Small talk

Hit it off (with someone)= to like someone and talk a

lot as soon as you meet for the first time

Context: It’s an ordinary party; people

are standing around with glasses in
their hands. The hostess is busy
circulating making sure her guests
mingle. At some point she takes David
Long across the room in order to
introduce him to John Braintree. She is
absolutely convinced that they will hit
it off as they have so much in
common and they are sure to find
‘oodles to talk about’…

What do you think happens next?

What topics do they talk about in the

video?

Listening worksheet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByC3QwWZuGXdWG9RSnc1UDJpckk/view

Discussion
What do you understand about the phrase ‘small talk’?

What topics are best avoided during small talk?

Do people from your country tend to make small talk?

Definition of SMALL TALK (noun): informal
conversation about unimportant things.
Rank the topics below in order of suitability for small talk:
Match to the meaning
1. Chat/Chatter/Make Chit-chat + to/with a) to say something in a loud voice, or to make a loud
noise because you are angry, afraid, excited, or in pain

2. Gossip + to b) to talk about something for a long time in a way that is boring,
annoying, or confusing

3. Ramble + at c) to like someone and talk a lot as soon as you meet for the
first time

4. Rattle on (informal) + at d) to talk in a friendly way

5. Yell + at e) to talk quickly and for a long time

6. Go on + at f) to talk so much that people become bored or annoyed

7. Talk back to g) to talk about other people or about things that are not
important

8. Hit it off + with h) to reply quickly and often rudely to something that someone
says. This expression is used especially to describe children
being rude to their parents

Note: + ‘preposition’ with people, also followed by ‘about’ and gerund/noun, wh- word or how
Match to the meaning
1. Chat/Chatter/Make Chit-chat + to/with d) to talk in a friendly way

2. Gossip + to/with g) to talk about other people or about things that are not
important

3. Ramble + at b) to talk about something for a long time in a way that is

boring, annoying, or confusing

4. Rattle on (informal) + at e) to talk quickly and for a long time

5. Yell + at a) to say something in a loud voice, or to make a loud noise

because you are angry, afraid, excited, or in pain

6. Go on + at f) to talk so much that people become bored or annoyed/+ at

= to complain

7. Talk back to h) to reply quickly and often rudely to something that

someone says. This expression is used especially to
describe children being rude to their parents

8. Hit it off + with c) to like someone and talk a lot as soon as you meet for the
first time
Note: + ‘preposition’ with people, also followed by ‘about’ and gerund/noun, wh- word or how
 Discussion
Have you ever hit it off with someone after making small talk?

What do you do if someone goes on or rambles about themselves too much?

How did your parents react if you talked back to them? Did they yell ?

How do you chat to someone if you’re in an elevator/lift with them?

What if they’re a total stranger?

Do you like to gossip about celebrities and famous people?

Do any of your friends rattle on about any particular celebrity?
Pre-watching Activity

Fill in the gaps with the correct preposition

“__ most cultures, small talk acts __ a social lubricant. But __ Sweden, people tend __ avoid idle chit-chat. Some
experts believe the Swedes are missing out __ a vital communication tool, while others say it's just a part __
Swedish life.”

“__ Norway we don't do small talk __ all. __ Scandinavian countries, leaving people alone is respectful, polite and
very much appreciated. We're not unfriendly or unsocial, we just have a different culture.”

“__ Spanish cultures there is a saying that somebody is being like a Swedish person (“hacerse el sueco”); when
nothing around concerns them and they don’t react __ people talking __ them. “
Pre-watching Activity

Fill in the gaps with the correct preposition

“In most cultures, small talk acts as/like a social lubricant. But in Sweden, people tend to avoid idle chit-chat.
Some experts believe the Swedes are missing out on a vital communication tool, while others say it's just a part
of Swedish life.”

“In Norway we don't do small talk at all. In Scandinavian countries, leaving people alone is respectful, polite and
very much appreciated. We're not unfriendly or unsocial, we just have a different culture.”

“In Spanish cultures there is a saying that somebody is being like a Swedish person (“hacerse el sueco”); when
nothing around concerns them and they don’t react to people talking to them.”
Watch the video from 0:00 - 1:40
True or false?

1. The point of small talk is to tell

someone things about yourself
2. Making small talk can make more
profound conversation easier
3. People in Sweden enjoy casual
chit-chat
4. The man in the elevator feels
awkward because of his small talk
about the weather
Watch the video from 0:00 - 1:40
True or false?

1. The point of small talk is to tell

someone things about yourself - false
2. Making small talk can make more
profound conversation easier - true
3. People in sweden enjoy casual chit-
chat - false
4. The man in the elevator feels
awkward because of his small talk
about the weather - true
Watch the video from 1:40 - 3:46
True or false?

1. Small talk about the weather has

more significance than just idle
chit-chat
2. Swedish people tend to divert their
gaze if another person is walking
towards them
3. They are good at getting through
busy markets and bars
4. The woman and man in the video
have seen each other recently
Watch the video from 1:40 - 3:46
True or false?

1. Small talk about the weather has

more significance than just idle
chit-chat - true
2. Swedish people tend to divert their
gaze if another person is walking
towards them - true
3. They are good at getting through
busy markets and bars - true
4. The woman and man in the video
have seen each other recently -
false
Watch the rest of the video
True or false?

1. Swedes enjoy running into their

friends and workmates on the street
2. The Swedish attitude is due to how
crowded the country is
3. Swedes are not accustomed to
having a large social circle
4. It is easy for a Swedish person to
talk freely when on holiday
5. Americans are seen are easy to chat
with and get to know
Watch the rest of the video
True or false?

1. Swedes enjoy running into their

friends and workmates on the street
- false
2. The Swedish attitude is due to how
crowded the country is - false
3. Swedes are not accustomed to
having a large social circle - true
4. It is easy for a Swedish person to
talk freely when on holiday - false
5. Americans are seen are easy to chat
with and get to know - true
Useful Phrases
Do people in your country tend to mind
their business?

When you’re out and about do you like to

make small talk?

"Mind your own business" is a common English

saying which asks for a respect of other people's
privacy.

What goes without saying about people from your

country?
If someone is “out and about”, they are going out
and doing things, especially after they have been
unable to for a while “It goes without saying’” is used to state something that
is obvious.
Discussion
Is your culture more of a coconut or peach one? Why?

Do you agree with this comparison?

Generally, how easy is it to get to know people in your

country?

How accurate do you think this comparison is?

Extra reading/watching

https://cupcakesandcashmere.com/series-stories/a-brilliant-tip-for-making-small-tal
k-less-painful

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGoIoDuf83o

https://oxfordhousebcn.com/en/small-talk-for-business-english/

https://www.fluentu.com/blog/english/english-small-talk/