3 Tips for Making Small Talk
5 min read
Level: Intermediate
Finding it hard to start a conversation in English? You just need to learn how to make small talk!
Small talk is a great way of breaking the ice when you meet someone for the first time or want to start a conversation. And people in the UK are the kings and queens of small talk! It's a big part of the culture. British people hate awkward silences, so making small talk is a great way of filling those unwanted gaps in conversation. It's also an effective way of getting to know other people and being friendly. But if it isn't your native language, making small talk in English may not come naturally. So, here are three great tips to get you started...
Ask open-ended questions
Let's face it — most people enjoy talking about themselves. We are the subject we know the most about! So, make small talk by encouraging the person to talk about themselves. Don't ask anything overly personal, of course, especially if it's someone you don't know really well. But questions about their interests or life, such as 'How long have you lived/worked here?' or 'Have you watched anything interesting on Netflix recently? I've run out of things to binge on!' are great questions to get someone talking.
Instead of asking 'Have you had a good day so far?', you could say something like 'How's your day been so far?'.
A good way of making sure your conversational partner doesn't just answer in monosyllables, and avoiding the conversation drying up too quickly, is by asking questions that are open-ended. This means questions that can't be answered by simply saying 'yes' or 'no'. So, for instance, instead of asking 'Have you had a good day so far?', you could say something like 'How's your day been so far?'.
Like this? Check out our podcasts
You might also like:
3 Useful Business English Phrases
3 Mistakes You Mustn't Make When Speaking English in Formal Settings
Show interest
This one might sound obvious, but in order to make small talk successfully you need to show that you're interested in what the other person is saying. There are a few ways of doing this. One is by using 'echo questions'. For example, if the other person says 'I'm going to Japan next week', you could say 'Are you?'. This would prompt the other person to give more information. The trick with making echo questions is to repeat the auxiliary verb the person used in their statement, and if there is no auxiliary verb, use the verb 'do' in the correct tense. For example:
A: I watched that Netflix documentary last night. (past tense)
B: Did you? (past tense of 'do')
A: She speaks three languages. (present tense)
B: Does she? (present tense of 'do')
A: He's a great dancer! ('be' in present tense)
B: Is he? ('be' in present tense)
Stick to topics that absolutely anyone will be able to talk about.
Another great way of showing interest is by reacting to what someone has said with words like 'Really?', 'Yeah?' and 'That's interesting!', and then asking a follow-up question. For example:
A: I'm learning how to play the guitar.
B: Really? How's it going?
A: Yeah, not bad thanks! It was quite tricky to start with, but I'm starting to get the hang of it.
You might also like:
3 Common British Phrases About Drinking
7 Must-know British Slang Words
Keep it simple
Another important factor when making small talk is to stick to topics that absolutely anyone would be able to talk about with ease. This means avoiding sensitive or controversial topics, like politics, religion, and sex. So, a question like 'What's your opinion on the government's latest policies on immigration?' would probably be met with an awkward silence if the other person is a new acquaintance.
This works especially well if you want to spark up a conversation with someone you're not very familiar with.
Instead, make small talk about neutral topics that won't cause any arguments. Some great ones are the weather, food, music, film, travel and sport. Things like 'Oh, have you tried that new cafe near the office? I'm dying to try their frappuccinos!' or 'Are you doing anything nice on your week off?' should get a conversation started quite easily.
Another good tip is to comment on the place you're in and on your surroundings. This works especially well if you want to spark up a conversation with someone you're not very familiar with, like at a work or social gathering. You could comment on the food or the music, or the venue you're in. Are you in an interesting building or beautiful home? Comment on that and you'll soon get a conversation going.
Like this? Check out our audiobooks
Making small talk in a foreign language might seem a bit difficult at first, especially if you're a naturally shy person. But avoiding it is definitely not the answer. If you don't say anything to break the ice when you meet someone, it may make the atmosphere even more uncomfortable! So, follow this advice and you're sure to make a good impression the next time you're in a social setting. And if you're interested in getting more great tips, check out our video 'How to Continue a Conversation in English! on our YouTube channel or scroll down to watch it here. You could also sign up for lessons with Britcent to practise your English with a native speaker!
Vocabulary takeaway
Watch this video on the Britcent YouTube channel, where you'll find videos, podcasts, audiobooks and more...
Please note: These blog posts are written in informal, conversational English.