Let's do business 1: making small talk

Task 1
Here are pictures of places in four large American cities. Do you know the cities?

Photograph by wwarby
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wwarby/2229938017/

Photograph by mer de glace

http://www.flickr.com/photos/marts-pics/428579585/

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Photograph by http2007
http://www.flickr.com/photos/http2007/440526671/

Photograph by xero79
http://www.flickr.com/photos/xero79/378837837/

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What do you know about them? Do you know the names of any of their airports?

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Let's do business 1: making small talk

Task 2
Do you know what the words in italics mean below? (Youll hear them later in the listening
activity.) Discuss them with your partner.
1. I guess its difficult bringing up six children on a low salary.
2. More and more companies are building hybrid cars these days.
Are you still not certain about the meanings? Here are some questions to help you.
Discuss with your partner.

If you guess something, do you know it or do you not know it? Do you think its true or
do you not think its true?

Is the engine in a hybrid car powered from just one kind of energy source or more than
one?

Task 3
Youll now hear a conversation between John Williams and Lee Woo. Lee is from China
and is on a business trip in Chicago. As you listen, answer the following questions:
1. Where are John Williams and Lee Woo speaking?
2. Whats the temperature outside?
3. What car does John Williams have?

Task 4
Now listen to the conversation again. What questions do the speakers ask? Complete the
extracts:
L: ............................ ............................ John Williams?
J: Did you ............................ a ............................ to ............................?
L: Its ............................, isnt it?
J: Do you ............................ any ............................?
L: ............................ is it a ............................?
Why do they ask these questions?
What words are missing from these answers?
J: I ............................ am.
L: I ............................ do.
J: We ............................ do.

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Let's do business 1: making small talk

Task 5
Study the listening text (below) and find these examples of the typical structures used in
conversational English:
Modifiers to show you agree

I certainly am

I sure do.

We sure do.

Offers

Let me take one of your cases.

Please get in.

Vague language

I slept for two or three hours, I guess.

Incomplete sentences

Not bad for September.

Oh, nice.

Two sentences in one

What is it a Toyota?

Now read the conversation out loud in pairs. Try to copy the intonation of the original.

Task 6
Imagine you have gone for a very early business meeting in your co-workers house in the
USA. How would you answer your co-workers questions below? Try to use the right
intonation.
1. Did you get the chance to have breakfast?
2. Terrible rain, huh?
3. Hope you slept OK?
4. How was the traffic?
5. See the football match last night?

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Let's do business 1: making small talk

Task 7
Imagine you are at the same business meeting. How would you start a conversation if
you

saw a photo of the co-workers family on a table

found the furniture very beautiful/comfortable

loved the view from the window

thought your co-worker looked tired

saw an interesting painting on the wall.

Task 8
Get into pairs. Imagine a situation in which you are about to do business with a co-worker
in the USA. Decide:

who is present

where you are (i.e. place/building etc.)

what you can see around you

what time it is

what the weather is like.

Now take it in turns to play each person. Swap roles when you have finished. And dont
forget to make small talk!

Listening text
John: Hello! Mr. Woo!
Lee:

Hello! Are you John Williams?

J:

I certainly am! How was your trip, Lee?

L:

It was fine, thanks. Im a little tired, you know but it was a long flight.

J:

Sure, did you get a chance to sleep?

L:

Oh, I slept two or three hours, I guess.

J:

Oh, well, thats not too badthe cars just over the road. Let me take one of your
cases.

L:

Oh, thanks, John. They walk outside the terminal building. Its hot, isnt it?

J:

Yes, its about 28. Not bad for September. Do you have any sunglasses?

L:

I sure do. I bought some at Shanghai airport.

J:

OK, here it is. Its a company car.

L:

Oh, nice. What is it a Toyota?

J:

Yes, a Toyota Prius. Its a hybrid car.

L:

We need more cars like that.

J:

We sure do. Please get in.

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Let's do business 1: making small talk

Teachers notes and key
Aims:
understand the importance of small talk in the USA, Europe and Australia
initiate small talk
reply to small talk
study the typical structures used in small talk
understand the words: guess and hybrid
Topics: making small talk
Timing: exercise 1 7 minutes; exercise 2 3 minutes; exercise 3 4 minutes; exercise 4
10 minutes; exercise 5 7 minutes; exercise 6 7 minutes; exercise 7 7 minutes;
exercise 8 15 minutes. Total: 1 hour
Key
1. New YorkJFK; La Guardia; Newark
ChicagoOHare; Midway; Gary-Chicago
San Francisco San Francisco
Los Angeles.LAX (pronounced el ay ex)
2.
1. You dont know it. You think its true.
2. more than one
3.
1. the airport
2. 28 degrees (Celsius or Centigrade. Note that American speakers often use Fahrenheit.
28C is approximately 82F.)
3. a Toyota Prius
4.
L: Are you John Williams?
J: Did you get a chance to sleep?
L: Its hot, isnt it?
J: Do you have any sunglasses?
L: What is it a Toyota?
Why do they ask these questions?
What words are missing from these answers?
J: I certainly am.
L: I sure do.
J: We sure do.
5.
1. Yes, thanks. I had some at the hotel.
2. Yes. Im glad I have my umbrella.
3. Yes, I slept fine, thanks.
4. Terrible. Very slow.
5. Yes, the *** played great, didnt they?
6.
1. Is this your family?
2. You have some really beautiful furniture here.
3. What a lovely view!
4. You look a little tired. Are you OK?
5. What a beautiful painting!
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