Small Talk at Work

A2 · Elementary48 minConversation SkillsLesson 4 of 8 · Outline

Aims

Goal: make easy, professional small talk at work — safe topics, smooth transitions to work talk, and reading the room.

The lesson, stage by stage

  1. Warm up5 min

    Warm-up: Chat before the meeting

    2 warm-up questions

  1. Reading10 min

    Reading: Building Rapport in the Workplace

    Read a 271-word text about Building Rapport in the Workplace

  2. Framework6 min

    Framework: Safe Zone Topics

    Safe Zone Topics, 4 steps

  3. Practice7 min

    Practice: Workplace Vocabulary Practice

    Gap-fill exercise, 5 items

  4. Dialogue10 min

    Dialogue: Monday Morning at the Office

    Role-play: It's Monday morning and you arrive at the office. You meet a colleague in the kitchen while making coffee. Use safe topics to have a friendly chat before the work day begins. (4 lines)

  5. Discussion10 min

    Discussion: Your mission: the kitchen chat

    5 discussion questions

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This plan comes from the Small Talk Mastery course in the Tuton library. Browse all free lesson plans.