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2005年12月25日
カテゴリ：英語学習
SUN,DEC 25 fair,cold
Instructor:Jeffery Students:Kazumi G26 It's pleasure to meet you. Making small talk with someone you've just met. What do you talk about with people you just met? 今日は、スモールトークについての話題でした。 How was the flight? Really? Wow,what's the most interesting place you've been to? Oh,my friend went to Bali last month. He said it was fantastic. Have you been there? I don't get much of a chance to trevel internationally for business. But last year,I went on vacation... Small talk is pleasant conversation about common interests. How to Improve Small Talk Skills Now that we understand the problem, the next step is to improve the situation. Here are some tips to improve small talk skills. Of course, making effective small talk means lots of practice, but keeping these tips in mind should improve overall conversational skills. Do some research Spend time on the Internet, reading magazines, or watching TV specials about the type of people you are going to meet. For example: If you are taking a class with students from other countries, take time after the first few days of class to do some research. They will appreciate your interest and your conversations will be much more interesting. Stay away from religion/strong political beliefs While you may believe in something very strongly, beginning conversations and making small talk about your own personal convictions may abruptly end the conversation. Keep it light, don't try to convince the other person that you have the 'correct' information about a higher being, political system or other belief system. Use the Internet to gain specific vocabulary This is related to doing research about other people. If you have a business meeting, or are meeting people who share a common interest (a basketball team, a tour group interested in art, etc.), take advantage of the Internet to learn specific vocabulary. Almost all businesses and interest groups have glossaries on the Internet explaining the most important jargon related to their business or activity. Ask yourself about your culture Take time to make a list of common interests that are discussed when making small talk in your own culture. You can do this in your own language, but check to make sure that you have the English vocabulary to make small talk about those subjects. Find common interests Once you have a subject that interests both of you, keep to it! You can do this in a number of ways: talking about travel, talking about the school or friend you have in common, talking about the differences between your culture and the new culture (just be careful to make comparisons and not judgments, i.e., The food in our country is better than the food here in England"). Listen This is very important. Don't get so worried about being able to communicate that you don't listen. Listening carefully will help you understand and encourage those speaking to you. You might be nervous, but letting others state their opinions will improve the quality of the discussion - and give you time to think of an answer! The next page provides a list of appropriate and inappropriate subjects for small talk. If you are a teacher, here is a lesson plan focusing on building small talk skills. Small Talk - Appropriate? Which topics are appropriate for small talk discussions? For those topics which are appropriate, think of one interesting comment to make when the teacher calls on you. For those topics which are not appropriate, be able to explain why you believe they are not appropriate for small talk. The latest films The One True Path to Eternal Life The local basketball team Cars A product you would like to sell to everyone The Death Penalty Your home town How much you make Your last holiday Your favorite movie-star The correct political party The weather Gardening Your health problems Your family Small Talk - Socially Mixing Play this game quickly in small groups. Throw one die to move forward from one subject to the next. When you get to the end, return to the beginning to start again. You have thirty seconds to begin making a comment about the suggested subject. If you can not, you lose your turn! Your best friend The last film you saw Pets Rock and roll A magazine Learning a language Playing tennis Your current job An interesting excursion nearby The Internet Marilyn Monroe Keeping healthy Human cloning Your favorite food Finding a job in your country The last book you read Your worst holiday Something you've never done, but would like to do Teachers - what you like Teachers - what you don't like http://esl.about.com/od/conversationlessonplans/a/lp_view.htm お気に入りの記事を「いいね！」で応援しよう
最終更新日
2005年12月26日 01時12分10秒
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