Introducing Yourself to New People and Making Small Talk
There are lots of possible situations where you’ll meet new people: at a party, in the student lounge, at a conference, on the train, while traveling, just to name a few. What do you usually say when...
View ArticleMaking Small Talk and Catching Up with a Friend or Acquaintance
Have you ever run into a friend or acquaintance whom you hadn’t seen in weeks, months, or even years? What do you say to them? What do you begin to talk about? Let’s talk about useful phrases for...
View ArticlePrinciples of Making Small Talk in English & Guidelines for Casual Conversations
If you’re interested in having better conversations in English, you’re probably already familiar with the concept of small talk. Because making small talk is so essential in English-speaking cultures,...
View ArticleMoving Beyond “Where are you from?” to Create a Conversation
Even though I know this question is boring, I’m guilty of asking it over and over again: “Where are you from?” If you have even the slightest accent or even a behavior that suggests that you’re not a...
View ArticleStart a Conversation by Asking “What’s keeping you busy these days?”
Have you ever run into a coworker in the breakroom and felt a little awkward or uncomfortable? Maybe you felt like you should try to engage them in a brief conversation, but you didn’t know what to...
View ArticleThree Elements for Creating Strong Answers to Conversation Questions in English
So often when we talk about having better conversations in English, we focus on the questions. But here’s the thing: asking better questions assumes that: you’re going to be the person in charge of...
View ArticleTurn the Question Around By Asking What About You? | Repeat Questions Back...
You may have noticed I’m a big fan of asking better questions in English! After all, the main reason most people want to improve how they sound when speaking English is to connect in...
View ArticleThoughtful Questions to Ask When Checking In With Friends and Coworkers...
When your friend, coworker, or acquaintance is going through a difficult time, you probably want to check in to see how they’re doing. But you may worry that your questions will bring up an...
View ArticleMaking Small Talk in the Workplace with Colleagues and Coworkers
You probably know by now that making small talk is an essential communication skill. These brief, casual conversations are a great way to get to know new people, but they can be even more important in...
View ArticleSmall Talk Topics and Questions ? Keep the Conversation Going in English
Imagine this: you’re having a casual conversation at a social gathering or networking event. You’ve introduced yourself and covered the basics. You want to keep chatting with this person, but you feel...
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