100 SMALL TALK PHRASES You Can Use RIGHT NOW | Sound Fluent in English! 🇬🇧

Hi, there. This is Harry. Welcome back to Advanced  English Lessons with Harry, where I tried to help  

you get a better understanding of the English  language. And I always try to include something  

or topics that you have asked me to give you  some more information about, because you might be  

having some difficulties. And in this particular  lesson, we're going to look at small talk.

And small talk is really, really important. Now  in some parts of the world they have outlawed  

small talk because it is seen as non-PC, and  you can't engage people in small talk in an  

elevator. So not telling you that you should  start chatting to strangers in elevators  

or unusual places, but it's still really,  really relevant and really, really important.

Before those meetings you have on teams or  Google meets where you've got your colleagues,  

and for lots of you, this is the problem area  of English. You understand the English more or  

less that you need to use in your particular  discipline, whether it's in the IT field or  

medicine or whatever it might be. You do  understand the particular language that  

you need to use, but when it comes to small  talk, this is when the problems begin, okay.

And that these type of topics that we're  going to cover now are very simple topics,  

simple to me. But not necessarily simple to you,  because you need to understand how to get in,  

how to get out of that particular conversation.  Now, one of the tricks is if you've got somebody  

who likes to talk, and then every organisation  and every team, there are real talkers.

So all you need to do is light the fuze and  stand back and off they go. Yeah. So if you  

know the correct questions to ask, well then  you can ask these questions and then they'll  

take over and they might respond and ask you a  couple of questions. And you can make some small  

comments. But these questions will be important  because you can participate in the conversation,  

can participate in the small talk  without necessarily having to speak,

nonstop for 10 or 15 minutes. Okay. So  hopefully these type of topics will help you.

Okay, so it's a this is going to be a  long lesson, so we'll take some breaks,  

but just stick with it. Practice them.  Listen. Use the phrases. They're very,  

very simple and see how you can help yourself to  introduce yourself into that area of small talk.

Okay, so the first topic and  I've split this particular  

lesson into various topics of small talk.

So the first one we're going to look at is  to get to know someone that you've just met  

or you don't know so well. So it could be a  new colleague or some member of the team that  

you really haven't had time to talk to. Apart  from business issues. So these are the sort  

of questions and phrases you can use and how  you can get to know them a little bit better.

So first thing might be just be and where are you  from? So if somebody asks and where are you from?

So this is about asking somebody their origin or  their home town. So you might just simply say,  

I'm from America or I'm from England,  or I'm from somewhere in Europe.

but,

an example of a typical reply would be, Oh, well,

I'm originally from Edinburgh in Scotland.

So you could answer it in that way. And then when  you've answered it, the automatic response for  

you is and where are you from? And so you  give your answer to the question and then  

you follow it with the question, and where  are you from? And this will give the other  

person the opportunity to tell you about their  hometown, their city or their place of birth.

Okay, so where are you from? So you answer well,  

originating from Edinburgh,  Scotland. And where are you from?

Next easy question is about the job you  do and the work you do. So if this person  

isn't in your company and you don't really know  that, perhaps you're meeting them at a school

reunion or parent-teacher meeting and you  having a cup of coffee. So they might ask you,  

and what do you do for a living? So here they  are asking you what your occupation or what  

your profession happens to be. What do you do for  a living? Okay. And the simple reply would be,  

well, I'm a software engineer or  I work in the IT field, or I'm

in the medical field or whatever your particular  title might be. Sometimes people are a little  

bit shy and they don't want to boast about  it. Well, I'm a professor in a university.  

So they might just simply say, I work in  the university. Or they don't want to say  

I'm a surgeon. I work in the hospital,  I'm in the medical field or, you know,  

an IT engineer or programmer and just give basic  information as to the particular job that they do.

And again, very similar to the first question,  once you've answered the question, then of  

course you can respond, what do you do? What work  are you in? Or what line of work are you in? So  

there are several ways in which you could ask that  particular question. And all of those questions,  

again, will give the person that you're talking  to an opportunity to explain what they do.

Sometimes people will just continue that  because they like to talk about themselves,  

and they like to talk about the job that they do.

Do you have any hobbies or interests? So again,  

this is just a very general question about  what you do when you're not working. Do  

you have any hobbies or interests? So  this is all about asking somebody about  

leisure activities, things that they do or  what they enjoy doing when they're not working.

Oh, I love playing the guitar. Or I'm  really into hiking or I like not nothing

better than to get on my bike and go  out into the hills or cycle around the  

park at the weekend. So here you're able to  expand in simple ways of about the hobbies  

that you have. What about you? What do  you do? Yeah. So again here it's very  

simple question. And what about you?  What sort of activities do you have?

What do you do in your leisure time? What  do you do in your free time? What do you  

do in your downtime? So all of these would  be very similar ways of asking somebody,  

what do they do when they're not working?

And then once you get start

chatting to somebody in this way, the  conversation will open it up a little  

bit. You get the sense that you know the person  a little more and they know you a little more,  

and then you might start asking them about recent  

movies or TV shows that they have watched  or something that they might recommend.

Have you seen any good movies or  series on TV recently? So again,  

it's a very broad question. Opening up  the opportunity for them to tell you  

something they've seen or something  that they are currently watching.

Oh, well, I've just finished watching that  series on TV, the Crown. Have you seen it?  

Oh, it's really good. You should watch it. If you  haven't seen it, I would really recommend it. So  

here the person opens up about a TV series that  they've been watching on Netflix or some other

subscriber channel, and then they get the  opportunity to explain it to you and have  

you say, oh no, I haven't seen it. What's  it about? Then of course they'll give you

ten-minute monologue about, you know, what The  Crown is all about, what the other series is  

about, why you should watch it, and their opinion,  whether it's good or bad or India different.

Okay.

And then you can follow up once they've  finished speaking about that, you can see and

have you watched anything else recently.  Oh would you... Is that something in the  

movies that you would recommend? I'm not a real  movie goer, but I think I'll go this weekend. Is  

there anything that you think I should watch?  Yeah, again, looking for some recommendations.

People then sort of develop it into something a  little bit more personal. Not deeply personal,  

of course. So they may start talking about  food habits. So what's your favorite type  

of food? What food do you like to eat  or the cuisine you prefer? So again,  

just asking you whether it's Indian, Italian,  Mexican, whatever, whatever it might be.

And this is all about asking culinary preferences.  So you want to lead with this. And you can  

just simply say, and what's your favourite  type of food? And of course, then this oh,  

I really love or I'm really into Italian food, in  fact myself, my wife have just been on a cookery  

course, so that gives you the opportunity  to say, Oh wow, that sounds interesting.

What was it like? And again, that allows them  to tell you how good or bad or what they're  

doing. And, you know, maybe they're telling  you, oh, we’re cooking or it appears that  

we're cooking Italian food every night.  Okay. So once you've asked that question  

then they might respond and say, well what's your  favourite dish? Or what's your favourite cuisine?

And you can give them a little bit of information.

Perhaps you're a,

cooking fanatic. Perhaps you like cooking.  He said, well, I'm really into cooking and.

I cook everything and anything, but my  favourite food is Asian food. So again,  

without giving away the crown jewels  or the state information or secrets,  

you're able to extend the conversation,  you're able to expand on the questions,  

and you're able to enjoy and join  in on the particular conversation.

Then, as most people, particularly  men, they'll start talking about  

sport. Have you any sports that you  play or have you had any particular,

sports that you're interested in. And  in most cases, particularly in Europe,  

most people will be into football.  They either play it, watch it, or

they go to the pub to watch it or they  have the that team they follow week in,  

week out. So once you open.

Once that conversation gets into sport,  there's no end the number of questions  

that you might be asked and that you can ask.  So you're asking them, well, Are you into any  

particular sport and football for example, or  football? I absolutely love it. So then they  

start talking about football. You say, oh great.  And what's your team? Which team do you support?

Well, I'm a United supporter or I'm a  City supporter or I, I follow AC Milan.  

Or my favourite team is PSG, you know. So they  give the name of the team and perhaps then you  

could ask the question on how long have you been  supporting that team. And then they'll tell you,  

oh, since I was a boy or since somebody took me to  the game a few years ago, I just got hooked on it.

And, you know, I can watch it on television  or I really enjoy going to the games because  

there's a great atmosphere. So this then  opens up the conversation more about,

Other sports, perhaps there’s... They may  be interested in tennis. They may say, well,  

I'm not really a sports fanatic. I'll watch  something if it's on the TV. And of course,  

the kids like to watch it, but I'm more into  cycling and walking or jogging or in fact, I'm  

planning to run the marathon next year. So again,  that opens up a whole new area of discussion.

So again, every question that you ask will  have a counter question that they will ask,  

and then the conversation will develop.

Okay, so that's all just about getting to know  somebody that you didn't know so well. And these  

questions will give you an  entree into understanding  

them. And it will kill a few minutes.

So a simple question about where you're from.

Question about what you do  for a living, your hobbies,  

your interests, your interests  in terms of movies or TV shows

your sports activities that you enjoy,  and perhaps what you like to eat,  

where you like to eat, and what type of  cuisine, perhaps that you like to cook.

So all really interesting topics. How to get to  

know someone that you don't know  so well or that you've just met.

Okay. So let's look at the second topic and

these are just casual questions that we might use.

in small talk okay. So again if  we're referring to the TV or on

particularly these new book series that  have been on the Netflix and other,

TV lines for many, many years, this is  a great way of starting conversations.

So the typical phrase might be, did you catch the  latest episode of this particular TV show? So did  

you catch the latest episode of The Crown? Did  you catch the latest episode of Suits? Did you  

catch the latest episode of Succession?  Whatever the in box set happens to be,

So did you catch the latest  episode of The Good Wife?

so the reply might be, Yes, I did. It was a  great episode. Did you see it? And if you did,  

what? What did you think? And so  something about it. Yeah. Yeah,  

it was great. It's really getting exciting.

So the conversation then gets into  the fact that this is coming to a  

climax and that you're expecting  something exciting to happen.

And then they might ask about holidays. So it  could be just simply the weekend. Saturday,  

Sunday it could be a holiday weekend  because there's an extra holiday on  

the Friday or the Monday, or indeed,  it might be that you are starting your

own annual holidays on Friday evening. So they  might simply say, Have you been on any holidays  

recently? So that's a very open question.  Have you been on any holidays recently?

so you're just asking, has somebody taken a  holiday? Have they travelled recently? And if  

they have, where did they go? Okay. So this again  opens up the opportunity for them to tell you.

Well, yeah, actually I'm just  back from a holiday and they'll  

tell you where it was. And then you can  say, oh, I've never been. What's it like.  

Would you recommend it? So again,  simple questions that you can ask.

So if we get down to just general things,  perhaps you've decided that you're going  

to buy a new laptop or you're changing your  mobile phone, so you're going to upgrade it.  

Okay. So this can generate interesting  conversations in the way of small talk.

So you might be interested to know  which particular model you will buy.

So if you ask somebody their opinion, say, well,  

I just changed my phone two months ago.  What I was really interested in was the new

camera,

I was really interested if they had changed the  battery life of the phone or if there was any

interesting developments in relation to how  

the apps appear on the the phone  and other apps that you can get.

So somebody might just explain to you if  they know a little bit more about it in  

technology than you do, they will start  telling you what things to look out for.

And the same when we talk about food.

Restaurants are everybody's delight. Every  city that you've ever visited. People will  

tell you which restaurant to go. Which street  is located, in which cuisine you should

go for. So if you're new in a city or you're  visiting a city for the first or second time,  

it's always a great way to to have  small talk by asking somebody.

Are there any restaurants that you'd  recommend? I'm going there on business,  

but I'm going to be staying over  the weekend, and my wife or husband  

are going to fly in and join me. So it'd be  great if I had a couple of restaurants that  

I know people have been to. And of course they  say, oh yeah, yeah, that's no problem at all.

I'm a real foodie, so I've got a couple  of their restaurants. Give me your email  

details and I'll send you the information.  So again, an easy way into the conversation

or you might just simply ask, have  you tried any good restaurants lately,  

or are there any new restaurants  that are open that have opened

lately or recently that you would recommend?

I always like to get a recommendation. I don't  like to be disappointed, particularly when it  

comes to food. So you're looking for somebody to  recommend a particular place that you can go to.

Now, when you're sitting down at a table,  you might be on your own having coffee,

Somebody might come up to you and say,  May I join you? Or if they reverse,  

you're looking for a place to sit down.  You're in a cafe and there's a table  

and there is only one person sitting  there. And an easy way just to ask is,  

May I join you and may I join you? Simply is  a polite way in which to approach somebody.

Perhaps it's in the office canteen.  Perhaps it's in the cafe around the  

corner. It's very busy. You're looking  for a place to sit? There seems to be  

nobody else but this one person at the  table. So it's an easy way to ask. May I  

join you in the person? Usually say,  yeah, help yourself. Be my guest. Yeah.

All you can say is this seat taken? No,  no. Fire away. Just sit down. In fact,  

I'm going to go in a few minutes. So this is  a way. Small talk, conversations can start

So in every small talk conversation that  I've ever had with people I don't really  

know or I've met for the first time,  invariably the question of weather comes  

up. Particularly when they find out which  country you're from. So if you come from  

a very hot country, a very cold  country, a very wet country,  

then the conversation will come around to weather  and to how the weather is where you come from.

Okay, so when we talk about  weather related small talk,  

let's look at a few of the  phrases that you can use.

Very simple. Isn't the weather lovely today, or  isn't the weather terrible today? So positively,  

isn't the weather lovely today? A positive  remark about the current weather conditions.

So you know. So if you're replying  to a positive. Isn't the weather  

lovely today? Then the reply can be, oh  yeah, it's such a beautiful day. In fact,  

I'm thinking of going for a walk  when the conference is over.

Or if the weather is bad, can  you believe the weather? It's  

terrible. Yeah, so I know it's so unpredictable.

But hopefully it's going to stay sunny for  the weekend or hopefully the rain would  

disappear by the weekend and hopefully  we'll have an opportunity to go out.

And if you don't know what the weather is like,  perhaps you're a visitor in town. You might ask  

the person, do you know what the forecast is  for the week? I'm here for the whole week,  

and I really would like the opportunity  to get out and have a couple of walks,  

or rent a bike and and cycle, because  I really like to get out on, on a bike.

Yeah. So have you heard the forecast this week?

and the response might be, No, I haven't.  It's supposed to rain late in the week from  

what I hear, but you never know.  It's the weather here can change  

from day to day. So again, easy way to get  in and out of that sort of conversation.

Oh, it's so miserable today.

Have you seen that rain outside? Oh, and it's  so cold. There's a bitter wind blowing so again,  

negative remarks to reflect on the  weather conditions that are there,  

even though you're in the comfort of the hotel  or the office, the weather inside doesn't really  

look so inviting. And the answer to that might  be, yeah, it's really a grey, damp, dull day.

Yeah.

it's not really,

day for going out for a walk. And  somebody might just simply. Yes,  

a day for the ducks. Yeah. So lots of  rain, lots of water a day for the ducks.

Or they might just give you a greeting  like, how's the weather been treating  

you lately? What's the weather like in your  home city? What's the weather like in your  

hometown? So this gives you the opportunity to  explain what the weather is like? Well. Yeah,  

it's not as good as it is here. You know,  when I left home, it was seven degrees and  

wet. Or,

you know, it's been raining for most of  the month. So I'm really glad to get here  

and enjoy some warmer weather. So again, an  opening, an opportunity for you to tell the  

person what you think about the weather and the  weather conditions and the type of weather that  

you really like. Yeah. And you might then  start. Well I don't really like it too hot.

Perhaps that's just because I've been born in a  colder climate. Sunny days are great, but, you

I can

avoid the sun. I try to do  that. Yeah. So it's again,  

it's just a way to explain what you like about the  weather, what you don't like about the weather,  

what you like about the cold weather,  what you like about the warm weather,  

what your preferences are. So all  nice weather related small talk.

Now. At the beginning we spoke about small talk  relating to somebody that you didn't really know  

that well. But if you know somebody quite  well, but you haven't seen them for a while,  

then there are different types of small talk  phrases and expressions that we can use. So this  

is about somebody you do know, but you haven't  met them or you haven't seen them for a while.

So very simply, you could ask, how have you  been? It's ages since I met you. Yeah, or  

it's ages since I've seen you. Or I've  haven't heard from you for ages. So just  

expressions you can use when you're meeting or  talking to somebody that you haven't seen for a  

while. So you're asking someone generally about  how they've been since the last time you met.

And that could be six months, six weeks,  18 months, whatever time it takes,  

the questions will be the same.  How have you been? Oh, I haven't  

seen you for ages. How are you getting  on? It's great to see you again. Okay,  

so all about asking after the person that  you've met for and haven't seen for a long time

And then you might follow that up by asking them,  

and what what have you been up  to lately? So why have I not  

seen you for such a long time? What have you  been up to lately? While I've been spending a  

lot of time at home or been spending a lot of  time travelling, I changed my job, actually.

Yeah. So it's it's really kept me busy. So again,  

the explanation as to why you  haven't seen that person for a while.

And then again once.... if you  haven't seen them for a while,  

the conversation might get around to things  like holidays. Did you manage to get away for  

a holiday last year? So you might ask them.  You know, if you haven't seen them for a long  

time. Did you manage to get away for a holiday  last year? And so this they might say, Yeah,  

we did actually, even though I changed my  job in between the jobs, I had a few weeks

So we took a holiday. So we went

to the continent, you know, just us to sort  of sit back and relax because I knew I was  

going to be really busy in the new job.  So again, they explain what they did,  

where they went. And then you can ask  questions about that. Oh yeah. Well,  

you know, it's really great to get away,  even if it's only for a week or ten days.

If you haven't seen them for a while,  

the talk might then get around to  families. Okay, so you might ask,

How is your family doing? Oh, how's the family?  How are the kids? How's the missus? You know,  

this is sort of a slang word for the  wife. Yeah. How's Mary? How's Michael?

I remember your sister was expecting a baby.  So all these sort of well known phrases that  

are more more intimate than, you know,  the person that you don't really know.

So you're asking about the sister who's  expecting the baby, how his wife is,  

how the kids are doing. Just general information  about to get up to date information on his family.

So as we spend over a third of our working life  and each of our days in our offices or wherever  

we we work conversations with colleagues  are really important. Over tea breaks. Lunch  

breaks. Friday evenings. Monday mornings. Okay,  so we've covered lots of issues around weekends,  

but there are also other types of  conversations that we we can have.

so somebody might be just asking  over the cup of tea or coffee

Did you hear about? So there  may be some news about.

The office. Some promotion. Somebody's  leaving. Something's happened, you know,  

so there's information that some people just  happen to get that others don't get. So,  

did you hear about some recent news event?

Yeah, I heard about it. It's it's pretty cool,  

isn't it? It's really great development.  So if it's good news, then, you know,  

everybody's talking about it or if  somebody left or somebody is ill.

Oh yeah. That's really, really sad. I mean,  it's they're going to be out of work for  

ages and ages. So we might be talking about  some of these health or somebody's well-being

Or simply, you

How's your day going so far? Just a very  simple update. Oh. Don't ask. I mean,  

the day has been absolutely terrible. I knew  it was going to be like this until I got up  

this morning, and I just had a feeling  it was going to be one of those days. So  

yeah. The question. How's your day going  so far or how's it going for you are how  

are things and this will all lead into somebody  complaining or telling you are great actually.

In fact, I think it's one of the  best days I've had in weeks. So they

just give you some information or it happens  to be a Friday. Usually the response you get,  

well thank God it's Friday. Yeah. So you  know, I can't wait for this week to be over.

So, how's your day so far? How's it going?

What's happened for you? You know, what are  you planning? So all the different really  

small expressions and phrases that you  can use to get those conversations going.

Now, you people, as I said earlier,  like sport. And if it's midweek on a  

Tuesday or Wednesday or Thursday, then the  question over the cup of coffee might be,  

did you catch the game last night? Did  you happen to see the game on TV last  

night? Were you watching the game last  night? So all different ways to ask somebody.

Did they see the football game? Yeah. Oh yeah,  I really did it. It was a cracker. I mean,  

I don't think I've seen a game  like that for months and months.

Yeah. In fact, my team were playing last night, so  I was riveted to the seat. I was really nervous.

So again, open up the conversation  about somebody’s favourite football  

team or catching up on the game. Or as I  said, did you catch the game last night?  

Did you happen to see the game last night?  We were watching the game last night

And some of you might say, no, no, I had to  go out for a business meeting, but I got it on

the recorder, so I'll watch it later  tonight. So don't tell me the score.

So now we're going to just look again at small  

talk in the business environment.  As I said at the very beginning,

Before a meeting, or at the end of a meeting,  before a conference at the end of the conference.  

Lots of small talk opportunities. So just  because we're in a business environment  

doesn't necessarily mean that all the  conversations will be about business,  

but they can be. But here are  some small talk opportunities.

So we've been listening to a presentation  made by one of your colleagues. You could  

simply say at the coffee break, if you don't mind  me saying so, I really enjoyed your presentation.

Don't mind me saying so, I really enjoyed  

your presentation. So it's a very  polite way to get the conversation

going or to give somebody or to pay somebody  a compliment. Oh, thank you very much.

I'm glad you found it interesting or I'm  glad you found it enjoyable. Yeah. Yeah,  

it really was really good to get so much

feedback. The questions were really  great and not everybody seemed to be  

interested. Okay, so conversation about a  presentation that you were listening to.

Somebody might ask you, are you working on any  interesting projects right now? Or you can ask  

somebody else. Are you working on any interesting  projects right now? And the answer might be, yeah,  

I'm collaborating with a marketing department  on a new product. It's taken up a lot of time,  

but I think it's going to be  really, really interesting.

And I'm going to learn a lot. Okay. So here again,  opportunity to tell somebody what you're doing,  

what the project is, perhaps how long it's going  to take. Yeah. And if it's something you haven't  

done for a while, something you were really  interested in getting into, and you're really  

grateful for the chance or the opportunity to  work in or alongside or with the marketing team.

Have you attended any workshops or

conferences recently? So again, a general  question that you can ask your colleagues.  

Have you attended any conferences or workshops  recently? Well, I recently attended a leadership

course.

this was really, really good. Some  really clever ideas, some really  

insightful information, and a lot of it from  personal experience of the the speakers.

They were excellent. They could tell why  they are good leaders. Okay, so yeah, I was

on a leadership course recently and then  

opportunity to explain what it  was, how you found it. What.

Information you got.

even though, you know, you didn't enjoy all of it,  

there was some really good  bits and pieces to take away.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

you might get

cornered at a business lunch or a business  party and, you know, maybe you're somebody  

new to the organisation or you don't  know so many people in other departments,  

too. So a nice question to ask them very open  question is what do you enjoy most about your job.

So the person that you're asking has the  opportunity to tell you. You know, I like  

working with the people here. I like working  on projects. I like dealing with customers.  

I like planning whatever it might be.  So there's a great way in which they  

can open up and you can nod your head  in agreement and make some sounds that.

Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, I understand.  Yeah. So it's a good way to entertain  

and get involved in that particular small talk.

And then a question about,

this particular business of somebody in marketing  or somebody in IT, whatever they happen to be,  

their expertise. You could ask them. And  how did you get started in this industry?  

What made you pick this company or  why did you decide on marketing as  

a career. Why did you decide on IT or  engineering whatever it might might be.

Okay, so how did you get started? What got you  interested? And then the question might be, well,  

my father was an accountant and my mother  was a teacher. My brother was an engineer,  

so it seemed to run in the family. Okay. So  they come back with that sort of response.

Or they might just say, well, you know,  actually, I got an intern position here

5 or 6 years ago in my second or third year  of university. And then when I finished,  

they actually offered me a full-time position.  So when I finished my course. Wow, it was  

great. I had a job to come into and I didn't  have to spend much time searching for a job.

And guess what? I've been here  ever since. Okay, so again,  

small talk about how they got into the company  and the whole issue about their internship.

How long have you been working in your current  role? That's a nice, easy question for you to  

ask somebody. How long have you been working  in your current role? When did you change?

Who are you report into?  You know, so these are nice,  

easy questions to ask. And somebody at  them would give you a nice response.

Oh, I've been working in this role now  for six months. Actually, before that I  

was in the finance unit or before that  I was actually in H.R. But I fancied a  

change. This opportunity came up, so I applied  for it and luckily I got it. Okay. So again,  

open questions and open questions enable the  person you're asking to expand to give you  

more information and give you more opportunity  to ask other questions that are related to that.

And the whole conversation will develop.

So if you just ask very closed questions like,  did you or are you, or have you, then you're just  

going to get a yes or a no answer. And it's  really, really important that you see. And  

from the examples I've given you to ask as many  open question as possible. The benefit here is  

that you don't have to participate so much in the  conversation of you're a little bit nervous, okay.

So it gives the other person the opportunity to  give you information. Then they will ask you a  

very similar open question and that if you wish,  gives you the opportunity to tell them a little  

bit more about you. So it's all about placing  the questions in the right place in the right  

order. So it helps you to move along in this  whole chain of events that we call small talk.

Now, if we're talking about conversations, there's  always the chat time when, as I said, when we open  

a conversation about asking somebody who they are  and what they do and where did they work and where  

have they come from? All those. So those are the  opening small talk questions. But if it's coming  

to the end of the coffee break or the end of  the lunch break, or the dinner is about to end.

So you want some,

questions and small talk issues that  will help you to close conversations.

So very simple. Well, it's time  to go. It's been a real pleasure.

getting to know you. It's been a real  pleasure meeting you. And likewise. Yeah,  

I really enjoyed it. Yeah. Perhaps we'll catch up  again at one of these events in the future. Okay,  

so a nice opening. A nice way to  end it. And perhaps a new colleague,  

a new business friend, whatever it might be.

Okay.

It was... So for example, the person that

you haven't seen for eighteen months,  six months, whatever it was. Wow. But  

it was nice seeing you again. Let's make  sure it's not so long the next time,  

okay? So nice way for you to save the  person. Yeah. It was great to see you  

again. And don't make it so long the  next time. Let's catch up again soon.

Okay, so it was nice seeing you. Let's  catch up again soon. Give my regards to  

your partner. Give him my regards to  Mike. So, whoever it might be to let  

them know that you really did enjoy the time  that you had together, and the response you  

might get from them is something else.  Yes. Great catching up with you too.

Let's make sure we arrange to have a  coffee or a bite to eat. So the next  

time you're in town, or the next  time you're coming by this way,  

just send me an email in advance and  I'll make sure to to catch up. Okay.

Well, I better get going now. It was really  nice talking to you. So if you have to dive  

out of the coffee break or you have to  leave the conference to catch a train,  

you say, well, I better get going now.  But it was really nice meeting you. So  

put the emphasis on that. It  was really nice meeting you.

So the other person understands that you weren't  wasting your time and that you weren't bored,  

but you did enjoy the conversation. You did  enjoy catching up with the person. So yeah,  

I better get going of it. Train  to catch. But it was really nice

talking to you. It was really nice meeting you.

Let's keep in touch. So the  other person might say, yeah,  

same here. Same goes for me. Let's keep in touch.

At the end of the coffee break or the end of  the lunch, then some. You might say to them,  

well, I'll let you get back to your day. I'm sure  

you've got lots of things to do. I know  I have, but it was nice seeing you. So

I'll let you get back to your  day and I'll get on with my work.

Yeah. Yeah, that sounds good.

it was great seeing you too.

Okay. And something really casual might be  just something like, well, I'll see you around

Take care. Yeah. Or

next time or until next time. Yeah. Cheers  and good luck. Yeah. So there's all just  

different ways in which you can close  the conversation. And a polite way,  

in a friendly way and a way that leaves  the door open. That the person you've met

gets to know you a little bit, you get  to know them and the opportunity will be

there in the future. And of course, what  will happen is that you've broken the  

ice because we always talk about breaking  the ice during small talk. You've broken  

the ice. So perhaps the next time  you meet them it'll be just a nice

Waves are. How are you? Good to see  you. You know what you've been doing  

since the last time we met? here we are  again. This. These conferences come round  

so quickly. So you get in and you fall  into the conversation. Nice and easy.

Okay, so that's the end of this particular lesson  all about advancing your small talk opportunities.  

Very simple phrases as you can hear, very simple  open questions. The emphasis being on open  

questions that you can ask that will get the ball  rolling and somebody will take up the running.  

And then we'll ask you similar questions.  So that you can join in the conversation.

So if you need any more help or assistance or

if you've had problems with small talk in the  past, you're still nervous about it. Well,  

come back to me on www.englishlessonviaskype.com  

and I’ll try to help you with  some other examples where I can.

So remember to come and join me for the  

next lesson. So how are you saying  goodbye? And thanks for watching.