Small talk can be awkward and often feels pointless, and yet it’s a part of our everyday lives, no matter what language we speak. At first glance, it seems logical to assume that if you’ve mastered the art of small talk in your native language, transferring those skills to English conversations would be straightforward. However, that’s not always the case.
This could be a significant concern for business English learners, whose ability to engage in small talk is often key to making the right connections when networking. For travellers, small talk can lead to more enriching experiences, opening doors to new friendships and unexpected opportunities during their trips.
What is small talk?
Small talk refers to a light, polite conversation about unimportant topics, often between people who don’t know each other well or are complete strangers. It’s a way to break the ice and create a comfortable atmosphere.
Why is small talk a safe place to start?
In essence, it’s neutral and non-threatening, avoiding topics that could cause awkwardness. These short inconsequential conversations can build rapport and help establish a connection before moving on to deeper, more meaningful topics.
Topics to avoid
As a rule of thumb, logic applies here. Most people will feel tension when revealing personal details involving salary matters, political views, health problems or religion so it is better to steer clear of controversial subjects.
Formal or informal language?
It very much depends on the person you have in front of you but in general, these conversations are casual (and polite).
What topics, then?
The weather is an ice-breaker but that does not take you far. Some examples:
- Lovely/Awful day, isn’t it?
- Another rainy day! I wonder when it’ll stop.
- It looks like it’s going to snow soon.
- A pity we have to stay indoors in this spring-like weather, don’t you think?
- Summer is here! At last.
Contextual cues
There is always a context that we can use as a springboard to start the exchange (e.g. If you are attending a conference day, chatting about some of the talks during the coffee break seems a no-brainer). The environment you are immersed in will provide you with the cue to engage in conversation.
There are no fast and hard rules about it, but here are some random ideas in context.
Waiting somewhere
- Do you know the cause of the delay?
- This service is quite reliable. I’ve never waited more than 5 minutes.
- How long have you been waiting?
- Oh, I didn’t expect this queue. If I had known about it, I would have brought a book.
With other travellers
- (Japan or another country, city…) is amazing/fascinating, isn’t it?
- Are you enjoying your stay in (country, city…)?
- What have you visited so far?
- Any tips on where to (not to) go?
- How are you finding the food/transport…?
At a meeting/conference break
- Are you finding it useful?
- What do you think about…. (something that was brought up during the conference or meeting)?
- I found the speaker’s arguments thought-provoking/ground-breaking/predictable/misinformed … (then, say why and your counterpart will surely keep the ball rolling).
During a break at work
- It has been a hectic day, hasn’t it?
- How was your weekend?
- What are you up to next weekend?
At a party (dancing, concert)
- The atmosphere is great! Are you enjoying yourself?
- The music is too loud.
- This band is brilliant! Do you know if they have released any albums?
- I love your outfit, very stylish.
In the classroom before the teacher arrives
- Have you done the homework?
- How are you getting on with the course? I wish I had more time to go through my notes.
- Looking forward to the weekend?
Final tips
Although questions abound here, these should be interspersed with comments. It would be weird to be constantly asking questions, wouldn’t it? You have to add some juicy content to keep the flow or else it may look like an interview.
I encourage you to create your own cues. These are just some random examples of short comments. If you often interact with English speakers, observe and learn from them. But a word of warning here: make sure you sound natural and friendly. Adapt your language to the situation. Don’t try to force your memorised lines on someone. It’s probably better to improvise and make some grammar mistakes than to deliver a perfect sentence that sounds artificial.
Summing up:
- Observe and Adapt: Pay attention to how native speakers make small talk and mirror their tone and style.
- Improvise: Don’t rely on memorised lines – it’s better to be natural, even if you make a few small mistakes.
- Listen Actively: Show genuine interest in what the other person is saying. It’s the easiest way to keep the conversation flowing and make a good impression.
By practising these approaches, small talk will soon feel more comfortable, helping you to build better connections, whether in work or social situations.
Thanks for reading! 