Practice lab · 10 min

Conversation Simulator

Rehearse a conversation you find hard to start — on the page, or by role-playing it with your companion. Practise on realistic situations, one step at a time.

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Rehearse a conversation you find hard to start — on the page, or by role-playing it with your companion.

Situations to practise on

Meeting someone at an event

You are at a community event where you know almost nobody. Someone is standing near the drinks table, also alone, looking at their phone.

First conversation with a potential mentor

You have ten minutes with someone whose work you admire. They agreed to talk but you have never met.

Introducing yourself professionally

At the start of a meeting with people from another team, the host asks everyone to introduce themselves briefly.

Meeting a new classmate

You sit next to someone new on the first day of a course. There are a few minutes before it starts.

Asking someone for advice

You want advice from someone who has done something you are considering, and you do not want to take too much of their time.

Talking to a manager or teacher

You need to raise a concern with someone who has authority over your work or studies.

The steps

1. Your opening line About the shared moment is easiest — the place, the event, what brought you both here.
2. What might they say back? Write one likely reply. Keep it realistic — people are often a little reserved at first.
3. Your follow-up question — about them, not you Pick up a thread from their reply rather than changing the subject.
4. Something small you could share about yourself Conversations stay alive when both people share a little.
5. How you would end it warmly — and keep the door open
6. Looking back at what you wrote, did you… Not a checklist to pass — just something to notice.

Afterwards, ask yourself

What felt most natural to write, and what felt hardest?