Talking to Japanese Exchange Students.

[TetsuyaNomura]

There are about twenty Japanese exchange students at the college I go to. I really want to talk to them in Japanese sometime but I'm unsure what to say since I do not have any classes with them. I was thinking of just going up to one of them and asking "すみません、留学生ですか” or something similar to start a conversation. But I have never spoken to someone in Japanese before so I am very unsure of myself (although I'm at Lower Intermediate/Intermediate level and can understand most Japanese).

Does anyone know of a good way to start a conversation with a stranger?

[b10038534123]

I don't know how extroverted you are, but I think a 「こんにちは!日本人だね~」 works wonders in starting a conversation. Just try to catch 2 or 3 together, not more, otherwise it will feel like you vs. the group, and don't approach them if they are alone, as they might turn to ultra reserved/shy mode^^.

Oh yeah don't forget to ask them the standard exchange student questions. (how do you like this place, when did you come here etc)
Otherwise tell them about any Japanese music or dramas, etc you know. (Be careful with anime though, and only ask for mainstream ones, if you don't want to be marked as 'otaku' (jap. nerd))

And if you can, try to use neutral (not formal) Japanese, makes things a lot less tense.
Oh yeah and accept the fact that, till you live 20 years in Japan, you will always suck at it more or less. So just blurt out stuff and let them correct you. It also creates funny situations. (Like one time I tried using comparative and I messed up which word gets the 「より」, so actually I kept saying the opp. of what I wanted to say.)

Just let it flow. If needed remove a few roadblocks by talking in Japanese to your favourite stuffed animal. (Yes, you do have one. Stop lying)

Cheers,
Some random dude

[mieth]

Well why don't you just go up to them and start talking to them in English first? I think you said they usually hang out in a group or with other Japanese right? They are in America to learn English after all. They probably don't have that many opportunities to speak English. Sure they take classes and all but it isn't the same. So if you start off by making an acquaintanceship first I'm sure they will be happy to help you with your Japanese a little later on. Instead of going up to them and saying some sentence like hey your Japanese aren't you as your first greeting when you know that they are and you don't have any ability to follow up the conversation after that is going to be a little awkward no? When I was in Japan studying Japanese I would sometimes get a little bit peeved because random people would sometimes start a conversation with me just so that they could practice their English. When they don't care at all about getting to know you and just want English practice they are wasting my time in my book. Now don't get me wrong there are plenty of people who are really nice to and just want to have a chat.
So just say, Hi you guys are from Japan right? How long have you been here?

[untmdsprt]

When I was in Japan studying Japanese I would sometimes get a little bit peeved because random people would sometimes start a conversation with me just so that they could practice their English. When they don't care at all about getting to know you and just want English practice they are wasting my time in my book.

By all means go up to them and speak English to them first. They are in your country aren't they? How about getting to know them first then ask them if they'd mind speaking Japanese to you? At the very least how about putting up an ad to do a language exchange?

I can relate to the peeved comment. I'll get random people interrupting my studying just so they can practice their English. I use the みんなの日本語 books so it's all in Japanese so I haven't figured out why they think I can speak English. I also get a few people at a gym who think I want to speak English to them when I'm there to work out.

[Javizy]

I agree about starting in English. I think they're going to be way more happy to have a chance to practise, and you'll be able to make a better impression in your first language. It's easy to forget that they probably don't care whether you can speak Japanese or not, so it's about what kind of person you are and your conversational skills in general. When you're friends, it'll be easy to speak Japanese with them.

[TetsuyaNomura]

Thanks so much for all of the comments everyone.
I guess I should talk in English. That was one thing I was worried about (since they did come to study English), it's just so rare that I ever get a chance to use Japanese I guess I was a little too eager....I should find some Japanese language students to practice with here, but they are much harder to spot. I think I will be able to take Japanese next semester though so that should help.

[Jessi]

I agree with what everyone else has said already, and I also think untmdsprt's idea of putting up an ad for language exchange is worth trying I'm sure there are many Japanese students who would love a chance to actually use their English (like mieth said, they probably don't have that many opportunities), and then you would get to practice your Japanese as well. Try it and see what happens!