Star.pron .Bonus .Small .Talk .and .Being-Polite

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Bonus Lesson

PAGE 1© G.TAYLOR STAR PRONUNCIATION

Small Talk and Being Polite Date: / /

Lesson Outcome: To become more familiar with ‘small talk’ and being polite in an English speaking country.

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Small TalkThe ability to conduct small talk is a social skill. In an English speaking country using small talk is very important for developing good relationships with clients and colleagues.

Small talk isn’t a replacement for deeper relationships—it’s the first step toward building them. We start by talking about what is right there in front of us; the weather, your colleague’s new car, your neighbor’s garden, the picture in the manager’s office.

Small talk indicates:★ awareness★ friendliness★ a desire to interact

Not responding or giving one word answers makes people feel like you do not want to be involved in conversation.

Listen to the way that the people around you use small talk. It may seem unimportant but remember it is an essential step to buildings relationships with the people around you. Practise small talk. Choose a few of the sentences below and use them. Once asked, most English speakers will engage easily in conversation.

As a general rule, when you are asked a small talk question you should:1] give some information (not serious - just something light)2] ask a question in return (eg. and how about you?)

A quick note on intonation (tone). Many of the sentences in this bonus lesson are questions.

Usually the tone of the voice goes up at the end of a yes / no question. ... eg. Are you working tomorrow?

Usually the tone of the voice goes down at the end of a ‘wh’ question. (‘wh’ questions are questions with ‘where’ ‘why’ ‘when’ ‘what’ ‘how’).

eg. Where are you working tomorrow?

You will hear many variations of this because intonation varies widely from country to country and speaker to speaker. English speakers often use a small rise of tone at the end of their sentence to sound polite or friendly. They key to learning intonation is to listen carefully to how the people around you use the tone of their voice. It might be difficult to hear at first but after a while you will be able to hear and copy it.

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Bonus Lesson


Small Talk and Being Polite

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Good small talk topics:The weather, weekend, restaurants, food, holidays, travel, where we live, shopping, mov-ies, books, sport, concerts, family. Events like moving house, buying a house, having a baby, getting married etc.

Saying hello• Hi / Hello• Good morning/afternoon/evening• Hey (casual)• G’day (Australian casual- short for ‘good day’) • Hiya (British casual)

Asking “how are you?” • How are you?• How’s it going? (casual)• Howya going? (very casual)

Responses• Good thanks ‘n you?• Good thanks, yourself?• Fine thanks. How about you?• Not bad, ‘n you?• Not too bad thanks, yourself?• I’m really well and you? .... How are you going?

Small talk starters - more information.• So what’s happening? (casual)• What’s been happening (with you)? (casual) • So, what’s been going on? (casual)• What’s news (with you)? (casual)• So, how’re things (with you)? (casual)

Responses• Oh nothing special really. I’ve just been (insert details). How about you?• Just the usual really and how about you? • Me... just working really. Work’s been really busy. Everything’s going well.




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Work related small talk starters• How’s work going?• How was your day?• Are you busy these days?• So how’s business?• Have you worked here long?• Everyone’s flat out today! (flat out means very busy)• So, what do you think of the new (computers / office / system)?• So, how’s your week been?• So, has it been a long week?• I’m going to the movies tonight, I’m not sure what to see. Has anyone (have you)

seen anything good lately? • I’ve just finished my book. Has anyone (have you) read any good books lately?• I need to buy a present for (my mum, sister, brother), any ideas?

Small Talk starters when you haven’t seen someone for a while• I haven’t seen you for a while.• I haven’t seen you for ages. • How’ve you been? • What have you been up to?

Small Talk starters on Fridays• Are you looking forward to the weekend?• Do you have any plans for the weekend?• So, any plans for the weekend?• Are you glad it’s Friday?

Small Talk starters on Mondays

• How was your weekend?• What did you get up to on the weekend? • Did you have a good weekend?




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Introducing yourself• Hi, my name’s Kate.• Hi, I’m Kate. I’m a friend/colleague of John’s. • Hi, I don’t think we’ve met, I’m Kate.• Hello, I’d like to introduce myself. I’m Kate, I work with John.

Small Talk starters at a social event• So, how do you know (John / Kate)?• Great food isn’t it!• So, do you live near here?• So, are you originally from (insert city)?• So, what do you do with yourself? (this means what work do you do)• So, are you working or studying here?

Introducing someone else• Kate, meet John. John and I work together. • Kate, this is John Walters from SKT Consulting. • Kate, I’d like you to meet John.

• Response: Nice to meet you John. • Hello, nice to meet you.

• Kate, have you met John?• Response: No, I don't think we’ve met. Hi John.

• Yes, we've met before. How are you John? • Hi John, I think we’ve met before.

Small Talk starters before a holiday.

• Are you going away for Easter / Christmas / your holiday / the long weekend? • So, do you have any plans for Easter / Christmas / your holiday / the long weekend?




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Small Talk starters for when someone has returned from holiday.• So where did you go for your holiday? • What did you do there? • So what did you do on your holiday?• Did you have a relaxing break? • Would you go back again? • Would you recommend it? • Would it be good for families? • How was the food? • Did you find any good restaurants? • Did you have a good Easter / Christmas / holiday/ long weekend?• What did you do for Easter / Christmas / your holiday /long weekend?• How was your Easter / Christmas / your holiday /long weekend?

At the end of a conversation.• Nice to talk to you

• Response in Australia + UK: “Yes, you too”.• Nice to meet you.

• Response in Australia + UK: “Yeah, you too”.• Anyway, it was good to see you again • Anyway, I’m sure I’ll see you around.• Anyway, I’d better get going, I’ll see you later. • Anyway, I’d better run. I’m running late for a meeting. See you later.• OK, I’ll call you next week to follow up (‘follow up’ for work related topics). • OK, I’ll email you in the next few days. • Great. I’ll give you a call soon. It would be great to catch up properly.

Saying goodbye• Bye / Goodbye• See you later• See you soon• Take Care• Catch you later (casual)• Take it easy (casual)• Bye for now (casual)




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Being PoliteNon-native speakers can mistakenly be thought of as impolite, abrupt and rude because of the way they use English. It is often because they don’t use ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ as much as native speakers, don’t use ‘small talk’ and use direct questions. This is not their fault, nor is it the fault of their listeners as it’s often the result of language and cultural differences.

It is something to be aware of. Working to improve the way you use ‘please’, ‘thank you’ and ‘small talk’ will impact your employability and your relationships with others. Take notice of how often the native speakers around you use ‘please’, ‘thank you’, ‘pleasure’ and ‘ta’. Pay attention to the way they use indirect questions when they are talking face-to-face and in emails. Using polite language is just as, if not more important when writing emails as it is in everyday conversation.

Thank you• Thanks / thank you / thanks a lot / thank you very much• Thanks, that’s much appreciated• Thanks, I really appreciate that• Thanks, I appreciate it• Thanks for your time• Ta (casual)• Cheers (casual)

Responding to Thank you• ‘My pleasure’ ‘it’s a pleasure’ or ‘pleasure’• No problem • Not at all (a shortened version of ‘No problem at all’)• No worries

PleaseUsing the term ‘please’ can be very important when asking someone to do something for you. Whether the question is direct or indirect, using ‘please’ will always sound more po-lite. It is not essential to include ‘please’ in every single question, however using it indi-cates good manners. eg. Could you please tell me the time? Could you tell me the time please?




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Excuse meIf you approach a stranger to ask them something, for example asking for directions, a polite way of starting your sentence is with “Excuse me”.Sometimes we say ‘I’m sorry..’ or ‘Sorry…….’eg ‘Excuse me, could you please tell me where the post office is?’ ‘I’m sorry, could you please tell me where the post office is?’ ‘Sorry, could you please tell me where the post office is?

Indirect QuestionsThere are two main ways of asking questions – directly and indirectly.

Both types of questioning have the same meaning but we use indirect questions when we want to be more polite, more formal or less confrontational.

We can ask a direct question eg. “Where is post office?”

Or to be more formal or polite, we can ask an indirect question eg. “Excuse me, could you tell me where post office is?”

Some common phrases used for asking indirect questions.

I was wondering ….

Could you please tell me … ?

Could you let me know…?

Do you know … ?

Can you please tell me … ?

Do you happen to know ...?

I'd like to know ...

Would it be possible …..?

Would you mind…?




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Word orderWhen we make an indirect question, the question (What ...... ?) becomes part of a longer sentence or question (Do you know…?).

For example: Direct question: What time does it start?Indirect: Do you know what time it starts?

Direct: Why can’t he go to the meeting?Indirect: Do you happen to know why he can’t go to the meeting?

Direct: What street is this?Indirect: Would you mind telling me what street this is?

Using 'if' or 'whether':If there is no question word (a question word is: who, what, when, why, how) in a direct question, we need to use ‘if’ or ‘whether’ in the indirect question.

For example:Direct: “Did they finish it in time?”Indirect: “Can you tell me if they finished it on time?” or “Can you tell me whether she made it on time?”

Direct: “Is this the right form?”Indirect: “Do you have any idea if this is the right form?”

Direct: “Is she Italian?”Indirect: “Do you know if she is Italian?”or “Do you know whether she is Italian or not?”




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Other things to keep in mind for being polite in an English speaking country:

• Close your mouth when you eat • Don’t talk with food in your mouth• Eat quietly• Cover your mouth when you yawn, cough or sneeze. • Don’t sniff repeatedly. Blow your nose with a tissue if you need to. In many cultures it

is rude to blow your nose but in the UK, Australia or America it is not. You will send your colleagues crazy if you sniff at your desk all day long.

• It is not good manners to speak loudly on a mobile phone in public places. • If you are in a meeting or appointment you should remember to turn your phone off

or to silent.

Hear Australian speakers and find out about Australian Culture here:http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/australia/now/default.htmhttp://australianetwork.com/myaustralia/s1_episodes.htmhttp://australianetwork.com/myaustralia/s2_episodes.htm

Hear British speakers and find out about UK Culture here:http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/uk-culturehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/webcast/tae_whoonearth_archive.shtml



http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/australia/now/default.htm

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/australia/now/default.htm

http://australianetwork.com/myaustralia/s1_episodes.htm




http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/uk-culture

http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/uk-culture

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/webcast/tae_whoonearth_archive.shtml




Star.pron .Bonus .Small .Talk .and .Being-Polite

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