American English for Life and Work in the USA. Lesson 9.
In this lesson you leave the office for a meetup, conference, or internal networking event. You practice starting conversations with strangers, giving a short and memorable description of who you are and what you do, and asking good follow-up questions. You notice how Americans often mix small talk with professional talk, moving smoothly between weekend plans, hobbies, and projects. You learn practical language for exchanging contact details, mentioning LinkedIn, and ending conversations politely so you can move on without awkwardness. You also explore cultural expectations around friendliness, enthusiasm, and self-promotion, and how to present yourself confidently without overselling. By the end, you can walk into a room full of new people in the U.S. and feel ready to connect, not hide in a corner.
1. Arriving at the meetup and saying hello.
Imagine it is a Thursday evening. You walk into a tech meetup in a coworking space in a U.S. city. People are standing around with name badges, holding drinks, talking in small groups. You do not know anyone yet, but you do not want to hide in the corner. In this block, we will focus on that very first moment when you start a conversation with a stranger. You will hear a short networking exchange at the snack table, then you will look closely at the questions and answers. Notice how the speakers sound friendly and relaxed, but still professional. Listen especially for phrases like, “Is this your first time at this conference?” and “What brings you to this event?” These are very typical American openers. After you listen, you will summarize what you understood about the other person and the situation. This will prepare you to start your own conversations later in the lesson.
Scene: Your first conversation at the event.
You are at a fintech meetup in New York. You grab a drink and stand near the snack table. Someone next to you smiles. You decide to start a conversation.
Sample dialogue
> You: Hi, I am Alex. Is this your first time at this event?
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> Jordan: Hey, nice to meet you, Alex. I am Jordan. It is actually my second time here.
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> You: Oh cool. What brings you to this meetup?
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> Jordan: I work in product design for a fintech company downtown. I am mostly here to meet other people who work on user experience.
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> You: Nice. I am in data analytics, but I work a lot with UX teams.
What is happening in this short scene?.
In the audio, you will hear a similar conversation. Pay attention to how the speakers start and continue the talk:
Friendly greeting and name exchange
“Hi, I am Alex.” / “Hey, nice to meet you, Alex. I am Jordan.”
Short, simple, first names only.
Event-focused small talk
“Is this your first time at this event?”
This is a safe, easy question. It shows interest but does not feel too personal.
Bridge to professional talk
“What brings you to this meetup?”
This invites the other person to mention their work or interests.
Short professional description
“I work in product design for a fintech company.”
This is like a mini version of an elevator pitch.
Patterns to notice.
Start with Hi / Hey plus your name.
Ask an event question: Is this your first time at this conference?
Ask a reason question: What brings you to this event?
Give a one-line work description: I work in product design for a fintech company.
You will now listen to a slightly different version of this scene. Your job is to understand who the other person is and why they are at the event.
Practice & Feedback
Listen to the short conversation at the event. While you listen, focus on three things:
Who is the other person (their name and general role)?
Why are they at the event?
What questions do you ask them to start the conversation?
After listening once or twice, write 3–5 sentences in your own words. Do not try to repeat every sentence exactly. Instead, summarize:
one sentence about who they are;
one or two sentences about their work and reason for coming;
one or two sentences about the questions you used to start the conversation.
Use natural, simple English. It is fine if you are not 100% sure about every detail. Show what you understood from the overall scene.
2. Crafting your short professional story.
Now that you have seen how a conversation can begin, let us zoom in on your short professional story, often called an elevator pitch. At American events, people expect you to explain who you are and what you do in just a few clear sentences. It should feel friendly and confident, not like a sales speech or a long CV. In this block, you will read a few sample introductions from different professionals. We will break them into parts so you can see the structure: your current role, your focus or expertise, and maybe one current project or interest. As you read, notice how each speaker chooses one or two details, not ten. After that, you will write your own two to three sentence introduction that you could actually use at a conference or meetup in the U.S.
What makes a good short introduction at events?.
At a U.S. networking event, people usually want a short, clear picture of who you are professionally. They do not need your full career history. Think about answering three simple questions:
What is your role?
Where do you work or study?
What do you mainly focus on right now?
Sample introductions.
1. Tech professional
> I work in product design for a fintech company. I focus mainly on user research and strategy, especially around mobile banking. Right now I am leading a project to improve our onboarding experience.
2. Academic researcher
> I am a postdoc in computer science at NYU. I work on machine learning for healthcare, especially ways to make models more explainable for doctors. Lately I have been collaborating with a hospital here in the city.
3. Consultant
> I am a strategy consultant with a mid-sized firm in Chicago. I help manufacturing companies modernize their operations. Recently I have been working on a project around supply chain resilience.
Common structure.
All three use a similar pattern:
Sentence 1: Role + organization
I work in product design for a fintech company.
I am a postdoc in computer science at NYU.
Sentence 2: Main focus or expertise
I focus mainly on user research and strategy.
Sentence 3 (optional): Current project or interest
Right now I am leading a project to improve our onboarding experience.
You do not need three sentences every time. Two good sentences are often enough. The key is to be concrete:
Say what kind of work you do.
Say who or what you work with.
Optionally, mention one current project.
In the task below, you will analyze one introduction and then create your own.
Practice & Feedback
Read the sample introduction in the resource box carefully. Then do two things:
Identify the parts. In 1–2 sentences, explain which part of the introduction shows the role and organization, and which part shows the focus or current project. Use your own words.
Write your introduction. Write a short professional introduction (2–3 sentences) that you could use at a real event.
Try to follow the pattern from the examples above:
Sentence 1: I am / I work as[your role]at[company, university, or field].
Sentence 2: I focus on / I mainly work on[topics, clients, or tools].
Optional sentence 3: Right now I am working on[one project].
Imagine you are speaking to someone standing next to you at a conference. Keep the tone friendly and confident, not too formal. Total length: about 4–6 lines of text.
Sample introduction to analyze:
> I work in product design for a fintech company. I focus mainly on user research and strategy, especially around mobile banking. Right now I am leading a project to improve our onboarding experience.
3. Mixing small talk and work talk naturally.
You now have a clear way to say who you are. The next challenge is to keep the conversation going without making it feel like an interview. At American networking events, people often move back and forth between light small talk and more serious professional topics. They might ask about where you are based, how you like the city, or weekend plans, and then smoothly shift to questions about your projects or company. In this block, you will read a longer dialogue between two people at a conference. I want you to notice which lines are small talk and which lines are work talk. Pay attention to how they connect personal comments with professional questions. After that, you will create your own follow-up questions that mix both sides in a natural way.
Dialogue: Small talk plus professional talk.
You and Maria meet near the coffee station at a data science conference in Boston.
> You: Hi, I am Alex. Is this your first time at this conference?
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> Maria: Hey Alex, nice to meet you. I am Maria. It is my first time here, yes.
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> You: Nice. How do you like Boston so far?
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> Maria: I like it a lot, but I am still getting used to the weather. It is colder than I expected.
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> You: Yeah, totally. Where are you based normally?
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> Maria: I am based in Austin, Texas. I work in product analytics for a fintech company.
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> You: Oh, cool. I am in data analytics too. What kind of projects are you working on these days?
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> Maria: Lately I have been focusing on fraud detection models for our mobile app.
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> You: That project sounds really interesting.
Small talk vs. work talk.
Let us separate some lines:
Small talk lines
Is this your first time at this conference?
How do you like Boston so far?
Where are you based normally?
Professional lines
I work in product analytics for a fintech company.
What kind of projects are you working on these days?
Lately I have been focusing on fraud detection models...
Both types are useful. Small talk helps people relax and feel human. Professional talk gives you information about their role, expertise, and possible connections.
Useful follow-up questions.
Here are some flexible questions you can use to move between small and professional topics:
What brings you to this event?
How long have you been with your company?
What do you enjoy most about your work?
Do you have any fun plans for the weekend while you are here?
Are you working on any interesting projects right now?
In the task, you will write your own mix of these questions, adapted to your real field.
Practice & Feedback
Look back at the dialogue and the example questions on the screen. Imagine you are talking with someone at a meetup in your own field (tech, finance, research, design, etc.).
Write 4–6 questions that you could ask them in a real networking conversation. Your questions should:
include at least two small talk questions (about the event, city, or general experience);
include at least two professional questions (about their role, company, or projects);
sound natural in American English.
You can reuse patterns like:
Is this your first time at this conference?
What brings you to this event?
What kind of projects are you working on these days?
But please adapt them to make sense for your situation. Number your questions (1–6) so they are easy to read. Aim for one short sentence per question, not very long ones.
Reference lines from the dialogue:
> Is this your first time at this conference?
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> How do you like Boston so far?
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> Where are you based normally?
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> I work in product analytics for a fintech company.
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> What kind of projects are you working on these days?
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> Lately I have been focusing on fraud detection models for our mobile app.
4. Simulating a live networking chat.
You have practiced individual questions and your short professional story. Now let us put them together in a more realistic flow. In real life, conversations at events move quickly. On Slack or LinkedIn, they can also look like short chat messages. In this block, you will simulate a networking conversation in a **chat style**, writing both your lines and the other person’s lines. Before you write, you will hear a short message from Jordan, a person you just met at a meetup. Jordan will introduce themself briefly. Your job is to continue the conversation in writing, as if you are chatting on a conference app or LinkedIn. You will use greetings, one or two small talk questions, your own elevator pitch, and a few follow-up questions about Jordan’s work. This is a safe place to experiment and try out language like, "That project sounds really interesting" or "I would love to stay in touch."
From in-person talk to chat-style conversation.
At many U.S. events, people follow up using the conference app, LinkedIn, or another chat tool. The style is usually short, friendly, and direct.
Here is a sample chat between you and Alex after meeting at a meetup:
> You: Hey Alex, great meeting you at the fintech meetup tonight.
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> Alex: Hey, great meeting you too! I liked hearing about your work in data analytics.
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> You: Thanks! I work in product analytics for a startup. I focus mainly on user behavior in our mobile app.
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> Alex: Nice. I work on the engineering side, mostly backend systems.
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> You: That project sounds really interesting. What kind of projects are you working on these days?
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> Alex: Lately I have been focusing on payment integrations.
Tips for chat-style networking.
Use a warm opener: Hey, great meeting you tonight.
Quickly remind them who you are: your role and field.
Add one short compliment or connection: I liked hearing about your work...
Ask one clear follow-up question about their work or projects.
You can also include light small talk if it fits, for example:
How did the rest of the event go for you?
Did you get to any good sessions this afternoon?
In the task, you will write a short back-and-forth chat between you and Jordan. This will help you practice combining your introduction, questions, and reactions in one realistic conversation.
Practice & Feedback
First, listen to Jordan's short message in the audio. Jordan will greet you and give a quick introduction.
Then, write a short chat-style conversation between you and Jordan. Please:
Start with Jordan's line from the audio (you can paraphrase it).
Then write 6–8 more lines of chat, alternating between You: and Jordan:.
Include: a friendly reply from you, your 2–3 sentence introduction, at least one small talk question, and at least one professional follow-up question.
Example of formatting:
> You: ...
> Jordan: ...
> You: ...
Do not worry about being perfect. Focus on making the flow feel natural, like a real conversation after an event. Use phrases from earlier blocks such as "I work in...", "What brings you to this event?", or "That project sounds really interesting."
5. Exchanging contact info and ending smoothly.
You have started conversations, shared your professional story, and kept the chat going. The last key skill during the event itself is knowing how to exchange contact information and end the conversation without awkwardness. In American networking culture, it is very common to mention LinkedIn, business cards, or a quick coffee in the future. At the same time, people like it when you respect their time and energy. In this block, you will look at short examples of how to move toward follow-up: asking for a card, offering your own, suggesting to connect on LinkedIn, and then closing the conversation politely so you can both move on. Notice phrases like, "Do you have a business card or LinkedIn?", "I would love to stay in touch", and "Great talking with you, I do not want to keep you." After that, you will write your own closing lines for a conversation at an event.
Moving from conversation to follow-up.
You and Taylor have been talking for ten minutes at a meetup. The conversation is going well, but you also want to meet other people. How can you suggest staying in touch and exit politely?
Mini-dialogue 1: Asking for contact info
> You: This has been really interesting. Do you have a business card or LinkedIn? I would love to stay in touch.
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> Taylor: Sure, here is my card. And I am on LinkedIn too.
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> You: Great, I will send you a quick message this week.
Mini-dialogue 2: Offering your info
> You: I do not want to keep you from meeting other people, but I would love to stay in touch. Here is my card.
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> Jordan: Thanks! Let us definitely connect on LinkedIn.
Useful phrases.
To suggest contact:
Do you have a business card or LinkedIn?
I would love to stay in touch.
Let me give you my card.
Maybe we can grab coffee sometime and swap ideas.
To mention follow-up:
I will send you a quick email later this week.
Feel free to reach out if I can ever be helpful on your work.
To end the conversation politely:
Great talking with you, I do not want to keep you.
I am going to say hello to a colleague, but it was really nice meeting you.
Enjoy the rest of the event.
Notice the tone: friendly, positive, but not pushy. You are offering connection, not demanding it.
In the task, you will combine these elements to create your own short ending for a conversation.
Practice & Feedback
Read the mini-dialogues and phrase lists above, then look at the sample conversation in the resource. Imagine you are finishing a good five to ten minute conversation with someone at a real event in your field.
Write 4–6 sentences that you could say to:
Show that you enjoyed the conversation.
Suggest exchanging contact information (card, LinkedIn, or email).
Mention a realistic follow-up (for example, a quick email or maybe coffee).
Politely end the conversation so you can both move on.
You can use and adapt phrases like, I would love to stay in touch, Do you have a business card or LinkedIn?, I will send you a quick email later this week, and Great talking with you, I do not want to keep you.
Try to make it sound like something you would actually say. Keep the language natural and not too formal.
Sample closing sequence:
> You: This has been a really helpful conversation. I would love to stay in touch. Do you have a business card or LinkedIn?
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> Other person: I am mostly on LinkedIn.
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> You: Perfect, I will send you a quick message later this week. Great talking with you, I do not want to keep you. Enjoy the rest of the event.
6. A full networking moment and follow-up.
You have practiced all the key pieces: saying hello, giving your short professional story, mixing small talk with work talk, chatting in writing, and closing the conversation with clear next steps. In this final block, you will put everything together in one mini performance. Imagine a real event you might attend in the U.S. in the next year. It could be a conference, a meetup, or an internal networking event at your company. You will write three parts: what you say when you first meet someone, a few follow-up questions you ask during the conversation, and a short follow-up message you send after the event by email or LinkedIn. I will show you a model so you can see how these pieces connect. Then you will create your own version, focused on your actual field and goals. This is your chance to design a networking moment you can really use in your future life in the U.S.
Putting it all together.
Now we combine everything into one realistic scenario.
Model scenario: During the event.
You meet Priya at a conference in Chicago.
> You: Hi, I am Alex. I work in product analytics for a fintech startup in New York.
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> Priya: Nice to meet you, Alex. I am Priya. I work in risk management at a large bank.
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> You: Nice. What brings you to this event?
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> Priya: I am here to learn more about data and fraud detection.
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> You: That makes sense. I focus mainly on user behavior in our mobile app. Lately I have been working on a project to reduce fraud.
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> Priya: That sounds really relevant to my work.
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> You: Yeah. How long have you been with your bank?
You continue for a few minutes, then close the conversation:
> You: This has been really interesting. I would love to stay in touch. Do you have a business card or LinkedIn?
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> Priya: I am on LinkedIn.
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> You: Perfect, I will send you a quick message this week. Great talking with you, I do not want to keep you. Enjoy the rest of the event.
Model follow-up message (LinkedIn).
> Hi Priya,
>
> It was great meeting you at the conference in Chicago today. I enjoyed hearing about your work in risk management and how you are thinking about fraud detection.
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> As I mentioned, I work in product analytics for a fintech startup in New York, and I am currently focused on fraud in our mobile app. I would love to stay in touch and maybe swap ideas sometime.
>
> Enjoy the rest of the conference, and let me know if I can ever be helpful on your work.
Ask 2–3 professional questions about their role or projects.
End with a polite closing and contact exchange.
Write a short, friendly follow-up message (email or LinkedIn) with a clear reference to the event and a light suggestion to stay in touch.
Use phrases from the lesson such as What brings you to this event?, That project sounds really interesting, Do you have a business card or LinkedIn?, and I would love to stay in touch.
Practice & Feedback
Now create your own complete networking moment. Choose a realistic event in your life, for example a tech conference, academic workshop, design meetup, or internal company event.
Write one text with three labeled parts:
Part A – At the event (first lines): 3–5 sentences showing how you start the conversation and introduce yourself to someone new. Include at least one question about the event or city.
Part B – During the conversation (questions): a list of 4–6 questions you might ask this person, mixing small talk and professional talk.
Part C – Follow-up message: a short email or LinkedIn message (6–10 sentences) you send the next day to stay in touch.
Please label your sections clearly as Part A, Part B, and Part C. Use natural American English and imagine you really want to connect with this person, but without overselling yourself. Reuse useful chunks from the lesson whenever they help you sound more fluent.
Model structure to guide you:
Part A – At the event:
Hi, I am [name]. I work in [role] at [company/city].
Short note about your focus or current project.
Question about the event, city, or their experience so far.
Part B – During the conversation:
1–2 small talk questions (event, city, plans).
2–4 professional questions (role, projects, interests).
Part C – Follow-up message:
Greeting using their first name.
One sentence reminding them where you met.
1–2 sentences about what you enjoyed in the conversation.
2–3 sentences connecting their work and your work.
Remember phrases like:It was great meeting you today, I would love to stay in touch, Let me know if I can ever be helpful on your work, and Enjoy the rest of the event.
