Questions · Exchange students

Questions to ask an exchange student beyond “Do you like it here?”

Every exchange student gets asked the same three things: where they’re from, whether they like it here and whether they’ve tried the local food. These questions give classmates and school buddies something better to ask.

  • 16 questions
  • EN + TL on every card
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Kumustahan is a bilingual conversation card app: 1,200 questions in English and Filipino across 7 decks, with a short reflection on the back of every card.

Getting to know№ 33

Tell us about a small habit at home that you thought was normal for everyone.

Kuwento mo yung maliit na habit sa bahay na akala mo normal sa lahat.

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A note

Every home has its own normal. Sometimes you only notice it when another house does things differently.

Bawat bahay may sariling normal. Minsan doon mo lang napapansin kapag iba pala ang style sa ibang bahay.

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The questions

16 questions for exchange students

Every question in English and Filipino/Tagalog, word for word from the Kumustahan decks. Open “Back of the card” for the reflection printed on the other side.

The first weeks

5 questions

Easy for someone still getting used to the language.

  1. When you enter a new place, what’s one small thing you notice right away?

    Kapag nasa bagong lugar ka, ano yung isang maliit na bagay na una mong napapansin?

    Back of the card

    What you notice first can hint at what makes a place feel interesting, calm, or welcoming to you.

    Minsan clue yung una mong napapansin kung ano ang nakaka-curious, nakakapagpakalma, o nagpapagaan ng pakiramdam mo.

  2. When you enter a classroom, meeting room, or café, where do you usually choose to sit?

    Pagpasok mo sa classroom, meeting room, o café, saan ka usually pumipili umupo?

    Back of the card

    Seat choices can reveal comfort, strategy, or pure habit. Somehow we all have a spot our body chooses first.

    May sinasabi rin yung seat choice: comfort, strategy, o habit lang talaga. Minsan katawan na ang pumipili.

  3. What food is hard for you to say no to?

    Anong pagkain ang hirap mong tanggihan?

    Back of the card

    Food answers can be light, but they usually carry a little story: comfort, habit, craving, or someone who introduced it.

    Light lang ang food answer, pero madalas may kasamang kuwento: comfort, habit, craving, o taong nagpakilala nito sa'yo.

  4. What would you like to watch with a friend?

    Ano ang gusto mong panoorin kasama ang friend?

    Back of the card

    Talking through the whole thing or saving comments until the end?

    Kuwentuhan habang nanonood o comments pagkatapos na lang?

  5. You receive one free round-trip ticket. Where are you going first?

    May libre kang round-trip ticket. Saan ka pupunta?

    Back of the card

    Choose one thing you would want to do before flying home.

    Pumili ng isang gusto mong gawin bago bumiyahe pauwi.

Home and here

5 questions

Comparisons that start real conversations.

  1. Tell us about a small habit at home that you thought was normal for everyone.

    Kuwento mo yung maliit na habit sa bahay na akala mo normal sa lahat.

    Back of the card

    Every home has its own normal. Sometimes you only notice it when another house does things differently.

    Bawat bahay may sariling normal. Minsan doon mo lang napapansin kapag iba pala ang style sa ibang bahay.

  2. When you think of home, what small detail comes up first?

    Kapag naiisip mo ang home, anong maliit na detail ang unang pumapasok?

    Back of the card

    Home can be a smell, a sound, a person, a room, or one ordinary detail that stayed.

    Pwedeng amoy, tunog, tao, kwarto, o isang ordinaryong detail ang home. Minsan yun ang unang bumabalik.

  3. What food do you and a friend disagree about?

    Sa anong pagkain magkaiba ang opinyon ninyo ng friend mo?

    Back of the card

    No need to settle this food debate. You can both keep your favorites.

    Hindi kailangang matapos ang pagtatalo sa pagkain. Puwedeng pareho pa rin ninyong piliin ang gusto ninyo.

  4. When you were younger, what got you excited quickly?

    Nung bata ka, ano yung madaling maka-excite sa'yo?

    Back of the card

    Early excitement can be fun to remember. It can also show what kind of wonder came naturally to you.

    Nakakatuwang balikan yung madaling ika-excite mo dati. Minsan pinapakita rin nito kung anong klaseng wonder ang natural sa'yo.

  5. Name one harmless opinion you take seriously, like food, movies, habits, or small preferences.

    Magbanggit ng isang harmless opinion na seryoso ka, like food, movies, habits, o small preferences.

    Back of the card

    Harmless opinions are a safe place to be dramatic. The stakes are low, but the conviction can still be strong.

    Safe maging dramatic sa harmless opinions. Low stakes lang, pero pwedeng strong pa rin ang conviction.

Feeling included

6 questions

For buddies, classmates and student leaders.

  1. What helped you feel welcome in a new place?

    Ano ang nakatulong para maramdaman mong welcome ka sa isang bagong lugar?

    Back of the card

    Would you do something similar for someone new? You can also leave it as a good memory.

    Gagawin mo rin ba iyon para sa bagong dating? Puwede ring magandang alaala na lang muna ito.

  2. When joining friends for an activity, what helps you feel included?

    Kapag may activity ang friends, ano ang nagpaparamdam na kasama ka rin?

    Back of the card

    Being invited and being able to join are not always the same thing.

    Hindi laging pareho ang niyayaya ka at ang kaya mong sumali.

  3. How could you help a friend who was new to a school or neighborhood?

    Paano mo matutulungan ang friend na bago sa isang school o lugar?

    Back of the card

    Being shown where things are or having someone stay nearby — either might help.

    Puwedeng makatulong ang ituro kung nasaan ang mga bagay o ang samahan lang sila.

  4. When you meet a new friend or group, how do you usually get comfortable?

    Kapag may bago kang friend o group, paano ka usually nagiging comfortable?

    Back of the card

    People warm up at different speeds. Some start with jokes, some with listening, some by quietly showing up again.

    Iba-iba ang pace ng pag-warm up. May dumadaan sa jokes, may sa pakikinig, at may tahimik lang na bumabalik ulit.

  5. Plan a hangout that a friend could bring a new friend to.

    Kung magsasama ng bagong friend ang kaibigan mo, anong bonding ang ipa-plano mo?

    Back of the card

    Imagine the newcomer knows none of your old jokes. Your activity can still work.

    Isipin na hindi alam ng bagong kasama ang dating mga biro ninyo. Puwede pa ring maging masaya ang activity.

  6. Recall the last time you tried something new just because you were curious.

    Ikuwento ang huling beses na sumubok ka ng bago dahil curious ka lang.

    Back of the card

    Would you try it again, or was once enough?

    Susubukan mo ba ulit, o sapat na ang minsan?

How to use them

Before you ask

The best questions for an exchange student go past “Do you like it here?” to the specifics: what they noticed first, which habit from home they thought was normal everywhere, and what helps them feel included.

Exchange students spend their first month repeating the same introduction. It’s friendly, but it keeps them in the role of visitor. Questions about where they like to sit, a food they can’t say no to or a show they’d watch with a friend treat them like any other classmate, and questions about home invite them to share without having to perform their country.

If you’re a buddy or a student leader, the last group matters most. Asking what helped them feel welcome in a new place, or what would make an activity feel inclusive, shows you want to get it right. For exchange students reading this: ask these back. It’s the fastest way to make friends.

Good for

  • High school and college buddy programs
  • Classmates of a new exchange student
  • Exchange orientation days
  • Language-club meetups with visiting students
  • Exchange students making friends

Tips

  1. Speak clearly, not loudly, and avoid slang in the first weeks.
  2. Invite them to something specific rather than “Hang out sometime.”
  3. Ask about home with curiosity, not as a quiz on their country.
  4. Introduce them to one friend at a time instead of a whole group.
  5. Check in again after a month, when the excitement wears off and homesickness starts.

Decks for this

Exchange students

Frequently asked questions

What should I ask an exchange student?

Ask what they noticed first, which habit from home they thought was universal, what foods they can’t resist, and what helps them feel welcome. Specific questions are easier and more interesting than “Do you like it here?”

How can I make an exchange student feel welcome?

Invite them to specific plans, introduce them to a few people at a time, speak clearly, and ask what would help them feel included.

Are these questions okay for someone still learning English?

Yes. Most are short and use everyday words, and the first group is especially easy.

Bring a better question to the table.

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