Reading and speaking

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Module One

• Introduction
• Reading and speaking

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What is small talk?
1.Light conversation polite conversation about
matters of little importance, especially between
people who do not know each other well 2.Small
talk is pleasant conversation about common
interests. 3.Polite conversation about trivial or
uncontroversial matters. 4.Casual or trivial
conversation. 5.Light informal conversation for
social occasions
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Discuss how to make small talk
Small talk can be a big challenge, but a little
preparation and confidence is all you need.
Tips
1.Be yourself. Keep in mind that confidence and
humor are superb substitutes for comedic genius
or wit. 2.Remember, you never have to do it
alone. 3.Keep a few exit lines in mind too. For
example, Thanks for the wonderful chat, but I
must make believe I'm interested in everybody
else.
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Steps
1.Practice. Converse with everyone you come
across. 2.Read everything 3.Force yourself to
get into small talk situations 4.Immerse
yourself in culture, both high and low. 5.Keep
a journal. 6.Talk to yourself in the mirror.
7.Expand your horizons. 8.Be a better listener.
9.Work on confidence, overcoming shyness and any
feelings of stage fright.
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Famous Dictionaries

• Macmillan English Dictionary
• Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
• Collins Cobuild English Language Dictionary
• Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary

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Read the dictionary definitions of small talk and
answer the questions

• Which definitions make small talk sound like a
  positive thing?
• Which definitions refer to places where small
  talk might take place?
• Why is it a problem if someone has no small talk?
• What do you think is the Chinese for small talk?

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adj.????
informal confidently advance sigh opportunity
obligation application
adv.???
adj.???,???
v.??,??
n.??
n.??,??
n.??
8
immigration visa refund tidy reception
embassy function
n.??
n.??
n.??
v.???,??
n.???,???
n.??
n.??
9
successful formula imagine purpose
circumstance apologize
adj.???
n.??,??
v.??
n.??
n.??,??
v.??
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small talk think of look away from in
addition find out leave out
??,??
??,???
??????
????,??
??(?),??(??)
??,??
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Vocabulary and reading Ex1

• Complete the sentences with the correct form of
  the words in the box.
• The singer was really good! She _________ me a
  lot!
• He had an accident and _________ his bicycle.
• Dont shout at the children. You should ________
  them to do better.
• Make sure you _______ for your English
  examination. Do more homework!
• At the party, I __________ a boy who used to
  attend my school.

damage encourage impress prepare recognise
impressed
damaged
encourage
prepare
recognised
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Skimming the passage

• Decide what kind of book it is from.
• It is from a book which tells you what to do at
  social events. We can guess from the title How
  Good Are Your Social Skills and subtitles Learn
  how to do small talk, Develop your listening
  skills and Learn the rules.

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Scanning

• The general idea
• This passage is about social skills. It tells us
  how to have a conversation and how to do small
  talk and when we go to a social occasion, we
  should pay attention to social rules in different
  countries.

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The main idea of each paragraph

• Part 1 (Paras.1-2) Introduction to the body of
  the passage by asking questions
• Part 2 (Para.3) How to do small talk
• Part 3 (Paras.4-6) Dos and donts while listening
• Part 4 (Paras. 7-8) The social rules

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Fast reading Ex 2

• Read the passage and decide what kind of book
  it is from. Choose from. Choose from this list.
• 1 an English teaching book
• A business course
• A book which tells you what to do at social
  events
• A book to help you prepare for a speaking
  examination

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Ex 3 Read the passage again and answer the
questions.

• According to the article, should people plan what
  theyre going to say at parties?
• What do people think about those who talk too
  much?
• Describe two things you shouldnt do in a
  conversation.
• Why is it a good idea to nod and smile when the
  other person is talking?
• What does the quotation from Benjamin Disraele
  tell you about people?

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Answers to the questions above

• Yes, they should prepare some topics to talk
  about.
• They are not impressive.
• Look at your watch yawn ( sigh, look away,
  change the subject, finish other peoples
  sentences)?
• To show that your are listening.
• People like talking about themselves.

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sigh yawn nod avoid lack smile

• when I meet strangers, I dont like to talk about
  myself, so I ____ answering personal
  questions.
• where are very few foreign visitors to my town,
  so we ______ the opportunity to meet people from
  other countries.
• I said that we dont have enough opportunity to
  speak English and he ______ his head in
  agreement.
• I think the man I spoke to was tired- he _____
  a lot.
• He looked very sad when I asked him about his
  home. He _____ when he answered me.
• I felt very welcome when I arrived at the party.
  The host___________ at me and shook my hand.

avoid
lack
nodded
yawned
sighed
smiled
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Ex 5 Look at the phrases from the passage and
answer the questions.

• If you can talk confidently, does this mean that
  you are worried about talking to people?
• What kind of advance planning could you do before
  going to a party in a foreign country?
• Can you give an example of a low-risk
  conversation opener if you were talking to a
  friend of your parents, for example?
• What encouraging noises and gestures can you make
  when youre having a conversation in Chinese?
• What is an example of positive body language?
• Are social rules the same in every country?

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Answers to the questions above

• No, it doesnt.
• You could find out what the social conventions
  are about arriving, leaving and bringing gifts.
• Did you watch the Cup Final last Saturday?/
  Have you seen the new James Bond film?
• Smiling, nodding, saying yes and Oh, really?
  etc.
• Facing the person who is speaking and making eye
  contact.
• No, they arent.

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Ex 6 work in pairs. Discuss your opinion about
the following.

• Which of the ideas in the reading passage do you
  think are useful in your society?
• Are there any conversation techniques that you
  think you will use in the future?
• Which of the listening skills are you good at?
• Which of the social skills do you need to
  improve?
• What are some of the usual small talk topics in
  China?

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1. I think advance planning is very useful. I
never paid attention to it before. That is, I
didnt do any advance planning before I went to a
party. For example, I didnt buy proper presents
in advance. In a hurry, the present bought was
sometimes unsuitable for the host. I seldom tried
to know about other guests. Without advance
preparations, sometimes I would get embarrassed.
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2. I will go to university abroad after
graduation. I will meet people from different
countries. In order to contact with them very
well, I must know about their customs and social
rules. So at the beginning I will think of safe
or low-risk topics to talk about. I believe soon
I will make friends with them.
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3. I am good at keeping good eye contact with an
attentive look. You know, eyes are windows of
minds. From my eyes, the speaker knows that I am
interested in what he is talking about. It is
good manners, even in other countries.
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4. Sometimes I dont know what proper topics to
choose when I meet strangers. Most of the time I
keep silent. The moment is a hard time to me.
From this passage I know a little about how to do
small talk. I believe later when I meet with the
similar occasion. I can manage.
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5. In everyday life, parents choose to talk about
their children their childrens life, studies,
hobbies. Teachers get together to talk about
their students- good or bad at some subjects or
the results of examinations.
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• Today we have learnt the passage
• about social skills which had
• much to do with our daily life.
• From the passage we know that
• social skills are very important
• when a person is in
• communication or having a
• conversation with others. We have
• also learnt some social rules and
• how to do small talk. It is
• necessary for us to learn
• something about social skills.

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As you know, we are now working hard to build a
harmonious society if we dont know how to behave
in communicating with others. Especially, in 2008
the Olympic Games will be held in Beijing in our
country. At that time how will we display our
good manners to the whole world? So we must learn
more about this inside or outside class.