s your favorite movie?
Student: I like CSI.
Tutor: Oh, CSI is a TV show. It has many episodes.
Student: Yes, I like.
Tutor: That’s wonderful. So do you watch it by yourself or with friends?
Student: Usually by myself. Sometimes with friends.
Tutor: This is good. Do you have a lot of friends here. (another transition)
Student: Yes, but many are leaving to go home. So it’s sad.
Tutor: That’s true. It must be hard. But you can make new friends, right?
Student: It’s difficult.
Tutor: Where do you usually meet new friends? At school? At a club?
Student: Maybe school.
Tutor: Do you go to clubs too?
Student: Sometimes. But I stay late and I need to be in school next day.
Tutor: Yes, I know what you mean. You need to sleep in order to study better.
Student: Yes. But sometimes I go. I drink with friends. (laughing)
Tutor: Really? What’s your favorite drink? (another transition)