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Script:
Hi, everyone, how are you? This week I am going to talk about two topics. The first one is making small talks.
Making small talks with somebody you don't know well can be intimidating, but it is a great way to connect with others and
build friendships. Here are some tips for making small talks.
#1 - Start with a greeting, say hi, introduce yourself, and ask them how their day is going. This will break the ice and set a friendly tone.
#2 - Ask open-ended questions instead of yes and no questions. For example, ask "how was your weekend?" if you are meeting that person at the beginning of the week. If you are meeting the person on Thursday or Friday, you can ask, "what are your plans for this weekend?"
#3 - Find common grounds. If you are talking to other parents, you can talk about the kids, or the school activities. If you are at a work event, you can talk about your job or the industry.
#4 - Listen attentively and ask follow-up questions.
#5 - Keep it light and positive, avoid sensitive topics and avoid oversharing your personal life.
The second topic that I want to talk about today is how to politely end a bad conversation. We have all been there - being in a boring conversation, or that the other person is saying something that makes you uncomfortable. Many people use excuses like, "excuse me, I need to get a drink", or "I need to use the bathroom". Everyone knows these are cliches. A cliche is a phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought. An example of a cliche is, "life is too short." Have you heard of that cliche?
There are other excuses that are more positive, tactful and honest.
If you are at a party or a networking event, and you are stuck with somebody who has been talking to you for too long, or that the conversation is too boring, you can exit the situation by saying these:
1. "It has been really nice talking to you, but I promised myself I would mingle with others and get to know more people. I will catch you later."
2. "Oh, I see some of my colleagues over there, I would like to say hi to them. It is really nice chatting with you".
Emphasize it has been great talking with them.
The other strategy is to ask the speaker to introduce you to somebody else at the event. Say, "I hardly know anyone here, who do you think I should meet? I would like to meet a few new people at this event today. Can you introduce me to anyone?"
The third strategy is to introduce somebody to this person so you can get out of this conversation. The person that you know may have something in common with this person. You can say, "I see my co-worker, John, over there. I think the two of you have a lot in common. Let me introduce you.
The last tactic is to say, "I am sure I have taken a lot of your time. You have got a lot of people you want to talk to. I will let you go but it has been great talking with you.
Vocabulary
1. break the ice - do or say something to ease the tension or get the conversation going.
2. mingle - socialize
3. catch you later - used for saying goodbye to someone when you expect to see them soon, or later the same day.
I will catch you later means I will see you later, chat with you later.