You can introduce yourself to anyone you don\u2019t know, or to remind someone you\u2019ve met before who might have forgotten you.<\/p>\n
When you\u2019re introducing yourself, you can add a little bit of information like where you first met, or what you do. You can even use your English learning as a conversation starter!<\/p>\n
Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n “Good morning! We always have coffee at the same time but we’ve never spoken before. My name is [Your Name].”<\/em><\/p>\n “Hello, how are you today? My name is [Your Name]. I’m still learning English so please let me know if I make any mistakes.”<\/em><\/p>\n “Hi Angela. You might not remember me but we met at Tom’s Christmas party last year. I’m [Your Name].”<\/em><\/p>\n Topics that are universal can be shared by almost anyone.<\/p>\n Things like the weather, current news, sports and entertainment<\/strong> are usually safe conversation starters, especially when you\u2019re speaking to a group\u2014even if one person doesn\u2019t really watch sports, someone else in the group might.<\/p>\n Although these topics are talked about by many, some people might not be fans of sports, or might not follow entertainment news, so if you can, try to match people\u2019s interests to the topic you choose. For example, if you\u2019ve heard them talking about big news stories in the past, you could try to talk about a news story from today.<\/p>\n Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n “Did you watch the Oscars last week? I can’t believe Leonardo DiCaprio finally won one!”<\/em><\/p>\n “This weather is crazy! It was cold yesterday and today I came in with an open jacket. I hope it stays warm, don’t you?”<\/em><\/p>\n “That basketball game yesterday had me glued to my seat. Wasn’t that a great save at the very end?”<\/em><\/p>\n If you\u2019re not sure what topic to talk about or you don\u2019t have anything interesting to say, you can just ask someone about their day, or you can talk about yours.<\/strong><\/p>\n For example, you could ask them:<\/p>\n You can also share information about your day and how you’re doing, but try to keep a balance of talking and listening,<\/strong> so you both get to speak the same amount (and you\u2019re not just talking about yourself the entire time).<\/p>\n Even if the person looks like they\u2019ve been having a bad day, you can make it brighter just by making small talk! Make sure not to ask questions that are too personal, and instead offer some nice words of encouragement.<\/p>\n Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n “Hey there. You look like you’re having a rough day. I hope it gets better for you.”<\/em><\/p>\n “Good morning! I went camping on Saturday, and of course it rained all day. Was your weekend any better?”<\/em><\/p>\n “The day is almost over! Do you have any interesting plans for the evening?”<\/em><\/p>\n Some conversations are only appropriate in a work environment<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Stay even less personal at work than in more casual places, and avoid gossiping (talking about other people who are not present)! Instead, you can talk about the day, an upcoming party or meeting, or ask about the person\u2019s job.<\/p>\n Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n “Hi Tom. How are things going over at the IT department today?”<\/em><\/p>\n “Good morning. I’m really looking forward to the party after work today. I hear Pam brought her famous carrot cake!”<\/em><\/p>\n “What a busy day. This is the first time I’ve gotten up from my seat all day! Are you busy too?”<\/em><\/p>\n Some of the best small talk is about the location<\/strong> you and your conversation partner are in.<\/p>\n It\u2019s something you both share, so there\u2019s no worry that they won\u2019t know what you\u2019re talking about. Look around and find something to comment on, or look at your partner and find something nice to compliment them on. Nothing makes people feel better than a genuine compliment!<\/p>\n Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n “I love your shoes today, they really pull your outfit together.”<\/em><\/p>\n “Did you see? They finally fixed the light in the break room. It’s been broken for almost a month!”<\/em><\/p>\n “Hey Pam, your cookies last night were delicious! Thank you for making them for the party.”<\/em><\/p>\n When you share something similar with your speaking partner,<\/strong> that means you have something to talk about. Find a mutual friend (a friend you both know) or a common interest or hobby, and you\u2019ll be able to make conversation.<\/p>\n Keep in mind that English speakers rarely actually say the word \u201chobby,\u201d so asking \u201cWhat are your hobbies?\u201d sounds strange and unnatural. Try asking questions instead, based on observations.<\/p>\n Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n “My cousin mentioned you last night. I didn’t know you knew her! Where did you meet?”<\/em><\/p>\n “I noticed your hat has a Yankees logo. Are you a fan of baseball too?”<\/em><\/p>\n “I tried baking cookies like yours last night and they came out terrible. How do you make them so good?”<\/em><\/p>\n You might have noticed by now that most of these small talk examples have something in common: They ask questions<\/a>.<\/p>\n A good way to start a conversation is to make a comment, then ask a question.<\/strong> This keeps the conversation from ending on your comment (and making things even more awkward!).<\/p>\n When asking questions, listen as much as you talk, and don\u2019t get too personal with your questions. Just keep things positive!<\/p>\n Examples:<\/strong><\/p>\n “Hey, I heard you were thinking of adopting a new dog. Did you find one?”<\/em><\/p>\n “I’ve been meaning to ask you this for a while: how long have you been working here?”<\/em><\/p>\n “Your hair always looks great. What hair products do you use?”<\/em><\/p>\n Being able to hold a conversation<\/a> about something simple like the weather might seem like it\u2019s not important, but it\u2019s a key skill to have<\/strong> if you\u2019re learning a language. Think about how many times you make small talk in your native language during\u00a0the\u00a0day.<\/p>\n Making small talk can help you:<\/p>\n Small talk can also help you overcome awkwardness or feelings of embarrassment<\/strong> when you’re learning to speak English. Starting a conversation with a stranger is a great way to practice and build confidence<\/a>.<\/p>\n Remember that chatting with someone isn’t only about the words you say.\u00a0Your body says almost as much as your mouth<\/strong> when you speak English.<\/p>\n For example, if you’re waiting in line to pay for something at the store, and the person in front of you is turned away from you, tapping their foot impatiently and glancing at their phone over and over again, they probably don’t want to talk to you.<\/p>\n If, on the other hand, the person in front of you turns around, catches your eye and smiles, you can try starting a small conversation. You can do the same with your own body language to encourage others to start conversations with you, too.<\/p>\n You can make small talk pretty much any time you and one (or a few) other people are gathered in one location, aren’t busy and aren’t already talking about something, like:<\/p>\n Some small talk topics are universal,<\/strong> meaning you can use them anywhere and with anyone. However, others are better suited for specific situations.<\/p>\n For example, you can tell the person you\u2019re on the elevator with that the weather is terrible or ask if he\u2019s looking forward to the weekend (if it\u2019s a Friday), but you probably shouldn\u2019t ask him what his hobbies are\u2014that\u2019s just strange!<\/p>\n Do remember that small talk topics are “small”<\/strong>\u2014that is, they\u2019re not significant or important. Keep it positive, and avoid “heavy” topics, including anything negative, controversial (a topic many people disagree on) or random.<\/p>\n The best small talk is the situational kind, something you observe about your environment and work into a conversation. You can chat about the weather, bus schedule or whatever else comes to mind! Just let the conversation happen naturally instead of trying to ask questions like a list.<\/p>\n The key to learning conversational English<\/a> is to use\u00a0the right content and tools.<\/p>\n A regular textbook isn’t going to teach you the casual English you need to know.\u00a0You need to learn from real English, the way it’s spoken by native speakers.<\/strong><\/p>\n You could practice with a native speaker friend<\/a>. They can help you learn to carry a conversation in a natural way.<\/p>\n If you don’t have a language partner or English-speaking friend, TV shows and movies are good alternatives.<\/p>\n You could get a subscription to a video streaming service like Netflix<\/a><\/strong> or Hulu<\/strong>. You can also use YouTube<\/strong>, a huge and useful resource<\/a> filled with loads of native English speakers and a variety of content.<\/p>\n Finding the right videos to watch can take a lot of work, however.\u00a0If you want to skip the search for high-quality videos, FluentU<\/a> <\/strong>is another option.<\/p>\n FluentU<\/strong> takes authentic videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.<\/p>\r\n <\/p> \r\n You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app<\/a> or Android app.<\/a><\/p>\r\n P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)<\/a><\/i>\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n 2. Universal Topics<\/h2>\n
3.\u00a0The Day<\/h2>\n
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4. The Workplace<\/h2>\n
5.\u00a0Observations<\/h2>\n
6. Common Interests<\/h2>\n
7.\u00a0Questions<\/h2>\n
Why Making Small Talk is Important in English<\/h2>\n
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Final Tip About Learning English Small Talk<\/h2>\n
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