How to make GREAT Small Talk | English Conversation Practice

Summary

In this video, Emma from mmmEnglish! teaches viewers essential small talk skills in English to build confidence and engage in conversations with ease. She covers various topics like work, life, travel, food, and weather, offering 30 practical questions to help initiate conversations. Emma emphasizes the importance of being a good listener, finding common interests, and adapting to different time references in conversations. Additionally, she introduces Lingoda's language challenges, encouraging viewers to practice and improve their speaking skills. The video also includes tips for responding to small talk questions naturally.

Takeaways

• 😀 Small talk is a valuable skill for building rapport and connecting with others in various situations.
• 😀 Lingoda's Sprint and Super Sprint challenges are great ways to level up language skills quickly, with the possibility of getting a refund on tuition fees.
• 😀 Small talk often revolves around broad categories like work, life, travel, food, and weather, which are easy conversation starters.
• 😀 It's important to ask questions related to past, present, and future experiences to keep small talk dynamic and engaging.
• 😀 When asking about someone's work, it's useful to ask questions that go beyond just their current job, such as what motivated them or what their first job was.
• 😀 Small talk can also explore personal interests, like hobbies, travel, books, or pets, to find common ground.
• 😀 Using the word 'so' to introduce new topics or questions can make conversations flow more naturally.
• 😀 Talking about travel, whether past experiences or future plans, is a great way to connect with others.
• 😀 Food is another great small talk topic since it’s something we all experience daily, offering plenty of opportunities to engage.
• 😀 Weather is a classic and easy topic to initiate small talk, and it can lead to conversations about other subjects like transportation or activities.

Q & A

What is the purpose of small talk in social interactions?

Small talk helps build rapport, makes people feel more comfortable with each other, and allows individuals to connect through shared interests. It's especially useful in work settings, at gatherings, or even with strangers you meet in casual situations.

Why does Emma recommend Lingoda's Sprint and Super Sprint challenges?

Emma recommends Lingoda's Sprint and Super Sprint challenges because they offer a structured way to improve language skills quickly. The Sprint challenge involves 15 classes per month for three months, while the Super Sprint involves 30 classes per month, both offering refunds upon completion.

What are some common topics of small talk that Emma highlights?

Emma highlights work, life, travel, food, and weather as the most common topics of small talk. These categories provide broad, relatable topics that are useful in initiating and maintaining conversations.

What time references can be used in small talk?

Small talk can refer to the present, past, or future. For example, you can ask about someone's current job, their past experiences, or their future plans and dreams. This helps keep the conversation dynamic and engaging.

How does Emma suggest using small talk to connect with someone about work?

Emma suggests asking about someone's current job, what motivated them to pursue it, what their typical workday looks like, and their future career aspirations. This helps dive deeper into their work life and uncover potential shared interests.

How can you initiate small talk about life and personal interests?

You can initiate small talk about life by asking about someone's weekend plans, hobbies, or activities. For example, 'What do you like to do in your spare time?' or 'Have you read any good books lately?' are great ways to find common ground.

What questions does Emma suggest for talking about travel?

For travel, Emma suggests asking about someone's past travel experiences, such as 'Have you ever been to [a place]?' or future travel plans like 'Do you have any travel plans for the upcoming holiday season?'

What is Emma's approach to introducing new topics in a conversation?

Emma recommends using the word 'so' to introduce a new idea or shift to another topic in the conversation. This is a natural way to guide the conversation without it feeling abrupt or forced.

Why is food a great topic for small talk?

Food is a universal topic because everyone eats, and it's something we all experience daily. Asking questions about meals, restaurants, or cooking can lead to enjoyable and easy conversations.

What role does weather play in small talk?

Weather is a classic small talk topic because it is neutral and universally relatable. It can be used to make simple passing comments or introduce a shift to another topic, like discussing transportation or daily activities, especially if the weather has affected them.