small talk techniques

1. SMALL TALK
TECHNIQUES

2. Small talk is a social skill. It is used
when you meet new people.
An important part of making small talk
is to encourage someone to speak
and to show interest in what they
are saying.

3. Echo Questions
• Auxiliary verb + subject
Examples:
A: I can speak three languages. B: Can you?
A: They went to Japan last week. B: Did they?

4. Reply to the statements with echo
questions.
I like pop music.
___________?
She works as an accountant. ___________?
I went to Egypt last year. ___________?
It's a really nice place to visit. ___________?

5. Echo Words
• Repetition of key words back to the speaker
helps to show interest in what the speaker is
saying.
Examples:
A: I have just brought a new sports car. It cost
$100,000.
B: $100,000?
A: I travelled around south-east Asia for six months.
B: Six months!

6. Reply to the statements with echo
words.
I'm going to Italy next week. ___________
It took me two hours to get here. ___________
Harry is looking for a new job. ___________
I saw Sophia yesterday. ___________

7. Showing Attention & Agreement
• When you are in a conversation, it's a good
idea to show agreement and sound curious
about what the speaker is saying.
Useful Expressions:
Really? Sure
Yeah Mhm
Uhuh How interesting
Yes Wow
Right

8. Wh- Questions
• To keep a conversation going and to help to show
interest, ask follow-up questions. Remember to
use the other techniques along with asking wh-questions
otherwise it may sound like you are
‘grilling’ the other person.
Example:
A: I went to the hospital yesterday.
B: Why was that?
Which hospital did you go to?
What did the doctor say?

9. Write 5 follow-up questions for the
following statement.
A: I went to the cinema yesterday.
B:
1. _____________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________
3. _____________________________________________
4. _____________________________________________
5. _____________________________________________

10. Read theses mini-dialogues and write examples
of the techniques used by Student B to make
small talk.
A: He teaches English.
B: English? Really? Where does he teach?
A: I'm thinking about moving house.
B: Are you? Where do you want to move to?
A: She worked there for 10 years.
B: Did she? How interesting. Why did she leave?
A: I've bought a new computer.
B: A new computer! Have you? Which brand did you buy?