CEP Lesson Plan Template

Teacher/s: _Yan Liang______________________________

Level: _Int. Conversation AM_____
Date/Time: _Mar. 1________
Goal: socializing and small talk
Objectives (SWBAT):
Students Will Be Able To
1. respond to general topics in different types of small talk
2. use small talk techniques to continue/start a conversation
Theme: _______Socializing and small talk ___________________________
Extensions: _____Small talk techniques _______________________________________________
Aim/Skill/Micro
skill
Review or
Preview (if
applicable)

Activity/Procedure/Stage
Linking & Transitioning to rest of lesson:
Since last week, we all have been discussing
jobs. Please take out your homework. Lets
take a look at the six questions below.
[quick review]

Transition to
next:
As most of you
ELICITATION questions if needed:
have mentioned Do you have a situation where you have
that interactions
needed to talk to an unfamiliar person?
and socializing
Do you have a situation where someone
can be very hard.
said the wrong thing you felt
uncomfortable?
Have you ever had a situation where you
have needed to socialize with your boss?
Activity 1:
Making small
talk

Interacti
on
(for
example:
SS-T)
SS-SS
T-SS

1.1 Pre-Stage:
Today, we are going to talk about socializing
and small talk. That is mainly how would you SS-SS
start a conversation with a person that you are T-SS
not quite familiar with.
Lets first think about/brainstorm: (big group)
A. What is small talk?
[Teacher tries to elicit more from students.]
T: Small talk is social skill.
It is used when you meet new people.
A good tactic is to ask questions.
Small conversation in general topics

Time

15

Anticipated
Problems
They did not do the
homework.
But since they have all
come to the class, they
are able to come up
with some answers.

10

All these questions

can be asked what it is
like if in your native
language.

B. Who makes small talk?

- people who do not know each other
- people who are acquaintances
C. What do people talk about during small
talk?
Safe topics: the weather, sports, food,
work, travel, hobbies, movies, current
events, the news, etc.
Taboo topics (people dont talk about):
age, marriage, relationships status, money
in general (how much you make/invest),
emotional politics (immigration, right to
life/choose life, death penalty)
D. Where do people make small talk?
Anywhere: the office, an elevator, a busstop, at an airport, the cafeteria,
networking events, parties, etc.
E. Why do people make small talk?
- to break an uncomfortable silence
- to fill time (silence-awkward)
- to get to know people
- find opportunities to connect
Here are some examples:
The weather
Nice/terrible weather, isnt it?
Beautiful day, isnt it?
Sports
Did you see the football (or other sports)
game yesterday?
Do you play badminton (or other sports)?
SS-SS
Hobbies
What is/are your hobby/hobbies?
What do you like to do in your free
time/spare time/leisure time?
At the office
Have you worked here long?
I cant believe how busy we are today.
1.2. During Stage:
In small groups, take turns to start talking
about one of the small talk topics below.
The student who starts each topic should begin
by making a comment on the topic. The other
students respond with a comment or question.
Example:
A: The traffic was really bad this morning.
B: Really? Did you drive here?

15

*Examples: Always
give example before
asking them to do
activities, in case they
have no idea of what
they will do.

Please try to keep the conversation going for

two minutes.
When the time is up, the next student starts
topic number two and so on.
Topics:
See worksheet<small talk topics>
Group 1 topics:
*My hometown
*Learning a language
Group 2 topics:
*Why I have/dont have a pet now
*One of my hobbies or interests
Group 3 topics:
*A food I like
*My journey to class today

SS-SS

Transition to #2:
Here we have
some possible
ways to how to
use questions to
keep a
conversation
going.

1.3 Post-Stage:
Ask each group to select one topic they have
talked about to demonstrate. Keep it for two
minutes.

Activity 2:
Social Englishsmall talk
techniques

2.1 Pre-Stage:
From your conversation, how did you keep the T-SS
conversation going?
Try to remember what you have asked your
SS-SS
partner. Please think about:
What questions do you ask?

13

Tangible Outcome & Assessment:

Topics are what people usually start from
when socializing. Based on their performance,
students can at least speak and open mouth
practicing.
5

SS will think about and discuss for 2 minutes.

2.2. During Stage:
Here we have an activity.
On the left side, we have conversation
starters. The right hand side is some
interesting topics.
Please work with a different partner.
Read situation 1 and then practice keeping a
conversation going using the list of
conversation starters and topics just given.

SS-SS

2.3 Post-Stage:
2.3.1 After you have finished, please
summarize some useful small talk techniques. T-SS

15

They do not know the

meaning of the word.
2

Such as
*How to keep your conversation going?
*What would you do if you want to keep the
conversation going?

Summarize
Then explain: tell me
some ways that you
use to start/continue a
conversation.

An important part of making small talk is to

encourage someone to speak and to show
interest in what they are saying. These
techniques will help you accomplish this
Only focus on the echo questions:
Show interest---asking follow-up questions
Echo questions---repeat words
Showing attention & agreement---really?
Yeah. Uhuh. Yes. Right. Sure. Mhm. How
interesting. Wow. (Rocky has talked these.)
Ask wh- questions:
Example:
I went to hospital yesterday.
Transition to #3: Why was that?
Some ss may find Which hospital did you go to?
it difficult to
What did the doctor say?
continue a
conversation.
2.3.2
SS-SS
Here I have some Now work individually first with your partner.
techniques to
Read the conversation. Identify the techniques
introduce.
for making small talk. Circle these words.
After you have finished. Please compare and
discuss with your partner.
Then Teacher answer if have any questions.

Tangible Outcome & Assessment

Through common topics, they can at least
open their mouth and teacher tries to activate
their schemata to practice their speaking.
They may not know how to start a
conversation. When they realize they have
problems keeping it going, it is the time for T
to try to introduce small talk techniques.
Wrap-up

Lesson Evaluation Procedures:

Homework:
1. Try to use as many as possible
2. Give handout for homework
3. Prepare for group discussion next class

1
T-SS

Materials:
Handouts, chalk, ppt,
Contingency Plans (what you will do if you finish early, etc.):
Summarize small talk techniques. What are your takeaways?
Post-Lesson Reflections: