Task 1.

Read the Seattle Times article below, and answer the following questions questions
in your own words based on the article.

QUESTIONS
1. Why does it pay off to do small talk with an everyday topic, such as the
weather, for example?
2. What's a highly strategic spot for making small talk at a party? Why?
3. What is a good technique mentioned for making small talk be smoother?
5. How could small talk be crucial for a job seeker?

--It's cold outside today, isn't it?

--Yes! It's frigid!
--Makes me wistful for spring.
--Me, too. I love warm weather. Small talk: Here's
Well, duh. Who doesn't? But even the worst how to chitchat, and
weather has an upside: conversation
fodder. why it matters
By Julia Feldmeier
Chitchat, idle banter, cocktail party February 24, 2008
conversation — small talk is ubiquitous. It's
a staple of happy hours, sure, but it's also
invoked in job interviews and at networking
functions. "Focus on something that can put you on the
same level as the person," says Jim Hewes, a
It can also be maddeningly mundane. So longtime bartender in Washington, D.C. "If
what makes light conversation good the TV is on and the football game's on and
conversation? And how can those of us who you say, 'Go, Redskins,' and the guy at the
are less silver-tongued learn not to sweat the bar says, 'Yeah, I love the Redskins,' then all
small stuff? of a sudden you've ESTABLISHED
COMMON GROUND. Then he tells you that
COMMON THREADS he lives in Cincinnati but used to live in
Washington.
Hence, weather. It's a commonality, says
Debra Fine, author of "The Fine Art of Small Whether you're a football fan or not,
Talk." So are Britney Spears (tragic, isn't it?), conversation breeds conversation.
traffic (brutal, as always) and the fate of the CLICHED OPENERS turn up nuggets that
local baseball team (will they ever hit the beget richer topics.
big time?).

If the goal of small talk is to make the

other person comfortable with you,
agreeable topics are ideal.
 NOW WHAT?
The icebreaker is one thing; KEEPING THE
CONVERSATION GOING is another.
Preparing a handful of TALKING POINTS
alleviates the problem of what to say next.
Imagine you're a job applicant. The
interviewer comes to take you to her office.
You shake hands and follow her down the
hall, which is endless.
You finally get there, pleasantries about the
weather exchanged. The interviewer calls
her supervisor to sit in on the meeting. The
supervisor says she'll be there in two
minutes. Two minutes of FILLER
CONVERSATION! Gulp.
It's up to you to assume the burden. If
candidates are equally qualified, "they'll hire
the one they feel comfortable with, not the
one who's awkward," Fine says.
When in doubt, experts say, ask questions
and listen. Attentiveness is flattery in the
highest degree. Smart FOLLOW-UP
QUESTIONS show you're interested and
help the conversation flow.
APPROPRIATE TOPICS FOR
SMALL TALK
Which topics are appropriate for small talk
discussions? For those topics which are not
appropriate, be able to explain why you
believe they are not okay to bring up.
1) Media - such as television shows,
movies, or music that both of you may
like
2) Your respective salaries
3) Sports; your favorite team
4) A product you would like to sell
5) How you broke up with your partner
6) The occupation of each person
7) Your last holiday and how much it cost
8) Traffic (jams) in your city
9) How your day has been so far
10) The weather
11) Gossip about famous people
12) Gossip about people you both know
13) The one true path to eternal life
14) Your respective spouses and children
15) The current event

WHICH WAY TO THE BAR?

At parties, of course, there is a delightful

MATCH THE PHRASES IN THE BUBBLES WITH
antidote to conversational awkwardness:
THEIR EQUIVALENTS IN THE TEXT (CHOOSE
alcohol. Booze has its limitations (slurry
FROM THE PHRASES IN BOLD).
talk is not small talk), but it also presents a
strategic opportunity. At cocktail parties
to relax sy when
and similar events, it's smart to stand near
it depends on you to carry on they are with you
the bar or appetizer table. There's a
a
constant flow of people and built-in
conversatio
commonality.
n
a cure for sg. things to talk about1
if you are --Those puff pastries are delicious, aren't they?
uncertain --Indeed! I wonder what's in them?
an advantage of a
situation Just remember that cocktail parties are
shared interests, beliefs meant for movement, for INTERACTING
or opinions between two
across the room.
people
communicating with sy
"There should be a flow at a party like that,"
conversation a main part of says Jeanne Martinet, author of "The Art of
intended to alcohol something Mingling." "If everybody finds someone and
pass time stays talking to them, the party just stops."

things to talk about2 http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/

ordinar 2004193780_smalltalk24.html
y make sg
less it’s everywhere
problematic
overused and
boring starters praising sy sandwich
bar
 "Giving someone just a little explanation of
READING - PART 2. why you have to exit is thoughtful," RoAne
says. (3)………………………………… you enjoyed
INSERT THE PHRASES WHERE THEY BELONG. speaking with the person.
THERE ARE TWO ODD-ONES-OUT IN THE LIST.
Be sure to walk toward another person or the
A. you might bring up some food table, she says: "(4) …………………………
conversation ……………………………………, that's insulting "
B. they're ready to mingle
c. is one obvious but polite clue What if you're ready to move on, but the
d. it's also good etiquette to say that other person (5)………………………………………?
e. have some talking points up your Fine suggests waving a white flag of sorts:
sleeve acknowledging that (6)…………………………,
f. If you just turn your back and stay in you want to hear the person's story before
the same physical space you go.
g. for me to interrupt you at that point
and take off "You're saying, 'OK, I want to get over there,
h. I'm giving you two minutes but ……………………………………… to wrap this
i. isn't catching your signals up,' " Fine says. "People with good manners
j. although there's someone else you'd recognize that. People without manners keep
like to see going and going — then it's OK (7)
k. facilitate the chitchat for a minute and …………………………………………………"
then excuse yourself
l. is how you can avoid awkwardness Extending your hand toward someone (8)
m. unearth topics on which to connect ………………………… that the conversation has
n. things in common ended. You can also introduce your
conversation partner to someone new, help
(9) …………………………………………………………
HEY! GOTTA RUN!
BIG SMALL-TALK BENEFITS
Abandoning a conversation partner can be
tricky, though. It isn't always easy, comfortable or
interesting, but aficionados believe small
Terry Bell, co-owner and stylist at a salon, is talk can provide big gains. The point of the
good at knowing how to read people and TRITE TOPICS is to (10)…………………………,
when to exit the conversation. and which could play out in business,
romance or your social life. Keep it real, and
"If a client sits in front of you and she opens look for genuine (11)…………………………………
up a magazine, you know that person does
not want to talk," Bell says. "(1)………………… "We're all very similar; we have the same
……………………………………… just to keep it at feelings, same fears. Everybody puts their
a certain level, but you realize that the pants on one leg at a time," says Hewes.
person doesn't want to talk for the whole 45
minutes." And everyone talks about the weather.
Lovely, isn't it?
If you're talking to someone whose eyes
are roaming the room, (2)……………………… http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/
That's when you should excuse yourself to 2004193780_smalltalk24.html
grab food or a drink, or say hello to the
hostess, experts say.