Questions to ask in another language

Learning a language and getting to know someone from another country both start with a good question. These sets are for language learners, with Spanish best covered, and for asking an exchange student, immigrant or pen pal about where they come from. Others cover heritage months and Dr. King.

49 sets · 2,012 questions · each with a note on why

A few to start with

What did your parents expect of you that you have kept, and what have you let go?
Kept and let go is the useful pair. It gives her room to describe her own position instead of speaking for a culture, and it is where a real conversation about values starts.
From: Questions to Ask a Filipina Girl
Is it enough to not be racist yourself, or does being anti-racist ask for more?
The distinction usually drawn is between keeping your own conduct clean and acting when the problem is someone else's or is written into a rule. Ask for one example of each from a single setting, a lunchroom or a hiring panel. If the term is new or loaded for your group, drop it and ask only the first half. Expect disagreement, and do not hurry to end it.
From: Questions to Ask About Racism
How does gift giving and omiyage actually work?
Omiyage sits closer to an obligation than a gesture: something brought back for colleagues, presented in a particular way. Ask what happens when someone forgets, because that reveals the strength of the expectation.
From: Questions to Ask About Japan
Is there a community from your country here, and how much are you part of it?
Some people lean on it for work, food and company. Others keep their distance on purpose, to get away from gossip, from the politics of home or from being known. Both answers are ordinary, so do not sound surprised by either.
From: Questions to Ask an Immigrant
Which part of the city are you from, and what does the rest of the city say about it?
Everyone knows the joke about their own area and most people enjoy telling it. The answer also shows which side of town their other opinions come from, which is worth remembering when they describe places they rarely go.
From: Questions to Ask About a City
What dish is your hometown or region known for, and is it actually good?
Suited to a class or a group from different places, because each person becomes the expert on one town. Locals are often lukewarm about the famous dish and devoted to one nobody outside has heard of, so ask for that second one too.
From: Questions to Ask About Food

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