Use the prompts below to inspire ideas for conversation practice with your teacher or with a friend.
Animal – Human (for kids or storytelling practice) in a library
Aunt/Uncle – Niece/Nephew in a home
Bank Teller – Client in a bank
beggar-giver on the street
Best Friends with a Secret in a park
Bodhisattva – Seeker on a pilgrimage
Border Guard – Pilgrim at a border crossing
boss-employee in an office
Bride–groom in a restaurant
buddies in a café
Chant Leader – Participant in a temple
Child – Imaginary Friend in a bedroom
classmates in a classroom
coworkers in an office
Craftsman–apprentice at a construction site
Customer – Tailor in a clothing shop
Customs Agent – Tourist at an airport
Dating Couple on a picnic
Debate Partners (Dharma debate style) in a debate hall
Demon – Monk (in a symbolic or teaching tale) on stage in a play
Doctor–patient in a hospital
Dream Character – Dreamer on stage in a play
Driver – Hitchhiker in a car
Exes (amicable or awkward!) in a café
Flight Attendant – Passenger in an airplane
Friend–newcomer at a party
Friends Planning a Trip in a computer lab
friend-sick friend in a hospital room
Grandparent–grandchild in a pharmacy
Guide – Trekker on a mountain
Hotel Cleaner – Guest in a hotel room
Hotel guest–receptionist at a hotel reception
Interviewee–interviewer on the street
Job Applicant – Employer in an office
Lama – Westerner on the street
Landlord – Tenant in an apartment
Librarian – Patron in a library
Local – Backpacker Asking Directions on the street
Lost Tourist – Helpful Local on the street
Mechanic – Car Owner in a garage
Mentor – Mentee in an office
Monastery Cook – Visitor in a monastery kitchen
Monk – Government Official in a government office
Monk – School Teacher in a monastery courtyard
monk-layperson in a debate hall
monk-lay sponsor in a publishing house
monks in a meditation hall
Neighbours in Conflict in a corridor
neighbours on a front stoop
Nun – Young Girl at a festival
Old Friends Reuniting in a café
Oracle – Visitor Seeking Guidance in a receiving room
parent-child in a car
Past Life Self – Present Life Self on stage in a play
Patient – Pharmacist in a pharmacy
Pilgrim – Local Elder on the street
pilgrim-monk on the street
Plumber – Homeowner in a bathroom
Police Officer – Civilian in a courtroom
Post Office Clerk – Visitor in a post office
Practical / Daily Life in a grocery store
Restaurant server–customer in a restaurant
Ritual Master – Attendant in a receiving room
roommates in a living room
Roommates Discussing Chores in a kitchen
seller-buyer in a real estate office; clothing store; furniture store; general store
senior monk-junior monk in a debate hall
Shopkeeper – Bargaining Customer in a carpet store
Siblings in a bus
Spirit – Meditator on stage in a play
spouses in a kitchen
Statue – Visitor (statue “speaks” in the imagination) on stage in a play
Street Vendor – Curious Foreigner on the street
Taxi driver–passenger in a car
teacher colleagues in a staff room
teacher-disciple in a temple
teacher-student in a classroom
Time Traveler – Villager on stage in a play
Tourist–guide on the street
translator-teacher in a temple
traveler-local on the street