Party conversation questions

Parties

 * How do you feel about going to parties?

Birthday parties

 * When was the last time you went to a birthday party? Whose birthday was it?
 * In your country, what is the birthday gift giving tradition amongst adults?
 * In your country do people put a candle for every year of age on a birthday cake? Up to what age?  Are there any special traditions associated with blowing out the candles?
 * How do people usually celebrate birthdays in your country?

Christmas parties

 * Does your company organise a Christmas party? What sort of things happen?
 * Over how many days does the Christmas celebration stretch in your society?
 * Do you hold a Christmas party at home? Describe it.

Special parties

 * Have you ever been to a fancy-dress party or costume party? What did you go as?
 * Have you ever been to a pyjama/pajama party? How long ago?
 * Have you ever been to a hen party or bachelorette party? What happens at hen parties in your country?
 * Have you ever been on a stag night or bachelor party? What happens on stag nights in your country?
 * Have you ever been to a Tupperware party or other promotional party? What was being sold?  Did you buy anything?

Arrival and departure

 * Have you ever gate-crashed a party? Why did you? Did you get away with it?
 * Have you ever seen other people gate-crashing? What happened to them? Did they get thrown out?
 * Do you prefer to arrive early, on time or just turn up at any time?
 * How do you leave a group in your society? Does every body kiss everybody else, shake hands ...

Party activities

 * What games do you play at parties?
 * Have you ever had too much to drink at a party? What happened?
 * Are you the typical "life and soul" of a party, or do you prefer to stand in a corner and observe the other people?
 * Do you dance as much as you can at parties?
 * Have you, or anyone you know, ever gone to a party specifically to score? Were you/they successful?
 * Has anyone ever tried to chat you up at a party? Have you ever tried to chat anyone up at a party? Did you/they score? If you have a partner, did they notice? What did they do/say?

As a host/hostess

 * When was the last time you organised a party? Would you do it again? Why/why not?
 * How many people did you invite? How many turned up?
 * Were you worried about running out of food or drink? Did you run out, and if so, what did you do about it?
 * Did you prepare everything yourself or did you have someone to help you?
 * Have you ever hired professionals to serve at or cater for a party? Would you do it again?

Vocabulary

 * bachelor party or stag night: a party for a man who is going to marry that is attended by men only.
 * bachelorette party or hen party: a party for a woman who is going to marry that is attended by women only.
 * chat-up: to speak to someone in order to have sex with him or her
 * gatecrash or gate-crash: to go to a party unexpected and with no invitation
 * the life and soul of the party: the most interesting person there
 * score: find a sexual partner