Language bank

SMALL TALK (Units 21, 17)

Basic Survival. International Communication for Professional People/ Peter Viney. – Macmillan, 2004

Unit 21 SMALL TALK

pp. 27, 89 (Culture File). + CD 1 (Tracks 1.62 – 1.65)

Track 1.62 Conversation A Alicia and Simon are making small talk (social conversation), before they discuss work. Simon: There we go. Two teas. Alicia: Which one’s mine? Simon: That one. The one without a spoon. There’s sugar in mine, but there’s no sugar in yours. Alicia: Thanks. Simon: Be careful, it’s hot!	Track 1.64 Conversation C Simon: Where are you staying? Alicia: At the Columbia Towers. Do you know it? Simon: Yes, it’s on Granville Street. What’s it like? Alicia: It’s excellent. Simon: Good.
Track 1.63 Conversation B Simon: Is this your first visit to Vancouver? Alicia: Yes, it is. Simon: What do you think of it? Alicia: It’s beautiful. Really beautiful. Simon:I agree, but then it’s my home town!	Track 1.65 Conversation D Simon: How do you like the weather here? Alicia: It’s fine. Not too hot. San Diego’s pretty hot at this time of year. Anyhow, is it going to rain? I want dry weather for my pictures. Simon: We get a lot of rain in the fall and winter. December and January are the wettest months. But the weather forecast is OK for this week. Alicia:Great.

1. Look at Conversation A. Answer the questions:

W hich cup is his? / I s it the one with a spoon or the one without? / D oes she take sugar?

2. Look at Conversation B. Which of these are good topics for small talk?

• the city you’re in

• business problems
• your journey
• the weather
• politics
• food and drink

3. These are replies to “What’s it like?” Put (v) for positive replies, and (x) for negative replies.

• Excellent
• Not very good
• Not too bad
• A long way from the center
• Very noisy
• Busy
• Full
• Near the airport
• Right by the mall
• Fine

4. Look at Conversation C, and make conversations about accommodation using:

• Stay & Save Motel
• Next to the airport
• Grand Royal Hotel
• Near the park

5. Look at Conversation D, and talk about your town or city. Use these questions:

• Does it rain in spring/summer/fall/winter?
• Which is the hottest/coldest/wettest/driest month?

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Culture File – Topics of Conversation

People use neutral topics in small talk. Don’t ask personal questions (Are you married?/ Do you have any children? at the beginning. Don’t ask questions about things people may have strong opinions about. Politics is not a good topic for starting a conversation, but the weather is. Your journey is also an excellent topic, as is a polite question about hotels. Your home town is a neutral topic too.

Unit 17 VISITORS

pp. 23, 88 (Culture File). + CD 1 (Track 1.52)

Track 1.52 Conversation B

Simon: Can I get you something to drink?

Alicia: Uh, yes. Thanks.

Simon: Would you like coffee, tea or a cold drink?

Alicia: I’d like tea, please.

Simon: With milk or lemon?

Alicia: Lemon, please.

Simon: Sugar?

Alicia: No, thanks.

Simon: OK. Just a minute. Excuse me. I’m going to make the tea. Here’s last year’s brochure. You can take a look while you are waiting.

Look at Conversation B. We often offer visitors a drink. Use the table below, and role play Conversation B with different words.

2.(3) Match the containers to the contents. Which containers match with more than one word?

container	contents
packet	pack	tea	milk
pot	spoonful	herb tea	cream
cup	jar	coffee	sugar
jug	can	hot chocolate	sweet’n’low

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Culture File

Welcoming

When a visitor arrives in your office, what do you do? In English-speaking countries, the receptionist greets visitors politely and offers them a seat. They tell them how long they are going to wait (Mrs. Smith is in a meeting. She’ll be with you soon/in ten minutes. If the wait is long, they may offer you a drink. Many offices have magazines and the day’s newspaper for visitors.

Hot drinks

Half’n’half is half milk and half cream. It’s available in most American cafes and restaurants.

Sweet’n’low is artificial sweetener, not sugar. There are other kinds of sweetener, but you will find pink packs of Sweet’n’low in most American cafes.

Note: ’n’ – the abbreviation for and. Compare rock’n’roll.

Complete the following language bank:

LANGUAGE BANK

Creating a Friendly Atmosphere	Possible Answer
How was your trip/flight?/Did you have a good trip/flight?	It was OK, but the plane was a bit late.
Was the/your plane on time?	Yes, it was right on time.
Did you have any problems getting here? How was the traffic from the airport/station?	It (the traffic) was quite heavy.
Where are you staying?	At the Belarus.
How about your hotel?	Great. It’s really comfortable.
How is the weather in Brest?/ How do you like the weather here?	It’s fine. Not too hot.
Nice weather today, isn’t it?	Yes, lovely. I hope it stays like this for the weekend. The weather forecast is OK for the week.
Terrible weather, isn’t it?	Yes, awful. However, I think it will change for the better.
Is this your first visit/trip to Brest?/Have you ever been to Brest? What do you think of it (so far)? I hope you’ll enjoy your visit.	Yes, it is. I’ve here twice./No, it’s my first to Brest, in fact. It’s (really) wonderful/beautiful (and quite different from London.
How long are you here for?	For about a week.
Take a seat/chair.	Thank you,
Please sit down./Would you like to sit there?
OFFERING A DRINK
Offering a Drink	Response
Would you like a drink? Can I get you a drink/something to drink? How about a coffee? Fine. It won’t take long./It’ll only take a moment.	Good idea. Yes. Thanks. That’s fine by me. Thank you. I’d love to. Yes, I’d like a cup of coffee. Please. A mineral water.
Would you like coffee, tea or a cold drink? With milk or lemon?	I’d like tea, please. Lemon, please.
White or black?	Black, please.
Sugar?	No, thanks. (I’m on a diet.)

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