•3 Why is it a problem if someone has no small talk? •They find it difficult to make new friends.
•4 What do you think is the Chinese for “small talk”? •闲谈，聊天。
Activity 2 Look at the conversation topics below and answer the questions.
careers sport travel weather food cars examinations film stars music politics ideal Which of them do you like talking about with your teacher? Which of them do you never talk about?
Answer the questions. • 1 Which definitions make small talk sound like a positive thing? • The Longman definition. • 2 Which definitions refer to places where small talk might take place? • The Collins/Oxford definitions.
Make new friends with strangers
At a social event in another country
Lack the Confidence to talk
Being nervous
Read para 2 to find the key to these situations you may face.
A.
B.
at a political meeting
at home
In which photo do you think they are making small talk?
C.
D.
In which photo do you think they are making small talk?
E.
Activity 2 Look at the conversation topics below and answer the questions.
careers sport travel weather food cars examinations film stars music politics ideal
F.
business meeting
cafe
Where does small talk happen?
Place it happens
Informal places
party Kara OK trip playground café cinema park bus stop restaurant …
Activity 2 Look at the conversation topics below and answer the questions.
careers sport travel weather food cars examinations film stars music politics ideal Which of the topics do you like talking about with your friends? Which of them do you talk about with your parents?
small talk ：conversation
about ordinary or unimportant matters, usually at a social event: He has no small talk (i.e. he is not good at talking to people about ordinary or unimportant things). Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary 《牛津高级英语词典》
What are the features of small talk?
features
Informal
informal unimportant light polite friendly ordinary social…
In which photo do you think they are making small talk?
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
Don’t…
Look at your watch Yawn Sigh Look away from the speaker Change the subjet Interrupt
3
Do you know any social rules?
Learn some Social rules
Do in Rome as Rome does
Collins Cobuild English Language Dictionary 《柯林斯基础英语词典 》
small talk ：polite
friendly conversation about unimportant subjects
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 《朗文英文当代大词典 》
Something about your studies (subjects)
2
Are you good at listening to other people speaking?
Байду номын сангаас
Do… Give encouraging words and gestures Keep eye contact Use positive body language Ask further information to show your interest
Welcome
Module 1
Small Talk
What are they doing？
Do you know small talk?
闲谈
Discussion
What is small talk?
small talk：informal conversation about things that are not important
身体语言，肢体语言 v.打哈欠 v.叹气，叹息 把目光从……移开 社交规则 除此之外，另外 了解，找到（信息） n.机会
Skimming: Read the passage and decide what kind of book it is from. Choose from the list.
What are the features of small talk? features?
Place it happens?
After reading the dictionary definitions of small talk and find out some adjectives (形容词）to describe small talk(P1,books):
Do small talks
Having low-risk conversation openers ready :
A recent news story
Avoid talking about topics you dislike (personal questions)
Think of
Ask people’s opinion about Mu, Sp, Fi…
Arrive on time at a party in other countries; You need to know how long you should stay and when to leave; Prepare small gifts for your host if necessary…
Words Preview
confidently make friends lack (be) nervous about advance think of nod adv.自信地 交朋友，建立友谊 v.缺乏，缺少 对……焦虑不安 adj.预先的，在前的 想起，回忆起 v.点头
body language yawn sigh look away from social rules in addition find out opportunity
If you talk about these topics, is the conversation serious or small talk?
careers cars examinations film star music politics sport travel weather food
Macmillan English Dictionary 《麦克米兰英英词典 》
small talk：light
conversation that people make at social occasions about unimportant things: We stood around making small talk
Careful-reading