BUSINESS ENGLISH CONVERSATION & LISTENING

INSTRUCTOR: HSIN-HSIN CINDY LEE

Lesson 3 Socializing & Small Talk

Contents

Basic Rules and ConceptsConversation and Listening Practices - Check Answers and Further

Practice Writing PracticeCheckpoint

INTRODUCTION

Basic Rules of Socializing

Basic Concepts of Socializing

Socializing means taking part in social activities or interacting with others.

Socializing is important because it is how business people establish relationships and earn trust from their partners.

Within the company, socializing with colleagues is also common .

Nowadays more and more companies recognize that socialization among employees can promote company coherence and harmony.

Various Forms of Socializing

Socialization may take place in many forms. Informal chats at (coffee/lunch) break during a working day Social activities (like parties, sport events, meals, entertainments,

etc.) after work.

In some cultures, socialization with clients at night or the weekend is even regarded as extension of daily work, part of the job.

While socializing, small talk (light informal conversation for social activities) plays an important role.

Conducting good small talk make people sociable and help create pleasant atmosphere in the social gathering.

Basic Rules of Small Talk

The first rule of small talk is to find ‘safe’ topics!

You don’t want to offend your business partners or hurt their feelings! Any topics of sensitive matters involving

strong opinions or personal life are not appropriate for small talk. (X) Sensitive matters: politics, religions, human right… (X) Private matters: income (money), marriage, body features…

Basic Rules of Small Talk

The second and the third rules are actually the same: remain as ‘positive’ as possible.

There are just too many disadvantages of thinking bad of and complaining about things.

Don’t be negative! Complaining or criticizing without constructive

opinions always hurt people’s feelings. It’s also hard to create rapport. What is worse, if people spread your negative

comments carelessly, your own words will go against you and make you a mean person.

Basic Rules of Small Talk

Third, be positive! Think positively and look at the bright side of

things will help you a lot in your career life. You will not only deliver positive messages orally in

socialization, but feel confident mentally against frustration.

People who think positively tend to be more friendly, brighter and warmer and thus more popular.

Do you prefer a ‘sunny’ or ‘rainy’ person? Finally, be polite!

Always be polite to your business partners! It’s essential in business communication!

Conversation & Listening

•FAMILIARIZE WITH THE COMMON SITUATIONS•STUDY THE MODEL CONVERSATIONS

Common Business Situations

Socialization can take place either within in the company or outside.

There are various occasions when people socialize. For example, people often: greet and socialize during the few minutes before

a meeting; talk to each another at a break; chat in a social gathering for purposes like

celebration, farewell and so on; entertain guests.

Can you think of other occasions?

Listening to Conversation 3-A

Topic: Talking about jobsSituation: David Wang and his guest, Lisa Smiths from America are

having some drinks in a coffee shop near the company. Task: Listen to the following conversation and fill in the

blanks. Tip:

Prepare some topics for small talks. If you are not very familiar with your counterpart, topics

related to jobs, companies or business environment can be a start.

As long as you don’t get into any personal questions, those topics are safe and can help you get to know each other.

Remember to remain positive and polite. Never complain about your jobs or company to your business partners!

Listening & Filling in the Blanks

Lisa: This café is (1)______. Thanks for bringing me here!David: My (2)_______, Lisa. So, Steven told me you joined the company recently.Lisa: That’s right. I was hired last (3)______. David: What did you do before that? Lisa: Before that I was a marketing specialist in a (4) _________ company. David: Really? Now you are in a (5) _________ company. They don’t seem to have

things in common. Why did you (6) _______ that? Lisa: Actually I quite liked that job, but after getting married, my husband and I

moved to a new apartment in another city. I found this company near where we are living.

David: So, do you enjoy your new job?Lisa: Absolutely! The work I’m involved now is very (7) _________ and (8)________.

I really love the job of selling women things that can help them look great.David: I see. What you have been interested in (9) ________ is for women’s head-

to-toe beauty!Lisa: You can say that again!Lisa: So, how about you? How (10)________ have you been in the textile industry?David: I feel as if I had been in this business for ages……

Listening to Conversation 3-B

Topic: Talking about interests and sports Situation: Michael Kipling and Lisa Smith talk about their

interests at a coffee break. Task: Listen to the following conversation and fill in

the blanks. Tip:

The topics on sports and common interests are often welcome among acquaintances in business.

Especially if you like the same sport or share the same interest with your business partners, the relationship between you will get close sooner and easier.

Listening and Filling in the Blanks

Lisa: Michael, you look quite (1)_______ today. What’s up?

Michael: Well, the basketball team I support won a great game last night!

Lisa: Really? Are you a (2) ______ of Rockets? Michael: Yes! Did you also watch the game? It was

unbelievable, wasn’t it? A (3)________ was called in the last seconds of the game!

Lisa: I know! But finally David (4)________ on the penalty shot to break the tie and won the game! He’s cool!

Michael: He is the hero. Are you also a Rockets fan? I didn’t know you liked (5) _________.

Lisa: From last night, I guess so. I watched the game with my brother.

Michael: Really! Welcome on board!

•CHECK YOUR ANSWERS •FIND A PARTNER AND READ ALOUD THE DIALOGUES •PAY ATTENTION TO THE MANNERS

• Be positive• Don’t complain • Be polite

Practices

Conversation 3- A (page 1)

Lisa: This café is cozy. Thanks for bringing me here!David: My pleasure, Lisa. So, Steven told me you joined the

company recently.Lisa: That’s right. I was hired last April. David: What did you do before that? Lisa: Before that I was a marketing specialist in a cosmetics

company. David: Really? Now you are in a textile company. They don’t

seem to have things in common. Why did you quit that? Lisa: Actually I quite liked that job, but after getting married,

my husband and I moved to a new apartment in another city. I found this company near where we are living.

Conversation 3-A (page 2)

David: So, do you enjoy your new job?Lisa: Absolutely! The work I’m involved now is very

interesting and exciting. I really love the job of selling women things that can help them look great.

David: I see. What you have been interested in marketing is for women’s head-to-toe beauty!

Lisa: You can say that again!Lisa: So, how about you? How long have you been in

the textile industry?David: I feel as if I had been in this business for

ages……

Conversation 3-B

Lisa: Michael, you look quite cheerful today. What’s up?Michael: Well, the basketball team I support won a great game last

night! Lisa: Really? Are you a fan of Rockets? Michael: Yes! Did you also watch the game? It was unbelievable,

wasn’t it? A penalty was called in the last seconds of the game! Lisa: I know! But finally David scored on the penalty shot to break

the tie and won the game! He’s cool! Michael: He is the hero. Are you also a Rockets fan? I didn’t know

you liked basketball. Lisa: From last night, I guess so. I watched the game with my

brother.Michael: Really! Welcome on board!

Further Practice

Replace you and your partner’s names with the ones provided in the script.

Read the script again by using your own names.

Practice the different situations for socializing and small talk with your own names without reading the script.

WRITE DOWN YOUR OWN EXPRESSIONS.

Writing Practice

Hobbies Hobbies TravelTravel

Film DVDs Drama

Music Bands Singers Songs

Food Restaurant

Sports

Weather A recent trip A local attraction Others

Current business environment

Health and life style

Write a short paragraph of your own opinion, preference or experience on the following small talk

topics.

How to Prepare for Small Talk Topics

Find a proofreader or teaching assistant to check the grammar of your paragraphs for you.

Exchange your paragraphs with your classmates. Read other authors’ articles or books on the

topics. Read newspaper and magazine articles on the

topics. Enrich your life and reading experiences so that

you have interesting things to talk about! Make yourself an ‘interesting’ person!

Checkpoint

1. Why is socialization important?2. What is ‘small talk’? 3. Why is small talk important? 4. What aren’t good topics for small talk?5. What kind of topics can you talk about for

socialization?

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

End