Possible answers to "How are you?"

Local time: 10:00

Japanese to Spanish

I'm currently teaching ESL to beginners, and one of my new students is never at ease when asked "How are you?". I've taught her the traditional replies (Fine, Good, Very well, not bad, etc), but I guess she needs more -short- options, since it's too soon for her to start talking about herself and what has happened that made her feel this or that way, etc. Anyway, I'd like to hear more possible answers (conventional and not that conventional) to this everyday greeting. Any help?

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Local time: 02:00

English to Italian

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English to Italian

I was interested to know where you are teaching? Could it be not that the person is not comfortable with the options you have given her, but is instead hampered by her own cultural norms which don't encourage her to speak about herself?

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Local time: 02:00

Swedish to English

It's quite common for English speakers to turn it around:

B: "Fine, thanks. How about you?"

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Local time: 01:00

French to English

I see your point, but IMO "how are you?" is just oil to the gears of human interaction - no-one really wants to actually be informed of the other person's state of health or mind Hence the standard replies provide very little or no information - fine, OK, can't complain, mustn't grumble, been worse, etc.

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Italian to Dutch

You might want to have a look at "Meeting people"

"Fine thanks, and you?"

"Fine thanks, what about yourself?"

"Not bad." Or "Can't complain."

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Local time: 01:00

Spanish to English

I am assuming that your student is a young person (teens, twenties) and that the setting is informal.

B: I'm good, and you?

B: I'm OK, and you?

B: Cool. You? (But it's probably better for your student to avoid using slang until she feels more confident.)

B: Very well thank you, and you?

B: Fine thanks. And you?

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Local time: 02:00

German to English

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Local time: 19:00

English to Russian

Your student seems to be quite shy and concerned about proper manners. Probably she should use superlative, more for her own extra comfort to be 150% positive that noone would start worrying about her well-being right on the spot (fat chance:-) but if this is how the person feels, I would propose this way out to respect her feelings.

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Local time: 10:00

Japanese to Spanish

Thank you all! I'm seeing this student tomorrow, and when I do I'll have a lot of possible answers for her, which I think will make her feel more comfortable about her English learning.

As some of you say, I guess it is a cultural problem. Fatagina, my student is Japanese. I wouldn't say in Japan they expect too much detail when asking someone "How are you?" either, but I can tell you many of my students try to be too good or too correct when trying to speak the language they are learning. here we come back to the cultural factor. I guess.

Anyway, I think giving her more options will make her feel better and, for sure, I must point out what some of you have mentioned, that it's just a greeting and no one is expecting too much detail from you.

Any other answers and coments are welcome. And thank you for helping me teach better!

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Local time: 19:00

German to English

. is what we say in Ireland, so people generally say

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Local time: 17:00

English to French

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Local time: 20:00

Japanese to English

Years ago, I did some ESL teaching in Japan. It was my experience that many people there are uncomfortable with the situation. It may be fear of being wrong. It would seem that people would have figured out some good ways to get the students past that.

Momoko san, you might also pose your question in the Japanese forum and see what they have to say there.

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Local time: 10:00

Japanese to Spanish

Thanks for the new comments; I've already met my student and given her all the options I got from all of you. explaining of course that the question doesn't have to be taken too serious.

And thanks for your suggestion, Can. It will be of help knowing how other Japanese people feel about these subjects.

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Local time: 01:00

Russian to English

There's quite a good section in The Times called Modern Manners that answers fiddly etiquette questions. It's rather good and is available for free online at www.timesonline.co.uk. Your question came up recently so I've copied it below:

Is it acceptable in the UK to ask people "how are you?" when meeting them? It is common in the US but I get the impression that Britons don't like this degree of familiarity. I'm going to the UK next month and don't want to do anything "Charlie" (to use your term). Dwayne Williams, Chicago

- Philip Howard, The Times

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