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BUSINESS SKILLSLESSON 1: NETWORKING |
MAKING SMALL TALK
AIM OF THE LESSON: TO LEARN HOW TO MAKE SMALL TALK
READ THE INTRODUCTION TEXT:
Does going to networking mixers where you hardly know anyone make you nervous?
easily upset or shocked by things which you find unpleasant or which you do not approve of / delikatny, wrażliwy
The prospect of having to
to mix or combine, or be mixed or combined and to move around and talk to other people at a social event / wmieszać się w tłum
making you feel slightly frightened or worried about your ability to achieve something / zniechęcający
to start a relationship or conversation with someone / zawiązać, nawiązać (przyjaźń), zagaić
EXERCISE ? VOCABULARY EXERCISE
strike up | daunting | mingle with | squeamish |
- It can be difficult to a conversation with a complete stranger.
- You’ve been talking to Roger all evening – you really ought to be with the other guests.
- She’s really and can’t stand the sight of blood.
- Don?t leave me alone with the task of cleaning up the whole house!
- It can be difficult to strike up a conversation with a complete stranger
- You’ve been talking to Roger all evening – you really ought to be mingling with the other guests.
- She’s really squeamish and can’t stand the sight of blood.
- Don?t leave me alone with the daunting task of cleaning up the whole house!
NOW THINK and ANSWER:
Is it important to know how to make a new business contact?
Is the knowledge of how to make small talk useful while making new business contacts?
Why is it important to make business contacts?
Do you know any helpful tips for making new acquaintances in business and in private life?
EXERCISE 1 ? SMALL TALK ? USEFUL PHRASES
WHAT IS A SMALL TALK?
SMALL TALK is a conversation about things which are not important, often between people who do not know each other well.
Is the sentences below true for you or not:
I don’t enjoy parties where I have to make small talk with complete strangers.
Can you name any other reasons why a small talk can be difficult?
- I am at a loss for words when I am supposed to start a small talk.
- I don?t know what topics could I talk about.
What topics for a small talk do you know?
Name as many ideas as you can?
the weather / your country / someone else?s country / hometown / job / place of work / work / company / journey / common friends / travel and holidays / weekends / hotel / neighbourhood / someone else?s possessions / the news / television / gossip (company?s / private / celebrity) / events in the town
How would you start a small talk about?:
the weather / a journey / common friends / travelling
GIVE AS MANY EXAMPLES AS YOU CAN?
EXERCISE 2 ? SMALL TALK ? USEFUL PHRASES
MATCH THE SMALL TALK QUESTIONS WITH THE TOPICS!
1. | THE WEATHER | WHAT DO YOU DO? | |
2. | YOUR COUNTRY | WHAT DOES YOUR COMPANY DO? | |
3. | JOB | HAVE YOU KNOWN MY FRIEND LONG? HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN ?? | |
4. | PLACE OF WORK | ARE THERE ANY NICE TOURIST ATTRACTIONS HERE? | |
5. | COMPANY | DO YOU TRAVEL A LOT? DO YOU OFTEN GO ON BUSINESS TRIPS? | |
6. | JOURNEY | DO YOU KNOW ? ? / HAVE YOU HEARD THE NEWS? | |
7. | COMMON FRIENDS | WHAT?S THE WEATHER LIKE IN ? / WHAT WAS THE WEATHER LIKE WHEN YOU LEFT? | |
8. | TRAVELLING | DO YOU LIKE THE HOTEL? HOW DO YOU LIKE THE HOTEL? IS THE HOTEL RESTAURANT GOOD? | |
9. | WEEKENDS | HAVE YOU HEARD ?? | |
10. | HOTEL | WHAT DO YOU DO AT WEEKENDS? | |
11. | NEIGHBORHOOD | I LIKE YOUR BAG! | |
12. | SOMEONE ELSE?S POSSESSIONS | HOW WAS YOUR FLIGHT? DID YOU HAVE A NICE JOURNEY? | |
13. | EVENTS AND ATTRACTIONS IN THE TOWN | DO YOU KNOW THE NEIGHBORHOOD? IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD NICE? | |
14. | THE NEWS | WHERE DO YOU COME FROM? | |
15. | GOSSIP | WHERE DO YOU WORK? |
1. | THE WEATHER | WHAT?S THE WEATHER LIKE IN ? / WHAT WAS THE WEATHER LIKE WHEN YOU LEFT? |
2. | YOUR COUNTRY | WHERE DO YOU COME FROM? |
3. | JOB | WHAT DO YOU DO? |
4. | PLACE OF WORK | WHERE DO YOU WORK? |
5. | COMPANY | WHAT DOES YOUR COMPANY DO? |
6. | JOURNEY | HOW WAS YOUR FLIGHT? DID YOU HAVE A NICE JOURNEY? |
7. | COMMON FRIENDS | HAVE YOU KNOWN MY FRIEND LONG? HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN ?? |
8. | TRAVELLING | DO YOU TRAVEL A LOT? DO YOU OFTEN GO ON BUSINESS TRIPS? |
9. | WEEKENDS | WHAT DO YOU DO AT WEEKENDS? |
10. | HOTEL | DO YOU LIKE THE HOTEL? HOW DO YOU LIKE THE HOTEL? IS THE HOTEL RESTAURANT GOOD? |
11. | NEIGHBORHOOD | DO YOU KNOW THE NEIGHBORHOOD? IS THE NEIGHBORHOOD NICE? |
12. | SOMEONE ELSE?S POSSESSIONS | I LIKE YOUR BAG! |
13. | EVENTS AND ATTRACTIONS IN THE TOWN | ARE THERE ANY NICE TOURIST ATTRACTIONS HERE? |
14. | THE NEWS | DO YOU KNOW ? ? / HAVE YOU HEARD THE NEWS? |
15. | GOSSIP | HAVE YOU HEARD ?? |
EXERCISE – 3 ? SMALL TALK ? USEFUL PHRASES
Work in pairs. Take turns and ask the questions from previous exercise to each other.
Try to continue the conversations.
EXERCISE – 4 ? SMALL TALK ? USEFUL PHRASES
COMPLETE THE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR OWN IDEAS
-
- Nice weather, isn?t it?
- Are you doing anything after the conference?
- Do you fancy a ?
- Yes, why not.
-
- What do you do?
- . And you?
- Oh, interesting. Do you travel a lot?
- And where are your headquarters located?
- . And yours?
- Do you like the place?
-
- So, how do you know David?
- Oh, .
- Really, that?s interesting!
- Yeah. And you, how long have you known him?
-
- Nice weather, isn?t it?
- Yes, indeed.
- Are you doing anything after the conference?
- No, not really
- Do you fancy a drink ?
- Yes, why not.
-
- What do you do?
- I am an IT specialist at ABB Data. And you?
- I am a contract negotiator for WorldTravel.
- Oh, interesting. Do you travel a lot?
- Oh, yes I do. I have to admit that I really love it!
- And where are your headquarters located?
- In London. And yours?
- In Brussels.
- Do you like the place?
- Yes, it?s really fantastic.
-
- So, how do you know David?
- Oh, we met at the university.
- Really, that?s interesting!
- Yeah. And you, how long have you known him?
- Well, my whole life really ? he is my brother! 🙂
EXERCISE – 4 ? SMALL TALK ? USEFUL PHRASES – SPEAKING:
IMAGINE THE SITUATIONS AND START THE SMALL TALKS:
- You?re meeting a foreign business visitor in your company at the airport. Start a small talk conversation with him / her.
- You are at a conference. During a coffee break you are meeting a colleague from your overseas office. Start a small talk.
- You are on a plane. You are sitting to an elderly lady who is reading your favorite book. Start a small talk.
- You are on a train coming back from your holidays. You are sitting next to a business man who you think you might know from somewhere. Start a conversation and try to find out if you know each other.
- You are at your friend?s party. Your friend has just introduced you to his / her colleague and has mingled back with other friends. Start a conversation with your friend?s colleague.
SMALL TALK USEFUL PHRASES – GLOSSARY
Talking about the weather |
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Talking about current events |
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At the office |
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At a social event |
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Out for a walk |
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Waiting somewhere |
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Welcoming a visitor or a tourist |
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