For sometimes I feel a bit hesitant to ask my students "how are you?" everyday. We are talking only on the phone, so asking them this everyday makes me look like a prompter.... What are the other other ways/ things I could ask them to start our conversations?"of saying"
How do you do
How are you doing [informal]
How are things going [informal]
Thanks Barb!How was your day?
How are things goings?
What's new with you?
What's up?
What's going on?
But Barb, the thing is that I have been talking to these people everyday, saying how are you´s, What´s up´s, and they seem to be toying with that question now. I am thinking of being innovative in my questions to ask about other things like things about work, family,etc... What could you recommend?To START a conversation - What's been going on? (That would be silly if you talked to the person recently though.)
Well, the thing is, usually our conversation opener of "Hey, how are you?" or "Hey, what's up?" aren't real questions seeking knowledge. They are little rituals of politeness.
Your situation is different - you are specifically looking for them to answer with the detailed response, not the "Doing great, thanks" or "Not much" which are the expected responses to the ritual questions.
If you talk to them every day, you can maybe say "Good morning Mary. Today I'd like to hear about your family." "Good morning Peter. How has your job been going lately?" "Good afternoon, Susan. What have you children been up to?"
Or you can make a little game of it - "Good morning Mary. Tell me one thing that made you smile yesterday."
I´ve used what you taught me Barb, it´s great! Thanks a lot...Sometimes I ask my kids that as I put them to bed. It's nice to focus on something postive at the end of the day.