One thing English learners tell me is that when they want to have casual conversations with other English speakers they find themselves lost for words. Developing the skill of small talk is a great way to build confidence in everyday English conversation. Small talk if often used by tutors as a part of English language tuition.
Here is a short guide to get you started.
What is Small Talk?
Small talk is:
- Casual conversation about familiar, everyday topics
- A way to chat with people in a relaxed and informal way
- A way to open conversation with strangers, even if you don’t know anything about them
- Useful for building confidence in speaking without needing specific knowledge Spontaneous and lighthearted.
How to Start a Conversation
Imagine you are waiting at a bus stop with other people and the bus is late. Begin with simple, familiar topics such as:
- Weather
- Hobbies or interests
- Work or daily life
- Your surroundings
You can find some examples by clicking on the red icons below.
Isn’t it a beautiful day?
1 of 3The bus is late, isn’t it?
2 of 3Have you got the time on you?
3 of 3How to Keep a Conversation Going
To keep a conversation flowing in English make sure you listen carefully to what the other person says, and respond in a positive and interested way!
Small Talk Dialogue 1
Listen to the dialogue:
You: “The bus is late, isn’t it?”
Other: “Yes, it’s usually on time.”
You: “I wonder if it’s the roadworks?”
Other: “Could be — they’ve caused delays recently.”
Small Talk Dialogue 2
Listen to the dialogue:
You: “Do you catch this bus often?”
Other: “Yes I catch it several times a week”
You: “Do you live in the area?”
Other “Yes I live nearby”.
Ending or Continuing Small Talk
Although small talk is great it can also feel awkward sometimes. After you have engaged someone in small talk you will have to gauge their responses and participation in the chat and then decide if you want to try and carry on the conversation or politely disengage!
To end the chat politely: You: “Me too I live locally — Well, have a nice day!”
To continue the chat: You: “Me too — I live locally. How long have you lived in the area?”
Useful Small Talk Topics and Examples
Casual Greetings
Examples:
“Hi, how are you?”
“How’s it going?”
“Nice to see you again.”
“How have you been?”
“What have you been up to lately?”
Idiom: “Long time no see!”
The Weather
Examples:
“Gosh, it’s hot today, isn’t it?”
“Do you think it’ll rain later?”
“It’s been really windy lately.”
“Lovely sunshine today — makes a nice change.” “It’s freezing out here!”
Idiom: “It’s raining cats and dogs!”
Hobbies & Interests
Examples:
“Do you like going to the cinema?”
“What kind of music do you enjoy?”
“Have you read any good books recently?”
“Do you play any sports?”
“I’ve just started gardening — do you enjoy that kind of thing?”
Idiom: “Right up my street!”*
Food and Drink
Examples:
“Is there a good coffee shop around here?”
“I love trying new foods — how about you?”
“Have you eaten at that new restaurant?”
“What’s your favourite type of cuisine?”
“Do you like cooking?”
Idiom: “Grab a bite to eat”*
Making Plans Together
Examples:
“Do you fancy a pizza?”
“I’m going to the cinema — want to come along?”
“We should grab coffee sometime.”
“Would you like to join us for a walk in the park?”
“There’s a festival this weekend — want to go together?”
Idiom: “Let’s catch up soon!”
Agreeing and Disagreeing Politely
Agree: “I totally agree with you.” or “That’s a good point.”
Disagree respectfully: “I understand, but I see it differently.” or “Actually, I think…”
Showing Empathy
“I’m really sorry to hear that.”
“That sounds tough — are you okay?”
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
Slang or Informal Phrases
“No way!” (I can’t believe that!)
“You’re kidding!” (Really?)
“That’s awesome!” (That’s great!)
Small Talk with People You Know (But Not Well)
“Hi, how are you? It’s been a while since the last meeting.”
“Did you have a good weekend?”
“What do you think of the new project?”
What’s an Idiom?
You probably noticed that at the end of each small talk topic I added an “idiom”.
Maybe you are already familiar with what an idiom is and how they can be used in conversational English? If you are that’s great!
If not I will briefly explain.
Let’s start the explanation with an idiom! ”In a nutshell” an idiom is a phrase that has a very different meaning from its individual words. “Break a leg” is another idiom.
Literally, it means to injure your leg, but its idiomatic meaning in English is to wish someone good luck, especially before a performance.
For more examples of idioms and how they can be used to improve your conversational English I have a fun and interactive free course which you can find here.
Definition of Idioms Used in this Article
- “Long time no see” – Used to greet someone you haven’t seen in a long time.
- “It’s raining cats and dogs” – Means it’s raining very heavily.
- “Right up my street” – Something that suits your tastes or interests.
- “Grab a bite to eat” – Eat something quickly or informally.
- “Let’s catch up soon” – Meet up and update each other on life.
Small Talk: Wrap Up
I hope this article helped you to improve your “small talk”. Small talk is a great way to practice and improve your English and the best thing is you can use it every day in almost any situation.
If you are considering taking the next step in your language learning journey a conversational english tutor can help you to get the most out of your studies.
You can book a commitment free 40 minute intro session below.
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