If you feel awkward, chances are the person you’re talking to – or were talking to – until you hit the dreaded awkward silence– feels uncomfortable too.Īcknowledge the awkwardness and say: “Well, I guess that pretty much sums it up.” Or, “That’s a complicated subject, I’ll have to think about that one…” (If it is indeed a complicated subject). A long lull… in English, we call it an “awkward silence.”īut guess what – I want you to use this awkward moment as another opportunity to practice your conversation skills.
Everything has gone perfectly, and then… your chit-chat hits a moment of silence. OK, so up until now you’ve been in chit-chat heaven. In this way, specifics provide more ways to extend the conversation rather than saying “I liked the last Batman movie”.
#Chitchat in movie#
They might mention a movie they enjoyed with a terrific story, or they might mention something they do with their families over a holiday weekend. These specifics gives my conversation buddy opportunities to continue the conversation in a variety of ways. Notice in my Batman example, I specifically mentioned the special effects, the story, and having seen it over a holiday weekend. Lively chit-chat is fueled by specific questions and answers. Something as simple as “Have you seen that movie yet?”, of course referring to the movie on the poster at the bus stop you’re both standing at. Now that you’ve found common ground and revealed something personal, it’s time to pass the ball to the other person and give them a chance to share.
But I did see it over Christmas weekend so maybe I wasn’t in the mood for an action flick.” It doesn’t have to be something deeply personal.įor example, continuing our Batman small talk… “I liked the special effects in the last Batman, but the story didn’t blow me away. If someone else is waiting too, you could mention a Batman film advertisement you happen to see on the bus stop, as a small talk opener…You could kick-off the conversation with, “Oh, looks like the next Batman movie is coming out.” It could even be something in the immediate environment, such as a movie advertisement or billboard.įor example, waiting at the bus stop gets boring. Common ground could be a shared experience, such as the weather, work life, school, or a networking event. To get small talk started, find common ground. Just knowing these basics can already give you a little confidence boost! Find Common Ground
#Chitchat in how to#
Of course, you may want to review some small talk basics, like “How to answer ‘How are you?’”, How to start a conversation in English and not be shy, and “ Little words to make your conversation flow easily”. Small talk is actually a healthy habit too, because researchers are discovering that when you make small talk, you can feel more positive and connected with others – and this positive effect can last for hours after the conversation ended.Īnother good reason to make more chit-chat! Keep in mind that chit-chat isn’t intended to be a deep and profound experience. Sometimes, even native English speakers can feel nervous making small talk, or chit-chat. If you want interesting conversations without feeling awkward and to make real connections in business, be sure to check that out! It’s Just Chit-Chat
#Chitchat in professional#
It teaches you how to socialize with confidence, and build up those important personal and professional relationships, get techniques to make you a good conversationalist, as well as understand cultural differences on a deeper level.
That’s why I’m creating a new course to help you master social situations and everyday conversations in your professional life. So many of my students feel awkward making simple little conversations like this, but having the courage to start these little conversations as often as possible can make a huge difference in your social relationships. In this episode, you’re going to learn many easy, practical things that will make a big difference in how you feel about small talk. And this is just another reason I want to encourage you throughout this lesson to chit-chat in English as often as you can.Īnd if you feel a little nervous about what you’re going to say – don’t worry. Also, he said chit-chat introduces him to natural phrases that he can add to his own English. One of the best reasons to engage in chit-chat comes from my student Miguel.ĭuring a Master Real American English session, Miguel said that he enjoys practicing chit-chat with English speakers because it helps him improve his pronunciation. However, chit-chat moments are great opportunities for you to practice your American English. Small talk, or “chit-chat” may feel awkward, especially if you feel like you don’t have an arsenal of things you can talk about.
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