Small Talk

1
Small Talk

• What is it?
• Where do you need small talk?
• Why?
• In English-speaking countries it is important to
  be able to make small talk.
• Illustration idea Go to Google Image Search,
  type in small talk and find cartoons

2
Origins of Small Talk

• There is a great sketch on Youtube called
  Origins of small talk this is a good starting
  point.

3
Small Talk

• How good are you at small talk?
• What might hinder you from being good at it?
• Shy
• Self-conscious
• Do not know what to talk about?
• Do not have the vocabulary?

4
What should you not talk about?

• Illustration idea Search for the cartoon
  Making Small Talk cartoon 2 from Google Image
  Search

5
What should you not talk about?

• There are some things one should not talk about
• Income How much money do you make?
• Politics?
• Intimate relationships
• Religion?
• Yourself, and only yourself
• Sales do not try to sell something to someone
  you just met
• Strong convictions
• Do you agree?

6
What could you talk about?

• Sports
• Hobbies
• The weather
• Family
• Media films, books, magazines
• Holidays
• Home town
• Job
• Latest fashion trends
• Celebrities gossip
• Common interests

7
How can you improve?

• Prepare
• Read up on different topics, follow the news,
  brush up on vocabulary, go somewhere read about
  the place you are going to
• Be a good listener
• Remember peoples names, let them talk about
  themselves, ask questions
• Find a topic you both enjoy talking about or at
  least one that your partner enjoys
• Practice

8

• Assignment Small talk with Prince Charles
• How do you address him? Find out!
• What would you say?

9

• More small talk? There is a series you can find
  on Youtube called Small Talk. Here, a reporter
  walks around in Hull and asks the public
  different questions. Some parts can be hard to
  understand, but the clip is somewhat interesting.