TOPIC 2_W.
4_SMALL TALK
SPEAKING
1. What difficulties do you usually feel when you have to socialize?
a) I don’t like socializing;
b) I don’t have the words to talk about the topics;
c) I often don’t know much about the topics;
d) It is difficult to find a safe topic.
WATCHING
How To Make Small Talk - Bing video
1.Watch the video and fill in the gaps:
Why Small Talk is Important
1. Have you ever been in an elevator only to realize you have ___________ ___________
___________ when your boss steps in? (…)
2. It’s a free investment you’ll be recognized for taking the ___________ ___________
___________ with that person (…)
What to Say?
3. First, look for someone approachable. Start with a ___________ ___________ ___________.
This puts everyone at ease. Communications expert Carol Fleming says to remember the acronym
ARE.
4. Anchor – Find something you have in common. This can be something ___________
___________ ___________ or something you’re both experiencing in that moment.
5. Reveal – Say ___________ ___________ ___________ that relates to your anchor topic,
creating trust and providing something for them to respond to you.
6. Encourage – This is your time to ask a question pumping them to respond. Keep your
___________ ___________ - ___________. This allows for a more in-depth conversation. If
you’re stumped for a topic, stick to easy ones like their job, hobbies, and family.
7. But always remember: stay away ___________ ___________ ___________ like politics (…).
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TOPIC 2_W.4_SMALL TALK
8. A compliment works well, too. (…) Using the ___________ ___________ ___________
conversation will also yield good results. People appreciate the special attention.
9. And remember to listen. People love to talk about themselves. Restate ___________
___________ ___________to show you are listening.
10. Now is not the time ___________ ___________ ___________. Get in that elevator, smile and
make small talk.
READING GRAMMAR
Look at the following sentence from the previous exercise:
1. “Have you ever been in an elevator” (ex.1)
2. “This can be something that you’ve experienced” (ex.4)
- The underlined structures are forms of the Present Perfect.
The present perfect is a present tense.
Form: Present tense of “have” + Past participle of main verb
Affirmative
I / You / We / They have worked
He / She /It has worked
Negative
I / You / We / They have not (haven’t) worked
He / She /It has not (hasn’t) worked
Interrogative // Interrogative negative
Have // Haven’t I / you / we / they worked
Has // Hasn’t he / she /it worked
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TOPIC 2_W.4_SMALL TALK
Use:
1) People’s experience, no matter when they happened:
- I have seen that film.
2) Things that started in the past and continue up to the present:
- It hasn’t rained much this summer.
3) Things that have an obvious connection to the present:
- The new director has come from the Head Office. (= he is here now)
4) With the “signal words”:
just, yet, already, never, ever, so far, up to now, recently, since, for
Just = a very short time ago
- I have just called the company.
Yet = at any time up to now
- We haven’t finished yet. We’re almost finished.
Already - used to say that something has happened early – or earlier than it might have happened.
- I have already done my homework.
NOTE:
“already” is never used in the negative:
Examples:
I have already finished the test.
I haven’t finished the test yet - NOT: I haven’t already finished the test
Write the sentences in the present perfect: (in: https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/support-files/present_perfect_form)
1. (I / go / to the library today)
_____________________________________________________________
2. (you / keep a pet for three years)
_____________________________________________________________
3. (you / eat Thai food before?)
_____________________________________________________________
4. (it / rain all day?)
_____________________________________________________________
5. (who / we / forget to invite?)
_____________________________________________________________
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TOPIC 2_W.4_SMALL TALK
6. (we / not / hear that song before?)
_____________________________________________________________
7. (he / not / forget his books)
_____________________________________________________________
8. (she / steal all the chocolate!)
_____________________________________________________________
9. (I / explain it well?)
_____________________________________________________________
10. (who / he / meet recently?)
_____________________________________________________________
11. (how / we / finish already?)
_____________________________________________________________
12. (I / know him for three months)
_____________________________________________________________
13. (what countries / they / visit in Europe/ so far?)
_____________________________________________________________
14. (he / hurt his leg/ yesterday)
_____________________________________________________________
15. (you / eat lunch yet?)
_____________________________________________________________
16. (he / read the newspaper today?)
____________________________________________________________
17. (you / not / study French for ten years)
_____________________________________________________________
18. (they / be in London for six months)
_____________________________________________________________
19. (where / you / be?)
_____________________________________________________________
20. (we / not / yet/ go to Paris)
_____________________________________________________________
21. (she / not / see ‘The Lord of the Rings’/ yet)
_____________________________________________________________
22. (they / not / visit St. Paul’s Cathedral yet)
_____________________________________________________________
23. (what / she / eat today?)
____________________________________________________________
24. (why / you / do the housework already?)
_____________________________________________________________
25. (how / she / make this fantastic cake?)
_____________________________________________________________
26. (why / I / miss the plane?)
_____________________________________________________________
27. (it / rain a lot this week)
____________________________________________________________
28. (they / use a credit card before?)
_____________________________________________________________
