A shared situation provides an easy opening. At a class, you might ask, "Have you tried this course before?" At a community event, "How did you hear about this group?" gives the other person room to answer without demanding private information.
Listen for one detail to follow. Partner: "A colleague recommended it." You: "Does your colleague come here too?" That question grows from the answer. Jumping immediately to "Where do you live?" may feel like starting an interview.
Contribute something yourself
Balance questions with a small contribution: "This is my first session. I wanted more speaking practice." The other person can now respond to your experience instead of carrying the conversation alone.
Notice whether they appear willing to continue. Short answers, a return to another task, or an explicit need to leave are reasons to let the exchange end. Conversation practice does not require keeping every interaction going.
Role-play a brief exchange with only three turns each. Aim for one opening, one related follow-up, and one contribution. Change the situation and choose a different opening rather than repeating the same personal question everywhere. A natural closing such as "Nice talking with you; I will see you in class" can finish the exchange without suggesting a closer relationship than the conversation has established.