Small TalkSmall TalkSkills GuideSkills Guide

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Small TalkSmall Talk

Small Small TTalk is alk is ……

Small TalkSmall Talk

Small talk is Small talk is a casual form of conversationa casual form of conversation that that ‘‘breaks breaks the icethe ice’’ or fills an awkward silence or fills an awkward silence between people. between people.

Even though you may feel shy using your Even though you may feel shy using your second language, second language, it is sometimes it is sometimes considered rude to say nothingconsidered rude to say nothing..

Small TalkSmall TalkThe Armstrong & Miller Show: The Origins of Small Talk. The Armstrong & Miller Show: The Origins of Small Talk.

Topics: general or specific?Topics: general or specific?

Topics: light or serious?Topics: light or serious?

Discussion: deep or not too deep?Discussion: deep or not too deep?

One person should dominate or everybody should take One person should dominate or everybody should take part in it?part in it?

Who? / What about? / Where? / Why?Who? / What about? / Where? / Why?

Small TalkSmall Talk Topics: general or specific?Topics: general or specific?

generalgeneral Topics: light or serious?Topics: light or serious?

lightlight Discussion: deep or not too deep?Discussion: deep or not too deep?

not too deepnot too deep One person should dominate or everybody One person should dominate or everybody

should take part in it?should take part in it? everybody should take part in iteverybody should take part in it

Small Talk: Who?Small Talk: Who?Though we often teach children not to talk to strangers, Though we often teach children not to talk to strangers,

adults are expected to say at least a few words in certain adults are expected to say at least a few words in certain situations.situations.

PeoplePeople to use small talk are those to use small talk are those who do not know each who do not know each otherother at all. at all.

People People who are only acquaintanceswho are only acquaintances, often called , often called ‘a ‘a friend of a friendfriend of a friend’’. .

Office employeesOffice employees who may not be good friends but work who may not be good friends but work in the same department.in the same department.

Customer service representatives, waitresses, Customer service representatives, waitresses, hairdressers and receptionistshairdressers and receptionists etc. etc.

Small Talk: What about?Small Talk: What about?There are certain "safe" topics that people usually make small There are certain "safe" topics that people usually make small

talk about:talk about:

TThe weatherhe weather is probably the number one is probably the number one..

Another topic that is generally safe is Another topic that is generally safe is current eventscurrent events (a (as long s long as you are not discussing a controversial issueas you are not discussing a controversial issue).).

Sports newsSports news is a very common topic, especially if a local is a very common topic, especially if a local team or player is in a tournament or play-off or doing team or player is in a tournament or play-off or doing extremely well or badlyextremely well or badly..

Entertainment newsEntertainment news, such as a celebrity who is in town, is , such as a celebrity who is in town, is another good topic. another good topic.

Small Talk: What not about?Small Talk: What not about?There are also some subjects that are There are also some subjects that are NOTNOT considered considered

acceptable when making small talk:acceptable when making small talk:

Discussing personal informationDiscussing personal information such as salaries or such as salaries or a a recent divorce is not done between people who do not know recent divorce is not done between people who do not know each other well. each other well.

Compliments on clothing or hair are acceptable; however, you Compliments on clothing or hair are acceptable; however, you should should never say something (good or bad) about a person's never say something (good or bad) about a person's bodybody..

Negative comments about another personNegative comments about another person not involved in the not involved in the conversation are also not acceptable.conversation are also not acceptable.

Also, it is not safe to discuss subjects that society considers Also, it is not safe to discuss subjects that society considers controversial such as controversial such as religion or politicsreligion or politics. .

Small Talk: Where?Small Talk: Where?Most often, small talk occurs Most often, small talk occurs in places where people are in places where people are

waitingwaiting for something for something::

IIn n a doctor's or dentist's waiting rooma doctor's or dentist's waiting room, or , or in queuesin queues at at the grocery storethe grocery store or a bus stop or a bus stop. .

At the office, people make small talk At the office, people make small talk in elevators orin elevators or lunchrooms and even in restroomslunchrooms and even in restrooms, especially if there is , especially if there is a line-up.a line-up.

Some social events (such as a party) require small talk Some social events (such as a party) require small talk among guests who do not know each other very well.among guests who do not know each other very well. It It is called "mingling" when is called "mingling" when people walk around in a social people walk around in a social setting and talk to a variety of peoplesetting and talk to a variety of people..

Small Talk: Why?Small Talk: Why?There are a few different reasons why people use small talkThere are a few different reasons why people use small talk::

The first, and most obvious, is The first, and most obvious, is to break an uncomfortable to break an uncomfortable silencesilence. .

Another reason, however, is simply Another reason, however, is simply to fill timeto fill time. That is why it is . That is why it is so common to make small talk when you are waiting for so common to make small talk when you are waiting for something. something.

Some people make small talk in order Some people make small talk in order to be politeto be polite. You may not . You may not feel like chatting with anyone at a party, but it is rude to just sit feel like chatting with anyone at a party, but it is rude to just sit in a corner by yourself. in a corner by yourself. After someone introduces you to another person, you do not After someone introduces you to another person, you do not know anything about them, so in order know anything about them, so in order to show a polite interest to show a polite interest in getting to know them betterin getting to know them better, you have to start with some , you have to start with some small talk.small talk.

Small TalkSmall TalkTalking about the weatherTalking about the weather Beautiful day, isn't it? Beautiful day, isn't it? Can you believe all of this rain we've been having? Can you believe all of this rain we've been having? It looks like it's going to snow. It looks like it's going to snow. It sure would be nice to be in Hawaii right about It sure would be nice to be in Hawaii right about

now. now. I hear they're calling for thunderstorms all weekend. I hear they're calling for thunderstorms all weekend. We couldn't ask for a nicer day, could we? We couldn't ask for a nicer day, could we? How about this weather? How about this weather? Did you order this sunshine?Did you order this sunshine?

Small TalkSmall Talk

Talking about current eventsTalking about current events Did you catch the news today?Did you catch the news today? Did you hear about that fire on Fourth St? Did you hear about that fire on Fourth St? What do you think about this transit strike? What do you think about this transit strike? I read in the paper today that the Sears Mall is I read in the paper today that the Sears Mall is

closing. closing. I heard on the radio today that they are finally I heard on the radio today that they are finally

going to start building the new bridge. going to start building the new bridge. How about those Reds? Do you think they're How about those Reds? Do you think they're

going to win tonight?going to win tonight?

Small TalkSmall Talk

At the officeAt the office Looking forward to the weekend? Looking forward to the weekend? Have you worked here long? Have you worked here long? I can't believe how busy/quiet we are today, can I can't believe how busy/quiet we are today, can

you? you? Has it been a long week? Has it been a long week? You look like you could use a cup of coffee.You look like you could use a cup of coffee. What do you think of the new computers?What do you think of the new computers?

Small TalkSmall Talk

At a social eventAt a social event So, how do you know Justin? So, how do you know Justin? Have you tried the cabbage rolls that Sandy Have you tried the cabbage rolls that Sandy

made? made? Are you enjoying yourself? Are you enjoying yourself? It looks like you could use another drink. It looks like you could use another drink. Pretty nice place, huh? Pretty nice place, huh? I love your dress. Can I ask where you got it?I love your dress. Can I ask where you got it?

Small TalkSmall Talk

Out for a walkOut for a walk How old's your baby? How old's your baby? What's your puppy's name? What's your puppy's name? The tulips are sure beautiful at this time of The tulips are sure beautiful at this time of

year, aren't they. year, aren't they. How do you like the new park? How do you like the new park? Nice day to be outside, isn't it?Nice day to be outside, isn't it?

Small TalkSmall Talk

Waiting somewhereWaiting somewhere I didn't think it would be so busy today. I didn't think it would be so busy today. The bus must be running late today. The bus must be running late today. It looks like we are going to be here a It looks like we are going to be here a

while, huh? while, huh? I'll have to remember not to come here on I'll have to remember not to come here on

Mondays. Mondays. How long have you been waiting?How long have you been waiting?

SmallSmall Talk: Talk: SynonymsSynonyms chatchat

a friendly conversationa friendly conversation

chatterchattercontinuous fast informal talk, usually about unimportant continuous fast informal talk, usually about unimportant subjectssubjects

small talksmall talkinformal conversation about things that are not importantinformal conversation about things that are not important

chit-chatchit-chatfriendly conversation about things that are not very friendly conversation about things that are not very importantimportant

SmallSmall Talk Quiz Talk Quiz

Put the conversation in orderPut the conversation in orderA: A: Hello again, Barbara. How are you? It’s Alicia. We met in Hello again, Barbara. How are you? It’s Alicia. We met in

Paris last year.Paris last year.B: B: Oh yes. I didn’t Oh yes. I didn’t recogniserecognise you. Your hair’s different. I’m you. Your hair’s different. I’m

fine. What about you?fine. What about you?A: A: I’m vey well thanks.I’m vey well thanks.B: B: And how’s business, Alicia?And how’s business, Alicia?A: A: It’s going well, especially in Spain.It’s going well, especially in Spain.B: B: Great.Great.A: A: Barbara, I’d like you to meet one of our best customers Barbara, I’d like you to meet one of our best customers

from there, Carlos Gonzalez from Madrid.from there, Carlos Gonzalez from Madrid.B: B: Hello, Carlos. Nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about Hello, Carlos. Nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about

you.you.C: C: Not all bad I hope!Not all bad I hope!B: B: Not at all. It’s good to be able to put a face to a name.Not at all. It’s good to be able to put a face to a name.C: C: Absolutely!Absolutely!

Read the conversation with your partnersRead the conversation with your partnersA: A: Hello again, Barbara. How are you? It’s Alicia. We met in Hello again, Barbara. How are you? It’s Alicia. We met in

Paris last year.Paris last year.B: B: Oh yes. I didn’t Oh yes. I didn’t recogniserecognise you. Your hair’s different. I’m you. Your hair’s different. I’m

fine. What about you?fine. What about you?A: A: I’m vey well thanks.I’m vey well thanks.B: B: And how’s business, Alicia?And how’s business, Alicia?A: A: It’s going well, especially in Spain.It’s going well, especially in Spain.B: B: Great.Great.A: A: Barbara, I’d like you to meet one of our best customers Barbara, I’d like you to meet one of our best customers

from there, Carlos Gonzalez from Madrid.from there, Carlos Gonzalez from Madrid.B: B: Hello, Carlos. Nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about Hello, Carlos. Nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about

you.you.C: C: Not all bad I hope!Not all bad I hope!B: B: Not at all. It’s good to be able to put a face to a name.Not at all. It’s good to be able to put a face to a name.C: C: Absolutely!Absolutely!

Write down the phrasesWrite down the phrases

B: B: Hello, Carlos. Nice to meet you. I’ve Hello, Carlos. Nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.heard a lot about you.

C: C: Not all bad I hope!Not all bad I hope!B: B: Not at all. It’s good to be able to put a Not at all. It’s good to be able to put a

face to a name.face to a name.C: C: Absolutely!Absolutely!

Make Small TalkMake Small Talk

Small Talk: handout exerciseSmall Talk: handout exercise

The Business Pre-int. Small Talk VideoThe Business Pre-int. Small Talk Video

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