Gives dialogues for visiting in an American home and while being taken on a tour of a home. Gives rationale behind the dialogues and behavior.

1. Small Talk in American CultureSmall Talk in American Culture
How to do this easily

2. VisitingVisiting
In this segment of
dialogues, we examine the
way that Americans talk
with one another when
they visit one another or
when they have dinner at
someone’s home. In
American culture, it is
very special to be invited
into someone’s home and
many times is a signal of
the intention to further the
relationship with the
guest.
So the actions and the
words actually imply a
deeper meaning than
their superficial
significance.

3. Dialogue One: Doorbell ringsDialogue One: Doorbell rings
SUE: Hi everybody.
Come in
Sarah and LINDA:
Thanks. How are you?
SUE: Fine. You guys
have a seat. Would you
like something to drink –
some coffee or a soda or
something?
LINDA: Ummm coffee
would be great. Can I
help you?
Sarah: Nothing for me,
thanks.
SUE: Sure, can you get
the cream out of the
fridge? Sarah are you
sure?
Sarah: Yes - I just finished
a soda in the car.
SUE: Ok - LINDA -
here’s the coffee.
LINDA: Umm smells
great.

4. Explanation of DialogueExplanation of Dialogue
In this dialogue, we see
several patterns that are
used between hosts and
guests in American
culture. The first pattern
is the typical sequence of
conversation when there is
a visitor. (1) Greetings
such as hi or hello (2)
Asking how someone is
NOTE: This is usually a
formality and it is not
necessary to go into
detail.
In fact, most Americans
respond automatically
with expressions such as
“fine”, “ok”, or “not
bad”. (3) Host or hostess
tells the guest to sit down.
NOTE: At an informal
party, there are no special
places in an American
home for people to sit.
However, if there is an
older person, they are
usually given a more
comfortable place

5. Explanation of DialogueExplanation of Dialogue
or are given the choice of
where they would like to sit
first. However, a formal dinner
or lunch, may have seating
arranged by the hostess. The
seating arrangements are based
on interests and the comfort of
the guest. However most
American parties are informal -
where everyone serves
themselves. (4) Host asks the
guest if they would like
something to drink. (5) The
guest responds with the truth –
they may say yes or no.
Please notice that LINDA and
Sarah both tell SUE directly
what they would like to drink
and, in LINDA’s case, that she
doesn’t want anything to drink.
Some other cultures might
politely respond with “Please
don’t bother.. In American
culture, it is very acceptable, in
fact expected, that the guest will
tell the host what she/he would
like.

6. Explanation of DialogueExplanation of Dialogue
If the guest says that she/he
doesn’t want anything, it means
exactly that. A host may ask if
the guest is sure as SUE does,
but most of the time, the host
will not ask again. However,
since Mrs. Smith knows that Liu
Yang is a new international
student and is not accustomed
to serving herself in someone’s
home, she asks her directly if
she can help her.
Another custom that
many American
hosts have with
guests is to give
them a tour of the
house. This occurs
on the first visit. In
the following
dialogue, the
hostess, SUE, takes
the guest, LINDA,
on a tour of the
house.

7. ModalsModals
This occurs the first time
that a guest visits. This
is in responses to the
guest saying something
nice about the house.
The pattern during a
tour is (1) the host
shows each room to the
guest (2) the guest finds
one thing in the room to
say something nice
about (3) the host says
thank you or gives extra
information about the
item. While a tour
offers an opportunity
for the host to show
their nice home to the
guests, it also has a
deeper meaning. It is a
way of furthering the
relationship by inviting
people to visit “all of
their space” - not just
the living room. This is
one way that Americans
let people know who
they are since in most
American homes there
are personal objects
that reveal a great deal
about the people who
live there

8. Small Talk/TourSmall Talk/Tour
Linda is visiting Sue’s home for
the first time.
SUE: Hello. Come in
LINDA. Nice to see you.
LINDA: Thank
you. Oh, You have
a beautiful home.
SUE: Thank you.
We like it. In fact,
we just finished
remodeling the
kitchen. Would
you like a tour?
LINDA: I’d love
one.

9. Small Talk/TourSmall Talk/Tour
SUE: This is the
kitchen. We had to
really search to find the
marble for the
countertops.
LINDA: Oh but they
are gorgeous. And this
dining area is very
cozy.
SUE: Yes, we usually
eat here except when
we have guests when
we use the formal
dining room here.
LINDA: This is a very
nice dining table. Is it
oak?
SUE: Yes, it is an
antique really. It
belonged to my
grandmother. And
these are my mother’s
bookcases here in the
den.
LINDA. I’m sure your
whole family loves to
be together here. I see
you have a TV and pool
table.

10. Small Talk/TourSmall Talk/Tour
SUE: Yes, we enjoy
this room probably
more than any other
room in the house.
Now this is the master
bedroom and over here
is the guest bedroom
LINDA: Oh I really
like this guest bedroom.
The way you have
combined the colors is
striking.
SUE: Thank you.
And, last but not
least, the kids’
bedroom.
LINDA: Oh such a
lovely home. I’ve
really enjoyed the
tour.