Do You Find Small Talk Difficult?

Vocabulary


1. tip (n)
/tɪp/: a piece of advice about how to do something; suggestion
Ex: My boss gave me a lot of great tips when I first started working here

2. detail (n)
/ˈdɪteɪl/: a single fact or item; information
Ex: I'll email the project details to you this afternoon

3. recently (adverb)
/ˈriːcəntliː/:not long ago
Ex: My friend recently had a baby

4. dream (n)
/drim/: something you want to have or to be in the future
Ex: He has a dream of becoming a pilot.

5. statement (n)
/ˈsteɪtmənt/: something you say that gives information or shares your opinion; comment.
Ex: I have never made such a statement.

6. knowledge (n)
/ˈnɑːlɪdʒ/: information that you know about something
Ex: Dylan has a lot of knowledge about surfing.

Reading

Making small talk can be very difficult at times, even for native English speakers. Here are four tips to help you make small talk with anyone you meet.

1. Share details. When someone asks, "How are you?" say more than just, "I'm fine." Say, for example, "I'm good! I had a great weekend!" Then the other person might ask what you did on the weekend.

Or if someone asks about your work or hobbies, don't just say the name of your job or hobby – give an example of something you did recently.

2. Don't only talk about yourself. Ask questions and listen to the answers. Also, try to remember the answers so you can talk about them later.

The easiest questions are about family, jobs, hobbies, and dreams. Try to think of some questions on these topics so you can use them when you meet people. "Wh-" questions are best: who, what, where, when, why, and how. For example, "Why did you come to Tokyo?"

3. Don't just ask questions. If you only ask questions, the person you're talking to may feel like they're being questioned by the police. A good rule to follow is: two statements, one question.

For example, if someone says, "I'm from Vienna," you can say, "Oh! I've never been to Vienna. But it looks beautiful! Do you live there now?"

4. Bring knowledge and look for more. It's important to read or watch the news because people enjoy talking about what's going on in the world and how it affects their lives.
1. Why is it important to read or watch the news, according to the article?

2.What's a good rule to follow when asking questions?

3.When making small talk, what are the easiest questions you can ask?

Discussion

1.In your opinion, which of the tips in the article are most useful? Why do you think so?

2.Do you ever find it difficult to make small talk? Why? Why not?

3.When was the last time you had a conversation with someone you didn't know? Please share your experience.

4.What do you usually talk about when you meet someone new? Please explain your answer.

5.Do you often talk about the news with your friends and family? Why? Why not?