NOTE: These articles would be the contents of “WORKPLACE ENGLISH”. I also attached a file there which includes some of the lessons you could post under “RESOURCES” tabs.

ORAL ENGLISH: Making Small Talk

What is Small Talk? What is it about? When does it happen?

In most English-speaking countries, it is normal and necessary to make "small talk" in certain

situations. Small talk is a casual form of conversation that "breaks the ice" or fills an awkward

silence between people. Just as there are certain times when small talk is appropriate, there are

also certain topics that people often discuss during these moments. The hardest part about

making small talk is knowing how to start a conversation.

WHO makes small talk?

People with many different relationships use small talk. The most common type of people to use

small talk are those who do not know each other at all. Though we often teach children not to

talk to strangers, adults are expected to say at least a few words in certain situations. It is also

common for people who are only acquaintances, often called a "friend of a friend", to use small

talk. Other people who have short casual conversations are office employees who may not be

good friends but work in the same department. Customer service representatives, waitresses,

hairdressers and receptionists often make small talk with customers.

WHAT do people make small talk about?

There are certain "safe" topics that people usually make small talk about. The weather is

probably the number one thing that people who do not know each other well discuss. Sometimes

even friends and family members discuss the weather when they meet or start a conversation.

Another topic that is generally safe is current events. As long as you are not discussing a

controversial issue, such as a recent law concerning equal rights, it is usually safe to discuss the

news. Sports news is a very common topic, especially if a local team or player is in a tournament

or play-off or doing extremely well or badly. Entertainment news, such as a celebrity who is in

town, is another good topic. If there is something that you and the other speaker has in

common, that may also be acceptable to talk about. There are also some subjects that are not

considered acceptable when making small talk. Discussing personal information such as salaries

or a recent divorce is not done between people who do not know each other well. Compliments

on clothing or hair are acceptable; however, you should never say something (good or bad)

about a person's body. Negative comments about another person not involved in the

conversation are also not acceptable: when you do not know a person well you cannot be sure

who their friends are. You do not talk about private issues either, because you do not know if

you can trust the other person with your secrets or personal information. Also, it is not safe to

discuss subjects that society deems controversial such as religion or politics.

WHERE do people make small talk?

People make small talk just about anywhere, but there are certain places where it is very

common. Most often, small talk occurs in places where people are waiting for something. For

example, you might chat with another person who is waiting for the bus to arrive, or to the

person beside you waiting to get on an aeroplane. People also make small talk in a doctor's or

dentist's waiting room, or in queues at the grocery store. At the office, people make small talk in

elevators or lunchrooms and even in restrooms, especially if there is a line-up. Some social

events (such as a party) require small talk among guests who do not know each other very well.

WHEN do people make small talk?

The most common time for small talk to occur is the first time you see or meet someone on a

given day. For example, if you see a co-worker in the lounge you might say hello and discuss the

sports or weather. However, the next time you see each other you might just smile and say

nothing. If there is very little noise, that might be an indication that it is the right time to

initiate a casual conversation. You should only spark up a conversation after someone smiles

and acknowledges you. Do not interrupt two people in order to discuss something unimportant

such as the weather. If someone is reading a book or writing a letter at the bus stop it is not

appropriate to initiate a conversation either.

WHY do people make small talk?

There are a few different reasons why people use small talk. The first, and most obvious, is to

break an uncomfortable silence. Another reason, however, is simply to fill time. That is why it is

so common to make small talk when you are waiting for something. Some people make small

talk in order to be polite. You may not feel like chatting with anyone at a party, but it is rude to

just sit in a corner by yourself. After someone introduces you to another person, you do not

know anything about them, so in order to show a polite interest in getting to know them better,

you have to start with some small talk.

If you can't make small talk then you will have difficulty in approaching people. Just think about

all the possibilities this eliminates.

Speaking Exercise:

Break up into pairs or small groups to initiate practice conversations. For example, standing at

the bus stop, seeing someone in a shop or meeting new people at a party.

Small Talk Situations:

Situation 1: The first date...

You and your date are sitting at a cafe after having seen a movie. This is always a tricky one

because your small talk should lead to interesting conversation and make a great first

impression (assuming you like your date).

Ask a lot of questions

Asking your date many questions is always a safe thing to do, since not only does it help you get

to know her and provides the basis of good conversation, but asking questions is also a turn-on

for women.

Questions show that you have a genuine interest in your date, as long as you show her that you

also listen to her responses (she may quiz you later, believe me).

Ask her questions that are:

* Work-related: what she does; how she likes it; how long she's been working there, etc.

* Family-related: what her family's like; what they do; whether they're close, etc.

* Hobby-related: what she likes to do in her spare time; what she does on weekends, etc.

* Pop culture-related: what kind of music she likes; what her favourite movie is; whether she

liked the movie you just saw, etc.

First-date conversation topics can be a whole article unto itself, but in a nutshell, keep the

conversation light, interesting and avoid anything philosophical, sexual and personal.

Situation 2: The acquaintance...

You're at your best friend's engagement party, and a man who looks familiar approaches you

and starts talking to you. You just want to scope out the single women and make your way to the

bar for more vodka shots, but this guy is awkwardly standing next to you.

Talk about who you know and what you have in common

If you have common ground with a stranger, use it to your advantage. Don't take the opportunity

to gossip and bad mouth your mutual friends, rather use it in order to fill up space and maybe

make a friend while you're at it.

If you're at an engagement party, for example, say how happy you are for the couple, and ask

questions about the person's relationship with the bride or groom, like how long they've known

each other.

And if you know he's a member of the same golf club, talk about your drive, slice and what

happened at the club the other day.

Situation 3: The manager / colleague...

You're at your company's corporate Christmas party, and you're sitting at the same table with

your department -- which translates into your colleagues and managers.

How do you make small talk with your manager, who only talks at you while barking orders?

Stay informed with news and pop culture

Even though you want to make it look like you take your job seriously, it's a good idea to show

your manager that you still have time to watch the news, read the paper and see movies. In

other words, that you make time to stay informed and that you're a well-rounded man. Your life

should not only consist of the codes, laws and rules that you encounter at work.

Make small talk by mentioning whatever's in the news lately. "Did you hear about what

happened in England?" Or ask your manager whether he's seen the latest James Bond flick.

When talking about current affairs, try to avoid political topics; so if you know your boss is a

devout Republican, don't tell a George W. Bush joke, no matter how funny you think it is.

Source: http://www.xiangtan.co.uk/oralenglishsmalltalk.htm

ORAL ENGLISH: Persuasive Speaking

 

Delivering a Persuasive Speech

Sometimes we have to use skills to convince others about our positions, this is called

persuasion.

In English we need to remember that how we say something and how we present

ourselves are just as important as what we say.

Appear Rational

When we are trying to convince someone of something, we must first establish our

credibility, or in other words, we must sell ourselves before we sell the "message".

We should not use words such as "maybe" or "might", we should use positive words such

as "will" and "must".

We must supply enough information to prove our points so that we seem knowledgeable.

We should also appear to be truthful, even when we are really stretching a point.

Do not be afraid to show a little emotion. You and your voice must match the tone of the

words.

Remember:

Body language

Articulation

Pronunciation

Pitch

Pauses

Volume

Quality

Variance

The speed, or pace, is also very important for delivering a persuasive speech. Between 140-160

words per minute is the normal pace for a persuasive speech.

ACTIVITY 1: With a partner: Try to persuade your partner to go to a party with you, which is

hosted by someone that they don't like.

ACTIVITY 2: Try to persuade your partner to let you copy their homework, but your partner

doesn't like cheating!

ACTIVITY 3: Choose a statement that not everyone would agree with (E.G. "women should clean

the house"). The goal of this speech is to change someone's mind or way of thinking

about a topic.

How to be More Persuasive: There are 3 Ways to Persuade Someone:

Emotional Reasons / Arguments

Ethical Reasons / Arguments

Logical Reasons / Arguments

Persuasive Techniques:

Repetition (repeat many times)

Restatement (repeat the idea, in another way)

Parallelism (rhythmic repetition of a key word)

Announcement (precede important points with a statement)

Non Verbal Strategies:

Gestures

Eye Contact

Facial Expressions

Appropriate Clothing

Source: http://www.xiangtan.co.uk/oralenglishpersuasive.htm

ORAL ENGLISH: Expressing Opinions

HOW DO YOU SEPARATE FACT FROM OPINION?

FACTS: According to the dictionary, a fact is "anything that is done or happens; anything

actually existent; any statement strictly true; truth; reality."

Three examples of facts include:

1.The house was painted on November 18, 1999.

2.Today is Saturday.

3.The temperature was twenty-two degrees this morning.

OPINIONS: An opinion is defined as "indicating a belief, view, sentiment, conception." Obvious

indicators of opinion are when sentences include words such as:

"Generally, it is thought…" / "I believe that…"

CHANGING FACTS TO OPINIONS

Facts can be changed to opinions by adding a belief or view.

For example:

1. The house was painted recently on November 18, 1999, so it looks as good as new.

2. Today is Saturday and Mark always sleeps in on Saturdays, so that is why he is late for the

football game.

STATING OPINIONS & PREFERENCES:

I think..., In my opinion..., I'd like to..., I'd rather..., I'd prefer..., The way I see it..., As far

as I'm concerned..., If it were up to me..., I suppose..., I suspect that..., I'm pretty sure

that..., It is fairly certain that..., I'm convinced that..., I honestly feel that, I strongly

believe that..., Without a doubt,...

DISAGREEING:

I don't think that..., Don't you think it would be better..., I don't agree, I'd prefer...,

Shouldn't we consider..., But what about..., I'm afraid I don't agree..., Frankly, I doubt

if..., Let's face it, The truth of the matter is..., The problem with your point of view is

that...

GIVING REASONS AND OFFERING EXPLANATIONS:

To start with, The reason why..., That's why..., For this reason..., That's the reason why...,

Many people think...., Considering..., Allowing for the fact that..., When you consider

that...

Source: http://www.xiangtan.co.uk/oralenglishopinions.htm

ORAL ENGLISH: American English v British English

Spelling Differences

Generally American English -or as a word ending is equivalent to -our in British English.

American -er as a word ending is sometimes equivalent to -re in British English.

If a verb ends in a single 'l' then the American -ing, -ed and -er forms also have a single

'l' whereas the British forms have a double 'll'. For example American English has signaler,

signaling and signaled whereas British English has signaller, signalling and signalled.

American English tends to prefer -ize and -ization whereas British English prefers -ise

and -isation.

There are, of course, exceptions to the above rules. American usage is "glamour" not

"glamor" and "advertising" not "advertizing". British usage has "honorary" and "honorific"

without the "u"

When spelling out words (and phone numbers) it is British practice to say things such as

"double e" for "ee" and "triple / treble 3" for "333".

 

Common Spelling Differences:

 

American  British 

aluminum  aluminium 

analog  analogue 

anesthesia  anaesthesia 

archeology  archaeology 

catalog  catalogue 

center  centre 

color  colour 

defense  defence 

dialog  dialogue 

donut  doughnut 

encyclopedia 

encyclopaedia 

favorite  favourite 

gray  grey 

gynecology  gynaecology 

honor  honour 

humor  humour 

jewelry  jewellery 

license  licence 

meter  metre 

mold  mould 

mustache  moustache 

nite  night 

omelet  omelette 

pajamas pyjamas 

practice  practise 

program  programme 

routing  routeing 

specialty  speciality 

story  storey 

sulfur  sulphur 

thru  through

tire  tyre 

Source: http://www.scit.wlv.ac.uk/~jphb/american.html (by Peter Burden)

Shop Safely - How to Protect Yourself When Shopping Online by: Clive Chansa Online shopping offers many benefits that you won’t find shopping in a brick and mortar store or by mail. The Internet is always open seven days a week and 24 hours a day. Internet-only deals and bargains can be numerous online. Shopping on the Internet is no less safe than shopping in a store or by mail. Keep the following tips in mind to help ensure that your online shopping experience is a safe one. 1. While Online Order Only On A Secure Server. Use a secure browser and shop only at websites that offer encryption protection. A protected website will have one or more of these three features: a) The small lock or key symbol at the bottom of your browser window; b) An address that starts with https ("s" for "secure") instead of just http; and c) A security warning box that pops up at the point of purchase. Your browser should comply with industry security standards, such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). These standards scramble the purchase information you send over the Internet, helping to secure your transaction. 2. Pay The Safest Way. Use a credit card or Debit Card with a safe online shopping guarantee. Look for a card with specific guarantees, like 100% coverage for any losses due to fraud when shopping on the Internet. Many companies offer an online shopping guarantee that ensures you will not be held responsible for any unauthorized charges made online, and some cards may provide additional warranty, return and/or purchase protection benefits. 3. Protect Your Privacy. Look for and read a website's privacy and security policy. Stay clear of a website that either doesn't have one or does not guarantee your personal information will not be sold. This policy should disclose what information is being collected on the Web site and how that information is being used.

4. Know Who You're Dealing With. Research your merchant. Look at the ratings consumers give them and stay clear of websites that either aren't listed or receive poor marks. Shop with companies you know. Anyone can set up shop online under almost any name. If you’re not familiar with a merchant, ask for a paper catalogue or brochure to get a better idea of their merchandise and services. Also, determine the company’s refund and return policies before you place your order. These should be posted on the company’s Web site. 5. Keep A Record. Print out a copy of your order and confirmation number for your records. Reputable merchants will usually send you an email confirming your order. However a hard copy is always good to have in case your order is lost, deleted or not delivered as promised. 6. Guard Your Online Password. Keep your password(s) private. Be creative when you establish a password, and never share your website passwords with anyone. Write them down and store them in a safe place. Avoid using a telephone number, birth date or a portion of your Social Security number. Instead, use a combination of numbers, letters and symbols. Do not use the same username and password at every website. Should your personal information be compromised, a thief won't get very far if you use different passwords and usernames on different websites. 7. Track Your Purchases. Use only one credit card to shop with online. This helps keep track of your online purchases during the holidays, and will make it easier to spot purchases that are fraudulent. Look for a card that allows you to review transactions online as well -- you'll be more likely to notice a problem early on. 8. Keep Personal Information Private. Don't enter more information at a merchant website than is absolutely necessary. There is usually no reason why you should have to supply information such as birth dates or Social Security numbers when making a purchase. Fill in only the bare essentials necessary to make your purchase. If you have children, teach them to check with you before giving out personal – or family – information online.