I've heard it suggested that a very good way of practicing conversation with people you don't know is to talk to people who are paid to talk to you - shop assis

I've heard it suggested that a very good way of practicing conversation with people you don't know is to talk to people who are paid to talk to you - shop assistants, baristas, waiters, etc. There is no social cost in getting it wrong, and it helps build conversation skills I haven't tried it myself, but it's plausible