Small Talk: Annoying But Simple!

Small talk is very short and casual conversation we have when we talk to people we don’t really know. The purpose is to fill in awkward silences and "break the ice". You might engage in small talk with your hairdresser, someone in the elevator with you, or the person sitting next to you on the plane. This is very common in American culture because it shows we are polite and that we value them.

Oftentimes, this is a challenge for non-native speakers, not just because of language issues but because small talk can be very rare in their culture. In some countries, it's common to stay reserved and not ask too many questions to someone you don't really know.

In Seattle, where I live, people are very friendly and talkative all the time, so small talk is very common and necessary.  Sometimes when I'm shopping, waiting for my coffee, or even crossing the street, I have to be prepared to engage in some small talk!

But be careful, small talk doesn't mean you could say or ask anything.  Don't talk about overly personal topics such as, death, religion, money etc

Here are some common small talk topics: 
-Weather (Can you believe it's still raining?)
-What's going on with them (How's your day been?)
-Upcoming plans (Any plans for Christmas?)
-A compliment (Nice shoes!)
-Current events (Did you hear about....)

Watch this interesting clip here on the importance of small talk. Is your culture a coconut or a peach?

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