Practice English for networking events

Conferences, meetups, industry events: you know the value is in the conversations, and you know you'll spend them by the coffee table because starting one in English feels impossible. Introducing yourself, asking a good question, exchanging contacts, and leaving politely are all learnable moves.

Airi plays the stranger at the event. Rehearse your 20-second introduction, practice questions that get people talking about their work, and learn to close a conversation and move on without awkwardness. After a few rounds, walking up to someone at a real event is just repeating what you already did.

A quick example with Airi

Hi there! I don't think we've met — I'm Maya, I work in product at a fintech.

Nice to meet you, I'm Dimas. I am data analyst in a logistic company.

Small fix: "I'm a data analyst at a logistics company." Interesting — what kind of data do you work with?

Mostly delivery data, to make the routes faster. What are you working on now?

Great question back — that's how networking conversations keep going. Let's practice the exit next.

Try a conversation like this, free600 free credits, about 8 minutes of speaking. No card.

The stages of a networking event conversation, with a line for each

A conversation at a conference, meetup or trade fair tends to pass through the same few stages: getting in, small talk, work, contact details, getting out. With one reliable line ready for each, you no longer have to improvise the two parts that tend to feel hardest, the start and the exit.

Moment	A line that works	Good to know
Approaching someone standing alone	Hi, I don't think we've met. I'm Lina.	Someone standing alone is usually the easiest person to start with.
Joining a small group	Do you mind if I join you?	Wait for a pause, then listen for a moment before you add anything.
Opening small talk	How are you enjoying the event so far?	Talk about what you share: the venue, a session, the coffee line.
Moving on to work	So, what are you working on at the moment?	"So" signals that you are changing the topic.
Swapping contact details	Are you on LinkedIn? I'd love to stay in touch.	Connect on the spot, while you can still check the spelling of their name.
Leaving	It was great meeting you. I'm going to say hello to a few more people.	Moving on is normal here: most people came to meet more than one person.

How to introduce yourself at a networking event

A job title on its own can stall the conversation: "I'm a QA analyst" gives someone outside your field very little to ask about. A networking introduction works better in three parts: your first name, what you do in plain words (who you help or what you make), and a question that hands the turn back.

"I'm Arjun. I build payment software for small online shops. What about you?"
"I'm Sofia. I'm a nurse, and I'm moving into health research, which is why I'm here. What brings you to the conference?"

Say your name a little more slowly than feels natural, because an unfamiliar name is easy to miss in a loud room. If you miss theirs, ask right away: "Sorry, I didn't catch your name."

Questions to ask at a networking event, and how to follow up

Good networking questions are open, easy to answer, and about the other person:

"What brings you to this event?"
"What did you think of the keynote?"
"What's the most useful thing you've heard today?"
"How did you get into that field?"
"What's been the hardest part of that?"

The follow-up is what turns a question into a conversation, and it needs no new vocabulary. Take one word the other person just said and ask about it. They say, "We just opened an office in Nairobi." You say, "Oh, Nairobi? How's that going?"

Phrases for awkward moments at networking events

When	Say
You have forgotten their name	I'm so sorry, could you remind me of your name?
The room is too loud to hear	Sorry, it's really loud in here. Could you say that again?
They use a term you don't know	I'm not familiar with that. What does it mean?
Nobody has a business card	What's the best way to stay in touch?
Two people start catching up with each other	I'll let you two catch up. It was nice meeting you both.

A polite exit from a networking conversation has three parts: something you enjoyed, a reason to move on, and a next step. "I really enjoyed hearing about your project. I'm going to grab a coffee before the next talk. Can I send you that article tomorrow?" Only offer a next step you will actually take.

Networking event phrases to swap, and what to say instead

Instead of	Say	Why
Nice to meet you! (as you leave)	It was nice meeting you.	"Nice to meet you" is what you say when you are introduced. "It was nice meeting you" is the goodbye version.
Let's keep contact.	Let's keep in touch.	The set phrases are "keep in touch" and "stay in touch". "Keep in contact" also works, but it needs "in".
Do you have a name card?	Do you have a business card?	"Name card" can also mean a name tag or a place card. "Business card" has only one meaning.
I must go now.	I should let you go. It was great talking to you.	"I must go now" can sound abrupt. "I should let you go" frames leaving as a courtesy to them.
Sorry for my bad English.	Could you say that again, please?	Apologizing puts the focus on your English. Asking for a repeat keeps it on the conversation.

A networking event rehearsal with Airi

Reading these lines is not the same as saying them to someone who answers back. Your free credits cover about eight minutes of speaking, enough to try a short version of this routine.

Set the scene: "Let's role-play. You are a stranger at a tech conference coffee break, and I am going to walk up to you. Keep your answers short."
Open with a line from the first table, then give your three-part introduction.
Ask two follow-up questions, each built on a word she has just said.
Say: "Now use a piece of jargon I probably won't know." Practice asking what it means without apologizing.
Leave in three parts: something you enjoyed, your reason to move on, and a next step.
When she shows a small fix, say the corrected sentence out loud once.
Change the person and go again: "Now be a senior director who only has a minute."

How to get the most from it

Prepare your 20 seconds

Name, what you do, one interesting thing. Practice it until it's natural.

Ask about their work

"What are you working on?" beats "What do you do?" Rehearse follow-ups.

Practice the exit

"It was great talking to you — let's connect on LinkedIn" — say it until it's smooth.

Start speaking today

Your first 600 credits are free — no credit card. Sign in and have your first conversation with Airi.

Start free with Google

Frequently asked questions

Can Airi play different people at an event?

Yes. Ask her to be a friendly peer, a senior executive or a potential client, and she will role-play that person, so you can rehearse a different register with each one.

How do I introduce myself at a networking event in English?

Give your first name, say what you do in plain words, and hand the turn back with a question: "I'm Arjun. I build payment software for small online shops. What about you?"

How do I politely end a conversation at a networking event?

Say something you enjoyed, give a reason to move on, and offer a next step: "It was great hearing about your work. I'm going to say hello to a few more people. Are you on LinkedIn?"

What if I can't understand someone in a noisy room?

Blame the room, not your English: "Sorry, it's really loud in here. Could you say that again?" Native speakers have to ask for repeats in a noisy room too.

Is this useful for conferences abroad?

Yes. If you rehearse your introduction, your follow-up questions and your exit out loud before you travel, the first time you say them is not in front of a stranger.

Is it free?

It is free to start. You get 600 free credits when you sign up with Google, about eight minutes of speaking, with no credit card. After that there are one-off credit packs from USD 5, with no subscription.

Last updated: 2026-10-03