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Small Talk Presentation ELTAU 2012
1. Small Talk – Big Results
‘Why we should be teaching everyone small talk all the
time…’
Small Talk Big Results - Gabrielle Jones
19 October 2012
2. What to expect?
1. The diversity of small talk
2. Challenging intercultural perceptions
3. Language areas
4. Active listening
5. Professional communication
6. The basics, the sceptics and more
Small Talk Big Results -
Gabrielle Jones 19 October 2012
3. About me
• O’Connor Language and Communication for
Business
• Teacher training/materials development
• Locubrevisphobe
- Latin: ‘locu’ – talk, ‘brevis’ - small
Small Talk Big Results -
Gabrielle Jones 19 October 2012
4. What do you think?
"You just need plenty of practice to be good at small
talk”
“I’m an expert, I don’t need to do small talk”
“Small talk isn’t real talk”
"As long as you know English grammar and plenty of
English words you shouldn't have any trouble with small
talk in English."
"You only need small talk if you meet people at parties."
Small Talk Big Results -
Gabrielle Jones 19 October 2012
5. Why is small talk important?
• Builds rapport
• Create social cohesion
• Awkward situations
• Eases increased communication
• Key business skill
• Teaching ‘communication’
not perfection!
Small Talk Big Results -
Gabrielle Jones 19 October 2012
6. In which work situations do we use small
talk?
Small Talk Big Results - Gabrielle Jones
19 October 2012
7. Staff appraisals
•Nervous employee?
•Giving bad/unpleasant news
Interview
•Welcoming interviewee
•Prior to commencement
Sales and negotiations
•Developing trust and confidence
•Close the distance: close the sale!
Small Talk Big Results -
Gabrielle Jones 19 October 2012
8. ‘Why all the fuss?’
Small Talk Big Results -
Gabrielle Jones 19 October 2012
9. Intercultural perceptions
of small talk (Lara Rings)
Americans Germans
•Seek contact •Highly analytical
•See small talk as a ritual •Value precision and
•Avoid silence facts
•Associate it with good •Value honesty
manners •See it as superficial
Small Talk Big Results -
Gabrielle Jones 19 October 2012
10. Small Talk Big Results -
Gabrielle Jones 19 October 2012
11. Cultural Differences in Business Life - Understanding German and American Business
Culture, 2006 Ulrike Ditzel
Small Talk Big Results - Gabrielle Jones
19 October 2012
12. Approaches to teaching effective small talk
1. Determine perceptions - challenge them
2. Sensitise to cultural associations
3. Demonstrate use
4. Support with language
5. Offer a crutch!
6. Assess your success
Small Talk Big Results - Gabrielle Jones
19 October 2012
13. What Language?
• Appropriate subjects?
• Open/closed questions
• Story telling and telling jokes
• Positive conversation style
• Active listening
• Vague language: mmm, yeah
• Showing interest e.g mirroring language
• Finding common ground and interests
• Transitional language: from non-work to work issues
• Opening/closing/ending structures: routine phrases
• Ask for opinions: agree/disagree diplomatically
Small Talk Big Results -
Gabrielle Jones 19 October 2012
14. Active Listening
SIER Model Active Listening:
Small Talk Big Results -
Gabrielle Jones 19 October 2012
15. Are you listening to me????
Small Talk Big Results - Gabrielle Jones
19 October 2012
16. Active listening techniques used by hostage
negotiators
• Minimal Encouragements
• Paraphrasing
• Emotion Labeling
• Mirroring (or Reflecting)
• Open-Ended Questions
• Effective Pauses
Small Talk Big Results -
Gabrielle Jones 19 October 2012
17. Telling an anecdote
Look again at the story and make a note of words or
phrases which do the following:
•Engage the audience
•Create excitement, emotion or interest
•Demonstrate the stages in the story
Small Talk Big Results -
Gabrielle Jones 19 October 2012
18. •Give them a model
•Provide language structures
•Facilitate practice
•Give feedback
Small Talk Big Results -
Gabrielle Jones 19 October 2012
19. Sales and Negotiations
American Psychological Society:
‘People like people who like them’
Small Talk Big Results -
Gabrielle Jones 19 October 2012
20. Lower levels? Sceptics?
The crutch…
Debra Fine – The Fine Art of Small Talk (2006)
•Appearance
•Behaviour
•Location
Tomalin and Stempleski – Cultural Awareness (1993)
•Answer
•Add
•Ask
Small Talk Big Results -
Gabrielle Jones 19 October 2012
21. Higher levels?
• Appropriate responses?
Right… True… Absolutely… Definitely… Perfect…
Excellent… Blimey! Marvellous!
• Vague language?
Bits and pieces… …and stuff… what‘s her name…
stuff like that… anyway…
• Tag questions, isn‘t it?
• Sorry!!!!
Small Talk Big Results -
Gabrielle Jones 19 October 2012
22. Small talk?
• Beginners to advanced
• Intensive sessions
• As part of role plays
• As part of productive skills
• In partnership with active listening
• Key element of ‘professional communication’
• All the time!
Small Talk Big Results -
Gabrielle Jones 19 October 2012
23. It’s been lovely talking to
you…
Small Talk Big Results -
Gabrielle Jones 19 October 2012