Module 1 Small Talk

Introduction

What are they doing? What is small talk?

small talk： informal conversation about things that are not important Macmillan English Dictionary

small talk ：polite friendly conversation about unimportant subjects Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

small talk: light conversation that people make at social occasions about unimportant things: We stood around making small talk. Collins Cobuild English Language Dictionary

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

What are the features of small talk? informal, unimportant, polite, friendly, ordinary matter … features Informal party, Kara OK, trip, playground, café , light, cinema, park, bus stop, restaurant … Place it happens Informal place

Make a list of safe topics for small talk. Cars Sport Film stars Travel Food Weather Music …

What topics are not suitable for small talk? Age Family Weight Politics Marriage Religion Money …

In many countries, it is normal and necessary to make “small talk” in certain situations. Small talk is a casual form of conversation that breaks the ice or fills an awkward silence. Even though you may feel shy, it is sometimes considered rude to say nothing. There are certain topics that people often discuss. The weather is probably the number one thing that people who do not know each other will discuss. Another topic that is generally safe is current events. As long as you are not discussing a controversial issue, it is usually safe to discuss the news. Sports news and entertainment news are good topics. If there

is something that you and the other speaker have in common, that may also be acceptable to talk about. Walking up to someone you don’t know and starting a conversation is the key to making new friends. Making small talk can also lead to important relationships, but it takes confidence, preparation and practice. Do it well and people will feel at ease with you and enjoy your company. So how can you learn the art of small talk? What do you usually do during the breaks of class? Play? Talk? If you talk, what do you usually talk about? Now, let’s step into Module 1 together to learn the art of small talk.

Serious or small talk? 1. Now many people are holding a meeting. Tom is announcing something important. serious 2. Tom and Mary are having a drink and talking something in a restaurant. small talk

3. Mother is telling an interesting story. small talk 4. The speaker is making a speech. serious

Look at the conversation topics below and answer the questions. careers cars examinations film stars food music politics sport travel weather

If you talk about these topics, is the conversation serious or small talk? It depends. In general, careers, examinations and politics are not part of small talk. 2. Which of the topics do you like talking about with your friends?

3. Which of them do you talk about with your parents? 4. Which of them do you talk about with your teacher? 5. Which of them do you never talk about?

How to make small talk? Small talk can be a big challenge, if you are a salesperson, what kind of small talk do you need? If it’s wrong , what will happen? How can we avoid the wrong kind of small talk?

Read the passage and answer the questions. What did Esther often do when she spoke to others? She put her foot in it (she said something embarrassing). 2. What do you think are “the basic rules of social communication”? To be polite and not to embarrass people.

3. Why did the customer look awkward when she was asked how old she was? Because she didn’t want to say her age. 4. How did the typist contradict Esther? She said she wasn’t pregnant.

5. What was wrong about Esther’s advice to the salesman? Her advice was very insensitive as she told him that his wife was a fool and no one liked her. 6. What did Esther think of the clerk’s haircut? She wanted to know how much it cost.

7. Why did the young man think the company gave him a new job miles away? He thought the office would be quieter without him. 8. What did Esther think of her old school friend’s husband? She thought he was ugly.

Read the passage again and find: 1. three things you can say when you make small talk Nice to meet you. Nice hair cut. I’d like you to meet my husband…

2. two things you should not say How old are you? How much did your haircut cost? 3. one way of replying to questions which you don’t wish to answer I’d rather not say.

Language points 1. As a consequence, she made systematic mistakes every time she opened her mouth. take / suffer/bear the consequences of one’s actions 承担自己行动的后果

in consequence 因此 as a consequence in consequence of 由于 As a consequence of e.g. As a consequence of smoking, my father coughs frequently. 因为吸烟的缘故，我父亲经常咳嗽。

词汇扩展： ① adj. consequent (on/upon sth) 由……引起的，随之发生的 e.g. the rise in prices consequent on the failure of the crops. 由于农作物歉收而引起的物价上 涨。

② adv. consequently=as a result/ therefore 所以，因而 e.g. My car broke down and consequently I was late. 我的车坏了，所以我迟到了。

2. One of her acquaintances, a salesman in the firm, was going through a very messy divorce and was very depressed. c 相识而非密友，泛泛之交 He has a wide circle of acquaintances. 他交友甚广。 She’s an old acquaintance. 她是个老相识（我早就认识她）。

2. Esther was never cautious about other people’s feelings. cautious 谨慎的，小心的 e.g. He is cautious in his choice of words.  他措辞很谨慎。

u 对…略微的了解(with) He has little ~ with the Japanese language. 他不太懂日语。 The guide has some acquaintance with Italian. 导游懂得一点意大利语。

固定短语： have a passing/nodding ~ with sth 与…有点头之交 make sb’s acquaintance/make the acquaintance of sb 结识某人; 与某人相见 on (further) acquaintance 认识了一段（较长）时间以後

词汇扩展： 1) acquaint v使熟知, 通知 ~ sb/oneself with sth =make sb/oneself familiar with or aware of sth 使某人[自己]熟悉或了解某事物 2). acquainted adj. 有知识的, 知晓的 ~ with sth familiar with sth 对某事物熟悉 ~ (with sb) 对某人认识的

The lawyer acquainted himself with the details of his client’s business affairs. 那位律师了解委托人生意上的详情. Are you acquainted with the works of Shakespeare? 你对莎士比亚的作品熟悉吗?

翻译句子： 1）I have some acquaintance with the Russian. 我懂一点儿俄语。 2）You will soon become fully acquainted with the procedures. 你很快就会对这些程序完全熟悉了。

3）Please acquaint me with the facts of the case. 4）I made his acquaintance at a party. 请把这事的情况告诉我。 我是在一个聚会上认识他的。

3. Notice how certain words are left out in informal conversation. leave out 省去，删去 e.g. We can leave out the second sentence. 我们可以省去第二句话。 She left out the date on the cheque. 支票上她漏写了日期。

leave词组： leave behind 留下，忘记携带 leave for 动身去某地 leave school 毕业 leave sth. to / with sb. 把…交给/留给某人 leave sb. sth. 把…交给/留给某人 leave word / a message 留言，留信

Look at the new words in the box. absence acquaintance anniversary apology awkward brunch cautious clerk customer fax firm fool haircut hostess human being interrupt mature messy motto outspoken pregnant saleswoman shortcoming tease typist

Find words for: 1. a place of work 2. people or jobs 3. thing you say or write firm acquaintance clerk customer fool hostess human being saleswoman typist apology motto

4. personal characteristics/appearance awkward cautious mature messy outspoken 5. a physical state pregnant 6. meal brunch

根据句意及首字母提示完成下列句子。 1. In the a_______ of the manager, I shall be in charge of the company. 2. The new store across from the street has taken away most of my c________, and it is a great loss to my store. bsence ustomers

3. The Finance Director was unable to attend the meeting and sent her a_______. 4. He was not my close friend; I made his a__________ at a party last weekend. pologies cquaintance

5. She is very m_______ about her success though she had a drawer of medals. 6. Next Monday is my parents’ 31st wedding a___________. odest nniversary

用适当的介词或副词填空。 He has little acquaintance _______ Japanese, but he speaks English fluently. 2. Some of the players may, _______ occasion, break the rules. 3. Employers may become overly cautious _______ taking on new staff. with on about

4. May I ask a favor _______ you? 5. Just think about what you went _______ last time you gave up smoking. 6. The rain discouraged us _______ going out. of through from

根据括号内的汉语提示完成下列句子。 1. He didn’t realize that he had ______________________ (说错话). 2. ____________ (缺少) sunlight made it difficult to take good pictures. 3. _________________ (由于) smoking, my father coughs frequently. put his foot in his mouth The absence of In consequence of

4. _____________________ (真巧) he was born on his mother’s birthday. 5. I only ever use that machine __________________(在特殊的场合) so it’s as good as new to me. It was a coincidence that on special occasions

6. She ________ (漏掉) the date on the cheque when she filled in the form. 7. The dog may bite you if you __________ (一直挑逗) it. 8. Jim got an ___________________ (热情接待) when he returned home. left out keep teasing enthusiastic reception

9. At the formal party John ________________ (看起来不自在) and out of place. 10. The job ______________________ (包 括国外旅行) for three months each year. looks awkward involves traveling abroad

Thank you!