Breaking the Ice

Warm-up: Speak First, and Say Something Easy

3 warm-up questions

• Who did you speak to this morning?
• Is it easy or difficult for you to speak first? Why?
• What do people in your country talk about when they wait?

Reading: The First Thirty Seconds

Read a 152-word text about The First Thirty Seconds

The First Thirty Seconds Marco works in an office in Lisbon. Every morning he waits for the lift with the same five people. For months he said nothing. He wanted to speak, but his mind was empty. Then he tried something very small. One rainy Monday he said: "Horrible weather today, isn't it?" A woman laughed and said, "Terrible! And I forgot my umbrella again." Why it worked Marco did not say anything clever. He talked about the weather, and the weather is safe. Everybody can answer it, because everybody is standing in the same rain. Safe topics The weather The weekend The place you are in Food, coffee and lunch Traffic and buses Holidays Not so safe Money, age, politics and health are difficult with new people. Wait until you know them better. Marco is still a little nervous. But now he speaks first, and the lift is a friendlier place.

Vocabulary: Words for Easy Talk

7 items

Practice: Opener and Answer

Matching exercise, 6 items

• Lovely day, isn't it?
• Did you have a good weekend?
• Is this your first time here?
• How do you know Tom?
• Sorry, is this the queue for coffee?
• Are you from around here?

Practice: Finish the Opener

Gap-fill exercise, 6 items

• Lovely weather today, ____ it?
• ____ you have a good weekend?
• It's freezing this morning, ____ you think?
• Sorry, ____ this the queue for coffee?
• It's nice to ____ you.
• The coffee here is ____ than the coffee at work.

Dialogue: Waiting for the Lift

Role-play: You are waiting for the lift in your office building. A neighbour from the floor above is waiting too. You have seen each other many times, but you have never spoken. (7 lines)

• You: Horrible weather today, isn't it?
• Neighbour: Terrible! And of course I forgot my umbrella.
• You: Oh no! Do you live on the floor above me?
• Neighbour: Yes, flat twelve. I moved here in March. It's a nice building.
• You: March? Then you're new too. I moved here last year.
• Neighbour: Ah, here's the lift, finally. Are you going up?
• You: I am, thanks. I'm Ana, by the way. Nice to meet you.

Discussion: Let's Talk

4 discussion questions

• Where do you wait every week? Who is there with you?
• What was the last thing a stranger said to you?
• Do you think it is polite to talk to people in a queue in your country?
• Which safe topic from the reading is easiest for you, and which is hardest?