Communicating with your foreign in-laws in English

Well here you are, you have met the person of your dreams and now the time has come for you to meet their parents. You’re keen to make a good impression and get on with them and the extended family for a happy future….

There‘s just one hitch though: you’ll need to communicate with them in English and it’s making you nervous.

Don’t worry, here at ABA English we want to help you impress your in-laws and make an excellent lasting impression.

The first time you meet them, here are some very useful phrases to greet them:

“Hello, pleased to meet you.”

“Good evening, it’s lovely to meet you.”

“Good afternoon, it’s very nice to meet you.”

You could then ask them how they are by simply saying “How are you?”

 

Once the introductions are over, you need to move on to some good conversation starters. Here are some tips to guarantee success:

Start a conversation that shows you’re interested in them. It could be about a hobby of theirs and you could start by saying:

“Laura tells me you’re a keen golfer.”

Then, you could ask further questions such as:

“How often do you play?”, “Where do you play?”, “How long have you been playing?”

Or

“Alex tells me you play the piano!”, “How often do you play?”, “What type of music do you play?”

If you too enjoy their hobby, you should tell them! It’s nice to have a shared interest with your in-laws.

You could ask similar questions about any hobby.

Your in-laws have just got back from their holidays. Don’t miss this chance to ask them questions and score points! You could say:

“How was your holiday?”

“Where did you go?”

“Had you been there before?”

“What did you enjoy the most?”

“What was the food like?”

“How was the weather?”

“I’d love to see your pictures.”

“I’m so glad you had a great time.”

“That sounds fascinating.”

“I would love to go there too.”

If you are meeting them at their house, don’t forget to praise their home. You can make comments such as:

“You have a beautiful home!”

“This is such a peaceful neighbourhood”

“What an amazing view you have from here!”

“This room is so nice and cosy. I love the decor!”

And of course, don’t forget to compliment their cooking if you’ve been invited over for dinner. Easy sentences to remember are:

“This tastes delicious!”

“This chocolate cake is out of this world!”

“You’re a fantastic cook!”

The day has come to an end and it’s time to say goodbye. You could thank your in-laws by saying:

“Thank you for a wonderful day”

“I’ve really enjoyed today. Thank you for having me”

“Thanks, I’ve had a great time. I really look forward to seeing you soon”

You see, it’s easy when you know how! A little preparation can go a long way! Make sure you learn these useful sentences and the conversation will flow. Don’t be afraid to talk, ask questions and praise things too. Communicating in English with your in-laws will not only improve your English skills but will also improve your relationship with your partner’s family!

Remember that in addition to this post and the ABA Journal, ABA English also has a complete online English course from beginner to business level and it is free to sign up. What are you waiting for? Join us today and gain access to 144 free video classes and start improving your level of English right away.