Questions to Ask Your Classmates
For students in the first weeks of term who need to talk to the people in their class: an interview-a-classmate assignment, a class survey, or a group project with people they barely know. The 50 questions follow the order a first conversation takes, in five groups: Basics, School, Outside school, Fun and Working together, which ends with two for a study partner. Each one has a short note on the follow-up, what the answer tends to tell you and when to leave it out.
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The questions
Each question, and why to ask it
Basics
What name do you go by, and is there a nickname only certain people get to use?
Why ask it
Write the name down the way they spell it and say it back once to check how it sounds. In an interview assignment, a misspelled name is the first thing your classmate will notice when you present, and a nickname stays out unless they say it can go in.
Were you at this school last year, or is all of this new to you?
Why ask it
Someone new will usually be glad you asked, so follow with what has surprised them so far. Someone who has been here for years can tell you which hallway to avoid between classes, which is worth knowing.
Who did you already know when you walked into this class?
Why ask it
'Nobody' is a common answer in the first weeks, and if it is yours too, say so. When they name someone, ask how the two of them met, and you have a second person to talk to.
Have you always lived around here, or did you move from somewhere else?
Why ask it
A lifelong local can tell you what the town is like in every season, and someone who moved usually has one thing they miss, so ask what it is. If the move was recent, stick to the place and skip the reasons, which belong to the family.
Do you have brothers, sisters or pets, and which one causes the most trouble?
Why ask it
An oldest of four and an only child with a cat have had very different mornings, and either makes a good line in an introduction. Take whatever list you get and leave it there: asking who else is at home is how a light question turns heavy.
How do you get to school, and how long does it take you?
Why ask it
A plain question that turns up good details: the long bus ride, the shortcut, the sibling who is always late. On a class survey it is one of the easiest to count and chart.
What did you do over the break that you would happily do again?
Why ask it
You are after one good day, not a list of places, so ask what made that day better than the rest. 'Slept' and 'nothing much' are real answers: ask what the best ordinary day looked like.
When is your birthday, and how do you like to spend it?
Why ask it
A survey staple, because any class bigger than twelve has two people who share a month. How they spend it shows whether they like a crowd or a quiet dinner, which is more use to you than the date. Some families do not celebrate birthdays, so 'we don't really do them' is a complete answer.
What is one thing about you that nobody in this class would guess?
Why ask it
Give them a few seconds, because the first try is usually 'I don't know'. If they stay stuck, offer some places to look: somewhere they have lived, something they can do, someone they have met. In a write-up this is often the best opening line.
School
Which class is your favorite this term, and is that because of the subject or the teacher?
Why ask it
The second half is where the answer is. 'The teacher' leads to a story about what that teacher does, and 'the subject' tells you what this person might want to do later.
What are you looking forward to most this school year?
Why ask it
Listen for whether it is an event (a trip, a season, a dance), a class or simply summer. An event gives you something to ask about again when it comes round, and 'nothing' in the first weeks often means nobody has told them what happens here yet, so tell them one thing you know about.
Which subject takes you the longest to get through?
Why ask it
It asks about time, not ability, so nobody has to announce that they are bad at something. If their slow subject is your quick one, offering to compare notes is an easy way to talk again.
What is the best thing a teacher has ever done in a lesson?
Why ask it
People remember the experiment that went wrong, the day class moved outside, the teacher who came in costume. Keep it to praise: if it drifts into complaints about a teacher down the hall, move to the next question.
Where do you pick to sit when the seats are not assigned: front, back, window or door?
Why ask it
Almost everyone has a firm answer and a reason, and the reason is the good part. Window people and door people will defend themselves at length, which makes this a fine one to put to a whole table.
What do you usually do at lunch?
Why ask it
Listen to how it is answered. A quick list of people and a table means they are settled, while 'it depends' or 'I haven't really figured it out' is your opening to say where you sit. Ask it one to one, not in front of a crowd.
Are you in any clubs, teams or activities here, or thinking about trying one?
Why ask it
In the first weeks plenty of people are waiting for someone to go along with, so listen for a 'maybe'. If they name one you were considering too, say so before the moment passes.
How do you get ready for a test: a little each day, the night before, or mostly hope?
Why ask it
Most people laugh, pick the third and then tell you what they really do. Ask for their one trick, such as flash cards, rewriting notes or explaining it to a parent, because that is something you can try this week.
What is the best project or assignment you have ever done for school?
Why ask it
Notice whether they pick something they made, something they performed or something they figured out, since that is the kind of work they enjoy. For an interview write-up, the story of the project gives you a full paragraph.
If you could add one class to the schedule, what would you add?
Why ask it
Answers range from cooking and car repair to a class on sleeping. Ask who should teach it. For a survey, sort the answers into practical skills, arts, sports and jokes, and see which pile is biggest.
What do you want to be better at by the time this year ends?
Why ask it
A short, specific answer like 'essays' or 'not leaving things until Sunday night' is a good sign and worth writing down word for word. If they shrug, offer yours first and try again.
Outside school
What do you do when you have a whole afternoon to yourself?
Why ask it
Different from asking about hobbies, which makes people feel they need an impressive one. Gaming, napping and walking the dog all count, and each has an obvious next question.
What show, game or channel would you tell me to start tonight?
Why ask it
Asking for a recommendation makes the other person the expert, which most people enjoy. Write it down and report back a week later if you tried it: that second conversation is how classmates turn into friends.
What song have you had on repeat lately?
Why ask it
A favorite song can feel like a test, and this week's one does not. If you do not know it, say so and ask them to describe it, since pretending gets found out fast.
Do you play a sport, play an instrument or make things?
Why ask it
Three doors, so most people can walk through at least one. If all three get a no, ask which they would pick if they had to start one tomorrow.
Is there a team, an artist or a creator you follow closely?
Why ask it
A real fan can talk for ten minutes, so ask what got them started and what you should watch or hear first. If you support the rival team, say so with a grin and keep it friendly, since you still have to sit next to each other.
What food could you eat every day, and what will you never touch?
Why ask it
The refused food gets the stronger reaction and usually comes with the story of the day it was ruined for them. On a class survey, tally the most refused food and announce the winner. An allergy is not a dislike, so leave those out of the count.
What are you good at that would never show up on a report card?
Why ask it
Fixing a bike chain, calming a baby cousin, remembering every birthday. It is a kind question to put to someone who has said school is not their thing, because it hands them a turn to be good at something.
Where do you like to go around here on a weekend?
Why ask it
Helpful if you are new to the area, and a clue to whether they live near you. A place you both know gives you something to talk about, and a place you do not know is a recommendation.
What do you want to do after you finish school, or is that still wide open?
Why ask it
'No idea' is an honest answer at this age, so do not push for a plan. Ask instead which job they would be good at even if they would not want it: the arguer says lawyer, the patient one says kindergarten teacher.
What is the best day out or trip you have ever had?
Why ask it
A day at the lake counts as much as a flight somewhere, and it helps to say so if they hesitate. Ask who was there and what they ate, because the small details are what make the answer worth quoting.
Fun
Would you rather have no homework for a year or no tests for a year?
Why ask it
A class tends to split on this one, and the reasons show who dreads tests and who just wants their evenings back. Take a show of hands if you are running a survey.
Quick round: cats or dogs, sweet or salty, summer or winter?
Why ask it
Made for a class survey, since every answer is one word and goes straight onto a tally sheet. With one person, run through it fast and then go back to the pick they hesitated over, because that is the one with a story.
What is the strangest thing in your backpack right now?
Why ask it
They are allowed to look, and the looking is half the fun. Old permission slips, a single glove and a fossilized snack are standard. Never reach into anyone's bag yourself.
What snack belongs in every vending machine?
Why ask it
Zero risk, strong opinions. Save it for someone who has given one-word answers so far, since nobody is shy about snacks.
What does everyone else seem to love that you just do not get?
Why ask it
Keep it to things, not people: a show, a food, a sport, a song that is everywhere. At a table someone will always jump in to defend it, and that argument is the fun part, so let it run for a minute.
If our class had a mascot, what should it be and why?
Why ask it
Best at a table of four or five, where it turns into a debate. You find out how each person sees the class: a sloth and a flock of seagulls are very different reviews.
Which superpower would you want only during school hours?
Why ask it
Inside a school building, flying matters less than freezing time before a quiz or hearing what the teacher is about to ask. Find out what they would do with it first.
Which book, movie or game world would make the best field trip?
Why ask it
Then ask what the permission slip would have to warn parents about. It shows what they read, watch or play without the pressure of naming a favorite.
What is the funniest thing that has happened to you at school that you do not mind telling?
Why ask it
They choose how embarrassing the story gets, so take the one you are given and do not fish for a worse one. Laugh with them, and if you plan to put it in a presentation, get a yes before you do.
What do you think you will be known for by the time we graduate?
Why ask it
Keep it playful: best handwriting, loudest laugh, always has gum. If someone answers seriously, with a team or a goal, take it seriously and remember it.
Working together
Which part of a group project do you like doing, and which would you gladly hand to someone else?
Why ask it
Ask this before anyone divides up the work. A group where one person dreads presenting and another likes it has just solved a problem, and if everyone wants to hand off the same part, split it evenly and say so out loud.
Do you start early and go slowly, or do your best work close to the deadline?
Why ask it
Neither answer is wrong, but a mix needs a plan. Agree on a date a few days before the real one for putting the pieces together, so the early starter is not left waiting in a panic.
What is the best way to reach you after school, and when do you usually see messages?
Why ask it
Schools differ on what students may use for group work, so if you are not sure, ask your teacher how it works at yours. Someone who says they rarely check messages is being helpful: plan to settle things in class.
When can you work on this outside class, and what on your calendar cannot move?
Why ask it
Practice, a job, looking after siblings and family commitments are all fair, and nobody owes the group the details. Put the free times in one place where everyone can see them.
What are you hoping for on this: just done, a good grade, or the best in the class?
Why ask it
Mismatched goals sit behind a lot of group arguments. If one person wants the top grade and another wants it finished, say that openly and agree what 'good enough' means before the work starts.
What went wrong in the worst group project you have been in? No names.
Why ask it
Whatever they describe, the person who did everything or the one who vanished, is what they will be watching for in this group. Hold them to the 'no names' part, because the person in the story may be sitting in the next room.
If one of us falls behind, how should the rest of us handle it?
Why ask it
Easier to settle now, while nobody is behind. A good answer is specific: a message first, then an offer to swap tasks, and the teacher only after that. A worrying one is 'it will be fine'.
What should I know about how you work that would save us an argument later?
Why ask it
People will tell you they go silent when stressed, need everything written down or hate last-minute changes. Answer it yourself as well, since the question only works when it runs in both directions.
If one of us misses a class, can we send each other the notes and what was assigned?
Why ask it
A yes here is worth more than it sounds the first time either of you is out sick. Agree on how you will send it, and ask your teacher if you are unsure what students at your school may share, since some assignments are meant to be done alone.
Do you want to go over the material together before the next test?
Why ask it
Easiest to ask the person who told you the same unit is slow going for them. Name a time and a place at school, such as lunch on Thursday in the library, because 'sometime' never happens, and take a no or a 'maybe' without asking twice.
How to ask your classmates without making it weird
Practical guidance for the conversation itself
Before you start asking
Choose six, not the whole list
A ten-minute interview has room for about six questions and their follow-ups. Take two from Basics, two from School, one from Outside school and one from Fun, and keep a spare in case one falls flat.
Say why you are asking
"We have to interview each other for class" or "I figured we should know each other before we start this project" is enough. A question with no reason attached can feel like being quizzed, and a reason makes it ordinary.
Trade answers
After each answer, give yours in a sentence or two before you ask the next one. A classmate who has answered five questions and learned nothing about you will start giving shorter answers.
Let a pass be a pass
If someone says "skip" or changes the subject, go to the next question and do not come back to it. Home, family and money are the usual places a pass comes from, and nobody needs to explain one.
Four ways to use the list
The interview-a-classmate assignment
Check the teacher's instructions first, since some ask for set questions and some leave the choice to you. Ask the first Basics question to get the name right, then spend most of your time on the two or three answers that turn into stories. Take notes in the person's own words, and before you finish, read back anything you plan to quote.
A class survey
Pick questions with answers you can count: how people get to school, birthday month, homework or tests, the quick round, the snack for the vending machine. Ask everyone the same wording, keep a tally sheet with one row per answer, and decide beforehand whether names go on it. Most surveys work better without them.
A new group at one table
Start with one Fun question that everyone answers in turn, so each person has spoken once before any work is discussed. Then go to Working together and take the first two questions in order: which part each person likes and which they would hand off, and how early each of you starts. By then the jobs have mostly sorted themselves out, and the next two questions settle how and when you will be in touch.
Sitting next to someone you do not know
One question is plenty. Ask where they were last year or what they have next, add your own answer, and leave it there. A second question tomorrow does more than ten today.
Turning answers into something you can hand in
Open with the detail nobody else has
Every introduction in the room will include a favorite subject and a number of siblings. Start yours with the answer only your partner could have given, such as the strange item in the backpack or the class they would add, and put the basics after it.
Check before you share
Before you present, show or tell your partner what you are going to say. Ask directly whether anything should come out. Something said across a desk to one person can feel very different read aloud to thirty.
Reporting a survey
Give the count along with the result: "14 of 26 chose no homework" says more than "most people". Say how many people you asked and whether anyone skipped the question, and do not single out the one person who gave an unusual answer.
When it gets awkward
One-word answers
Switch to a question with choices built in, such as the seat question or homework against tests, because picking is easier than explaining. Then ask "how come?" once. If the answers stay short, the person may just be shy this week, and that is fine.
A question hits a sore spot
If someone goes quiet after a question about family, lunch or the break, do not apologize at length or ask what is wrong. Say "no worries" and go to something light from Fun. If what they said makes you worried about them, tell a teacher or counselor privately.
Someone turns it into teasing
In a group, an answer sometimes gets laughed at instead of with. Answer the same question yourself straight away, with something a little silly, and move the turn along. The questions are for learning about people, not for collecting material on them.
A group member will not answer the Working together questions
Some people do not know yet how they work, especially in a first project. Offer a choice of two tasks instead of an open question, write down who took what, and check in at the next class. If the work still is not being shared, ask your teacher how they want that handled.