#AWKWARD OFFICE CHITCHAT NYT PDF#
#AWKWARD OFFICE CHITCHAT NYT PLUS#

Try asking questions instead, based on observations. Keep in mind that English speakers rarely actually say the word “hobby,” so asking “What are your hobbies?” sounds strange and unnatural. Find a mutual friend (a friend you both know) or a common interest or hobby, and you’ll be able to make conversation. When you share something similar with your speaking partner, that means you have something to talk about. “Hey Pam, your cookies last night were delicious! Thank you for making them for the party.” 6. “Did you see? They finally fixed the light in the break room. “I love your shoes today, they really pull your outfit together.” Nothing makes people feel better than a genuine compliment! Look around and find something to comment on, or look at your partner and find something nice to compliment them on. It’s something you both share, so there’s no worry that they won’t know what you’re talking about. Some of the best small talk is about the location you and your conversation partner are in. This is the first time I’ve gotten up from my seat all day! Are you busy too?” 5. Observations I hear Pam brought her famous carrot cake!” I’m really looking forward to the party after work today. How are things going over at the IT department today?” Stay even less personal at work than in more casual places, and avoid gossiping (talking about other people who are not present)! Instead, you can talk about the day, an upcoming party or meeting, or ask about the person’s job. Some conversations are only appropriate in a work environment. “The day is almost over! Do you have any interesting plans for the evening?” 4. “Good morning! I went camping on Saturday, and of course it rained all day. You can also share information about your day and how you’re doing, but try to keep a balance of talking and listening, so you both get to speak the same amount (and you’re not just talking about yourself the entire time).Įven if the person looks like they’ve been having a bad day, you can make it brighter just by making small talk! Make sure not to ask questions that are too personal, and instead offer some nice words of encouragement. How was your day? / How has your day been so far?.If you’re not sure what topic to talk about or you don’t have anything interesting to say, you can just ask someone about their day, or you can talk about yours. Wasn’t that a great save at the very end?” 3. The Day “That basketball game yesterday had me glued to my seat. “This weather is crazy! It was cold yesterday and today I came in with an open jacket. “Did you watch the Oscars last week? I can’t believe Leonardo DiCaprio finally won one!” For example, if you’ve heard them talking about big news stories in the past, you could try to talk about a news story from today.

Things like the weather, current news, sports and entertainment are usually safe conversation starters, especially when you’re speaking to a group-even if one person doesn’t really watch sports, someone else in the group might.Īlthough these topics are talked about by many, some people might not be fans of sports, or might not follow entertainment news, so if you can, try to match people’s interests to the topic you choose. Topics that are universal can be shared by almost anyone. You might not remember me but we met at Tom’s Christmas party last year. I’m still learning English so please let me know if I make any mistakes.” “Good morning! We always have coffee at the same time but we’ve never spoken before. You can even use your English learning as a conversation starter! When you’re introducing yourself, you can add a little bit of information like where you first met, or what you do. You can introduce yourself to anyone you don’t know, or to remind someone you’ve met before who might have forgotten you. (Download) 1. Introductionsīefore you can get to know someone, it’s a good idea to introduce yourself.

#AWKWARD OFFICE CHITCHAT NYT PDF#

This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that youĬlick here to get a copy.

Final Tip About Learning English Small Talk.

Why Making Small Talk Is a Big Deal in English.

#AWKWARD OFFICE CHITCHAT NYT PLUS#

Until you get comfortable with it, let’s explore seven excellent English small talk topics to get you started, plus small talk examples for each one! It’s “small” because you talk about unimportant things, in a way that fills up silence and makes you both feel more comfortable and friendly with each other. Small talk is the kind of conversation you make when you want to talk to someone but neither of you wants to get into a very deep or complicated conversation. It’s never a good feeling when you want to start a conversation but you don’t know what to say. Septem7 English Small Talk Topics for Starting Friendly Conversations

Awkward office chitchat nyt