Understanding Small Talk in the Workplace

Small talk in the workplace involves engaging in polite conversations about unimportant or non-personal topics. Common small talk topics include the weather, sports, work, news, family, and hobbies. It plays a crucial role in building rapport and fostering a positive environment among colleagues.

• Small Talk
• Workplace Communication
• Social Interaction
• Polite Conversations
• Office Environment

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1. SMALL TALK Communicative Workplace English Parts adapted with permission from You re Hired Now What?

2. WHAT IS SMALL TALK?

3. WHAT IS SMALL TALK? Small talk is polite conversation about unimportant or not overly personal topics

4. WHAT IS SMALL TALK? Small talk is polite conversation about unimportant or not overly personal topics Common small talks topics:

5. WHAT IS SMALL TALK? Small talk is polite conversation about unimportant or not overly personal topics Common small talks topics: The weather

6. WHAT IS SMALL TALK? Small talk is polite conversation about unimportant or not overly personal topics Common small talks topics: The weather Sports and entertainment

7. WHAT IS SMALL TALK? Small talk is polite conversation about unimportant or not overly personal topics Common small talks topics: The weather Sports and entertainment Work

8. WHAT IS SMALL TALK? Small talk is polite conversation about unimportant or not overly personal topics Common small talks topics: The weather Sports and entertainment Work The news

9. WHAT IS SMALL TALK? Small talk is polite conversation about unimportant or not overly personal topics Common small talks topics: The weather Sports and entertainment Work The news Family

10. WHAT IS SMALL TALK? Small talk is polite conversation about unimportant or not overly personal topics Common small talks topics: The weather Sports and entertainment Work The news Family Hobbies

11. WHAT IS SMALL TALK? Small talk is polite conversation about unimportant or not overly personal topics Common small talks topics: The weather Sports and entertainment Work The news Family Hobbies Travel

12. WHAT IS SMALL TALK? Small talk is polite conversation about unimportant or not overly personal topics Common small talks topics: The weather Sports and entertainment Work The news Family Hobbies Travel Hometown

13. WHAT IS SMALL TALK? Small talk is polite conversation about unimportant or not overly personal topics Common small talks topics: Small talk topics to avoid:

14. WHAT IS SMALL TALK? Small talk is polite conversation about unimportant or not overly personal topics Common small talks topics: Small talk topics to avoid: Religion

15. WHAT IS SMALL TALK? Small talk is polite conversation about unimportant or not overly personal topics Common small talks topics: Small talk topics to avoid: Religion Political views

16. WHAT IS SMALL TALK? Small talk is polite conversation about unimportant or not overly personal topics Common small talks topics: Small talk topics to avoid: Religion Political views Personal finances

17. WHAT IS SMALL TALK? Small talk is polite conversation about unimportant or not overly personal topics Common small talks topics: Small talk topics to avoid: Religion Political views Personal finances How much someone paid for something

18. WHAT IS SMALL TALK? Small talk is polite conversation about unimportant or not overly personal topics Common small talks topics: Small talk topics to avoid: Religion Political views Personal finances How much someone paid for something Sexual preferences

19. WHAT IS SMALL TALK? Small talk is polite conversation about unimportant or not overly personal topics Common small talks topics: Small talk topics to avoid: Religion Political views Personal finances How much someone paid for something Sexual preferences A person s size or weight

20. WHAT IS SMALL TALK? Small talk is polite conversation about unimportant or not overly personal topics Common small talks topics: Small talk topics to avoid: Religion Political views Personal finances How much someone paid for something Sexual preferences A person s size or weight A person s age

21. WHAT IS SMALL TALK? Small talk is polite conversation about unimportant or not overly personal topics Common small talks topics: Small talk topics to avoid: Jokes about women, races, ages, religions

22. WHAT IS SMALL TALK? Small talk is polite conversation about unimportant or not overly personal topics Common small talks topics: Small talk topics to avoid: Jokes about women, races, ages, religions Personal problems

23. WHAT IS SMALL TALK? Small talk is polite conversation about unimportant or not overly personal topics Common small talks topics: Small talk topics to avoid: Jokes about women, races, ages, religions Personal problems Health problems

24. WHAT IS SMALL TALK? Small talk is polite conversation about unimportant or not overly personal topics Common small talks topics: Small talk topics to avoid: Jokes about women, races, ages, religions Personal problems Health problems Why someone is single, doesn t have children, or when they plan to get married

25. WHAT IS SMALL TALK? Small talk is polite conversation about unimportant or not overly personal topics Common small talks topics: Small talk topics to avoid: Jokes about women, races, ages, religions Personal problems Health problems Why someone is single, doesn t have children, or when they plan to get married What s wrong? Why someone looks tired, stressed

26. PRACTICE Small talk often begins with a question: TAG QUESTIONS Beautiful day, isn t it? The weather is awful out there, isn t it? Yes, it is. Busy day at work, isn t it? Interesting meeting, wasn t it? The office party was great, ________? Mary s presentation went well, _______? _________ This new office space is small, _______? _________ You re from China, _________? Great game last night, _________? Yes, it is. _________ _________ _________ _________ _________

27. TAG QUESTIONS

28. TAG QUESTIONS Begin with a statement, followed by a question:

29. TAG QUESTIONS Begin with a statement, followed by a question: It is a beautiful day, isn t it?

30. TAG QUESTIONS Begin with a statement, followed by a question: It is a beautiful day, isn t it? The party was fun, wasn t it?

31. TAG QUESTIONS Begin with a statement, followed by a question: It is a beautiful day, isn t it? The party was fun, wasn t it? The verb tense in the statement matches the question

32. TAG QUESTIONS Begin with a statement, followed by a question: It is a beautiful day, isn t it? The party was fun, wasn t it? The verb tense in the statement matches the question You went to the meeting, didn t you?

33. TAG QUESTIONS Begin with a statement, followed by a question: It is a beautiful day, isn t it? The party was fun, wasn t it? The verb tense in the statement matches the question You went to the meeting, didn t you? You will come to work tomorrow, won t you?

34. TAG QUESTIONS Begin with a statement, followed by a question: It is a beautiful day, isn t it? The party was fun, wasn t it? The verb tense in the statement matches the question You went to the meeting, didn t you? You will come to work tomorrow, won t you? You are new here, aren t you?

35. TAG QUESTIONS Begin with a statement, followed by a question: It is a beautiful day, isn t it? The party was fun, wasn t it? The verb tense in the statement matches the question If the statement is positive, the question is negative, if the statement is negative, the question is positive.

36. TAG QUESTIONS Begin with a statement, followed by a question: It is a beautiful day, isn t it? The party was fun, wasn t it? The verb tense in the statement matches the question If the statement is positive, the question is negative, if the statement is negative, the question is positive. It is a busy day at work, isn t it?

37. TAG QUESTIONS Begin with a statement, followed by a question: It is a beautiful day, isn t it? The party was fun, wasn t it? The verb tense in the statement matches the question If the statement is positive, the question is negative, if the statement is negative, the question is positive. It is a busy day at work, isn t it? It isn t too busy today at work, is it?

38. TAG QUESTIONS Begin with a statement, followed by a question: It is a beautiful day, isn t it? The party was fun, wasn t it? The verb tense in the statement matches the question If the statement is positive, the question is negative, if the statement is negative, the question is positive. It is a busy day at work, isn t it? It isn t too busy today at work, is it? You can speak two languages, can t you?

39. TAG QUESTIONS Begin with a statement, followed by a question: It is a beautiful day, isn t it? The party was fun, wasn t it? The verb tense in the statement matches the question If the statement is positive, the question is negative, if the statement is negative, the question is positive. It is a busy day at work, isn t it? It isn t too busy today at work, is it? You can speak two languages, can t you? You haven t met the boss yet, have you?

40. TAG QUESTIONS Begin with a statement, followed by a question: It is a beautiful day, isn t it? The party was fun, wasn t it? The verb tense in the statement matches the question If the statement is positive, the question is negative, if the statement is negative, the question is positive. Answer the question with whatever is true.

41. TAG QUESTIONS Begin with a statement, followed by a question: It is a beautiful day, isn t it? The party was fun, wasn t it? The verb tense in the statement matches the question If the statement is positive, the question is negative, if the statement is negative, the question is positive. Answer the question with whatever is true. It s a beautiful day, isn t it? Yes, it is.

42. TAG QUESTIONS Begin with a statement, followed by a question: It is a beautiful day, isn t it? The party was fun, wasn t it? The verb tense in the statement matches the question If the statement is positive, the question is negative, if the statement is negative, the question is positive. Answer the question with whatever is true. It s a beautiful day, isn t it? Yes, it is. It isn t too nice out today, is it? No, it isn t.

43. TAG QUESTIONS Begin with a statement, followed by a question: It is a beautiful day, isn t it? The party was fun, wasn t it? The verb tense in the statement matches the question If the statement is positive, the question is negative, if the statement is negative, the question is positive. Answer the question with whatever is true. It s a beautiful day, isn t it? Yes, it is. It isn t too nice out today, is it? Canada is a big country, isn t it? No, it isn t. ________.

44. TAG QUESTIONS Begin with a statement, followed by a question: It is a beautiful day, isn t it? The party was fun, wasn t it? The verb tense in the statement matches the question If the statement is positive, the question is negative, if the statement is negative, the question is positive. Answer the question with whatever is true. It s a beautiful day, isn t it? Yes, it is. It isn t too nice out today, is it? Canada is a big country, isn t it? Most Canadians speak English, don t they? ________. No, it isn t. ________.

45. TAG QUESTIONS Begin with a statement, followed by a question: It is a beautiful day, isn t it? The party was fun, wasn t it? The verb tense in the statement matches the question If the statement is positive, the question is negative, if the statement is negative, the question is positive. Answer the question with whatever is true. It s a beautiful day, isn t it? Yes, it is. It isn t too nice out today, is it? Canada is a big country, isn t it? Most Canadians speak English, don t they? ________. Grande Prairie isn t in Alberta, is it? No, it isn t. ________. ________.

46. PRACTICE Try to ask your partner a few TAG questions about the weather, sports and entertainment, family, work, the news. hobbies, travel, or their hometown.

47. PRACTICE Try to ask your partner a few TAG questions about the weather, sports and entertainment, family, work, the news, hobbies, travel, or their hometown. Take turns asking and responding, then closing the conversation.

48. SMALL TALK CONVERSATION STRATEGIES

49. SMALLTALKCONVERSATIONSTRATEGIES Begin with a TAG question or a greeting

50. SMALLTALKCONVERSATIONSTRATEGIES Begin with a TAG question or a greeting Hi Tanya! What s new?

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