Small Talk

B1+

Deborah Capras

• Publisher: Collins
• Year: 2014
• ISBN:
  9780007574759
• Topic: Languages & Linguistics
• Subtopic: English Language
• Index: Languages & Linguistics

Build key business relationships

Collins Small Talk gives you the confidence to start a conversation and transition into bigger conversation topics so that you are able to build relationships, develop business partnerships and be successful in business.

Learn the language to:
• Meet people for the first time
• Greet people in subsequent meetings
• Show and receive hospitality
• Deal with remote communication
• End a conversation

The book includes information on best practice and key phrases for students to refer to and practise saying out loud using online audio. Online audio also includes good and bad examples of authentic recordings of small talk for learners to listen to and assess.

Suitable for students whose level of English is Intermediate / CEF level B1 and higher.

Small Talk is part of Collins’ English for Business range of materials to help business people who need to use English frequently in their work. It is designed for people who are about to or already work for a foreign or multinational company, deal with overseas customers or travel for business.

Other titles in the Collins English for Business range:
Reading • Writing • Listening • Speaking • Key Business Skills • Business Grammar & Practice • Business Vocabulary in Practice • Effective International Business Communication

1 New Contacts

My goals

• Make a good first impression

• Greet people I’ve never met before

• Check names and help people to remember mine

Study focus

At conferences, networking events and even in the office – wherever you do business – you will meet new people. How do you make a good first impression? A warm, friendly greeting will help you. Using small talk to start a conversation will help too. Try to make sure that people remember you and try to remember them too. You might not hear their name properly the first time, and in this chapter you will learn how to ask people to repeat their name.

Key phrases

Making the first move

I don’t think we’ve been introduced. My name’s Hans, Hans Schiller.

Hi, I’m Mary, Mary Smith.

We haven’t actually met, but I’m Hans Schiller.

May I introduce myself? I’m Mary Smith.

I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Mary Smith.

Giving the right response

It’s a pleasure to meet you.

Pleased to meet you.

(It’s) good/great/nice to meet you.

(It’s) good/great/nice to meet you too.

Checking names

I’m sorry, but I didn’t catch your name.

I’m sorry, but what was your last name again?

How do you spell your name?

‘Athanasis’. Am I saying it correctly?

Helping people to remember your name

Please, call me John.

Let me give you my (business) card.

Here’s my (business) card.

Go to www.collinselt.com/businessresources to listen to the key phrases.

Scenarios

Rena:	Hi, I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Rena Chioti.
Antonio:	Nice to meet you, Ms Chioti. Am I saying it correctly?
Rena:	Yes, but please, call me Rena.
Antonio:	Rena. I’m Antonio, Antonio Messina.
Rena:	Good to meet you too, Antonio. How do you spell your name? Is it with double ‘s’?
Antonio:	Yes, like the city in Sicily. My family’s from there.
Rob:	We haven’t actually met, but I’m Rob Williams.
Markus:	It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Professor Kern, Markus Kern.
Rob:	It’s good to meet you too.
Markus:	I’m sorry, but I didn’t catch your last name.
Rob:	It’s Williams, as in Robbie Williams. You know, the singer. Let me give you my business card.
Markus:	Thank you. And here’s mine.
Jules:	Hello. I don’t think we’ve been introduced. My name’s Jules, Jules Chirac.
Sergei:	Oh, I’m sorry, Jules! Sandra, this is Jules Chirac, our designer in our French office. Jules, this is Sandra Harper. She’s with RTV.
Sandra:	Nice to meet you, Jules. I’ve seen your work. It’s impressive.
Jules:	Thank you. That’s great to hear. It’s nice to meet you too.

Go to www.collinselt.com/businessresources to listen to the scenarios.

Over to you

1 Match the sentence beginnings with the sentence endings.

1 I’m sorry, but I 2 Let me give you 3 I don’t think we’ve 4 May I 5 It’s a pleasure to

a been introduced. b meet you. c didn’t catch your name. d introduce myself? e my business card.

2 John is talking to Sayuri when Ria joins them. Put the dialogue in the correct order.

1	Ria:	Hello. I don’t think we’ve been introduced. My name’s Ria.
	Sayuri:	Actually, I’m a fan of your blog, Ria.
	John:	Oh, I’m so sorry, Ria! Sayuri, this is Ria Fisher, our company blogger in London. We work in the same building.
	John:	Ria, this is Sayuri Riisa. She’s one of our engineers here in Berlin.
	Ria:	It’s great to meet you too, Sayuri.
	Sayuri:	Nice to meet you, Ria.
7	Ria:	Really? Thank you. It’s nice of you to say that.

3 Check your understanding. Answer the questions about the dialogue in exercise 2.

1	Where are they?
2	Who works in the UK?
3	Who is a writer?
4	Who works in Germany?
5	Has Ria met John before?
6	Does Sayuri know Ria?

4 Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in the box.

catch

give

introduce

meet

say

spell

1. I don’t think we................................
2. ‘Sahinda’. Am I............................... it correctly?
3. May I............................... myself?
4. Let me............................... you my card.
5. I’m sorry, but I............................... your last name.
6. Could you............................... your last name for me?

5 Complete the dialogue.

You: (1) (Say that you don’t know each other and give your name.)
..............................................................................................
..............................................................................................

Paul: It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Paul Mathews.

You: (2) (Respond to the greeting and say that you didn’t hear Paul’s last name.)
..............................................................................................
..............................................................................................

Paul: It’s Mathews. But please, call me Paul. I’m sorry, but how do you spell your name?

You: (3) (Spell your name and offer your business card. If possible, say something about you...