Unit 1 · Identity & Connection · Lesson 04
Small Talk, Big Doors
Learn how to handle small talk like a natural speaker. Practise discourse markers, polite topic changes and graceful exits so short conversations open real opportunities.
Warm-up · §1
5 minGet talking
You have three minutes with someone you've never met at a professional event. What do you actually say in the first 20 seconds? Be honest — what's your default?
You step into a lift with someone senior in your field. They smile. You have eight floors. Brainstorm three openers that are neither weather nor silence.
In your culture, what topics are normal small talk and which feel intrusive? Compare with your teacher or partner — where do the lines move?
Grammar focus · §2
8–10 minDiscourse markers for natural conversation
Quick rule
Drop a discourse marker at the start of a sentence to signal what you're doing — changing topic, correcting, softening, or wrapping up.
Compare
| What you want to do | Markers | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Change topic | anyway, by the way, speaking of which | Anyway, what brings you here? |
| Correct or refine | actually, I mean, or rather | Actually, I used to work there too. |
| Soften a counter-point | mind you, having said that, then again | Mind you, it wasn't all bad. |
| Wrap up politely | right, anyway, listen | Right, I should let you go. |
Examples
- →
Anyway, what brings you to the conference?
- →
By the way, I really enjoyed your talk earlier.
- →
Actually, I used to work in that industry too.
- →
Mind you, it wasn't all bad — I learned a lot.
- →
Right, I should probably go and grab a coffee — it was lovely meeting you.
Common mistakes
By the way that I really enjoyed your talk.
✓ By the way, I really enjoyed your talk.
Markers are followed by a comma, not 'that'.
Anyway I should go.
✓ Anyway, I should go.
Always punctuate the pause.
Natural English
Two or three discourse markers in a 60-second exchange is the difference between sounding like a learner and sounding like a speaker.
Deep dive (full explanation)
Discourse markers are the small words that signal what you're doing with a sentence: changing topic (anyway, by the way), correcting yourself (actually, I mean), softening a counter-point (mind you, having said that), or wrapping up (right, anyway, listen). At B2 they make you sound like a real speaker rather than a phrasebook. They live mostly at the start of a sentence, separated by a comma and a slight pause.
Question 1.Which marker best signals a topic change to something unrelated?
Question 2.Which marker softly contradicts your own previous sentence?
Question 3.Choose the most natural opener to politely close a chat.
Question 4.'I work in marketing. ___, mostly in tech.' Fill in.
Question 5.Which is the most natural B2 self-correction?
Build the sentence → spot the natural chunks → say it aloud → reply like a real conversation.
1.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
2.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
3.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
Vocabulary · §3
5–7 minWords & phrases to own
to break the ice
to start a conversation in a slightly awkward social moment.
to strike up a conversation
to start chatting with someone you don't know.
to hit it off (with sb)
to instantly get on well with someone.
small talk
light social conversation about safe, neutral topics.
to make the rounds
to move around an event greeting and chatting with different people.
common ground
a shared interest or experience you can build a conversation on.
to follow up
to contact someone again after a first meeting.
an opener
the first thing you say to start a conversation.
to wrap (sth) up
to bring something to a close politely.
an awkward silence
an uncomfortable pause in a conversation.
Activate it now
These phrases only start working when you attach them to your own real situations.
- Make it yours#1
Describe the last time you struck up a conversation with a stranger. Where? What was your opener?
to strike up a conversationan opener - Complete#2
Finish two: 'A good way to break the ice is ___', 'I always find common ground with people who ___', 'I knew we'd hit it off when ___'.
to break the icecommon groundto hit it off - Rank#3
Rank these openers from best to worst at a work event: the weather, the venue, the speaker, what someone is drinking, why they came. Defend your top choice.
an openersmall talk - Your view#4
Agree or disagree: 'Small talk is a waste of time — get straight to the point.' Give one reason.
small talk - Discuss#5
Is it more important to be good at opening conversations or at wrapping them up gracefully?
to wrap (sth) upan opener - Quick write#6
Write a 30-word follow-up message to someone you met once. Use 'follow up' + one phrase from the vocab list.
to follow upcommon ground
Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.
Pronunciation · §4
3–4 minIntonation on discourse markers + comma pause
Discourse markers carry a small intonation lift and a very short pause after them, like a breath. 'Anyway, ↗ … what brings you here?' If you say them flat or rush past the comma, they vanish and your sentence sounds blunt. The marker is doing social work — give it the half-second it needs.
- Lift + pause — 'Anyway, ↗ what brings you here?'
- Lift + pause — 'By the way, ↗ I loved your question earlier.'
- Soft fall — 'Mind you, ↘ it wasn't all easy.'
- Polite close — 'Right, ↘ I should let you get back to it.'
Reading · §5
8–10 minThe Two-Minute Conversation That Changed My Career
Listen to the passage
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
I almost didn't go to the event. It was a Tuesday, it was raining, and I'd already had a long day. But a colleague had pushed me into registering, and I'd left my umbrella at the office, so leaving felt harder than staying. I made myself stand near the drinks table — the only person I knew at any event is whoever's pouring the wine. After about ten minutes of pretending to check my phone, a woman next to me asked, very simply, 'First time at one of these?' That was the opener. Nothing clever. No elevator pitch. Just a small door, held open. We talked for about two minutes. I told her what I did. She told me what she did. We found a tiny piece of common ground — we'd both lived briefly in Lisbon — and then she had to make the rounds and I went back to my phone. But she'd taken my card. And three weeks later she sent a single line: 'Saw this and thought of you,' with a link to a role at her company. I went for it. I got it. It's now the job I've been in for four years. The thing about small talk is that it's almost never about the talk itself. It's about being someone people can imagine working with. The two-minute version of you that someone meets at the drinks table is, weirdly, the version they remember. Worth making sure that version is awake.
Question 1.What was the writer's opener at the event?
Question 2.What is the writer's main point about small talk?
Question 3.Why does the writer mention Lisbon?
Question 4.The writer's tone is best described as…
Q1.The writer had a polished opener prepared for the event.
Q2.The conversation that changed the writer's career lasted about two minutes.
Q3.The writer believes small talk is mostly about the actual words exchanged.
Q4.The job offer came through a short follow-up message weeks later.
Listening · §6
8–10 minAt the conference drinks table (about 1:50)
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Show transcript
Priya:First time at one of these?
Tomás:Is it that obvious? Yeah, first one.
Priya:It's the standing-near-the-wine that gives it away. Don't worry, that's where I am every time.
Tomás:Good. I was starting to think I'd made a mistake coming.
Priya:Anyway, what brings you here?
Tomás:I work in user research — mostly in health tech. You?
Priya:Oh, interesting. I'm on the product side, but mostly fintech. Mind you, we did one health project last year and it nearly broke us.
Tomás:Yeah, that sounds about right. Were you UK-based for it?
Priya:Lisbon, actually. We had a small team there.
Tomás:No way — I lived in Lisbon for a year after uni.
Priya:Did you? Whereabouts?
Tomás:Alfama. Very romantic, very loud at 3am.
Priya:Ha. Yes. By the way — have you got a card? There's a project coming up that's a bit research-heavy, might be relevant.
Tomás:Yeah, sure. Here you go.
Priya:Right, I should probably make the rounds before the talks start. Really nice meeting you — I'll follow up properly next week.
Tomás:Likewise. Enjoy the rest of the evening.
Question 1.How does Priya open the conversation?
Question 2.What common ground do they find?
Question 3.How does Priya close the conversation politely?
Question 4.Which discourse marker does Priya use to soften a complaint?
Exam skills · §7
5 minStrategy focus — Sounding natural in social small talk
Task
Small talk — at conferences, parties, in shared kitchens, in taxis — is where B2 speakers either sound fluent or stiff. The difference isn't vocabulary, it's natural rhythm: discourse markers, qualifying, and not over-explaining.
Strategy
Use a 3-step answer: (1) direct answer, (2) one specific reason or example, (3) one short reflection or qualifier with a discourse marker ('mind you…', 'actually…', 'having said that…'). It lands a complete, natural answer in about 25 seconds.
Example
Do I enjoy meeting new people? On the whole, yes — I find it energising rather than draining (1). I used to be quite shy, so I made a point of going to events on my own when I moved cities (2). Mind you, I do need a quiet evening afterwards to recover — I'm not as extroverted as I look (3).
Practice · §8
8–10 minFill in the blank
Question 1.___, what brings you to the conference today?
Question 2.___, I really enjoyed your question in the panel earlier.
Question 3.We instantly ___ it off — same humour, same taste in films.
Question 4.She struck ___ a conversation with me at the coffee machine.
Question 5.Right, I should probably ___ this up and go and find my colleague.
Question 6.I'll ___ up with you by email next week.
Q1.Polite topic-change to an unrelated point: '___ the way, did you see the keynote?'
Q2.Soft self-correction: '___, I meant Thursday, not Wednesday.'
Q3.Polite signal that you're closing: '___, I should let you get back to it.'
Writing · §9
5 minPut it in writing
Your task
Write a 80–110 word LinkedIn follow-up message to someone you met once at an event. Use at least: a reminder of where you met, one piece of common ground, a clear reason for the follow-up, and a low-pressure call to action.
Your answer
Show model answer
Hi Priya — really nice to meet you at the product conference on Tuesday, even if it was mostly by the wine table. Funny coincidence on both having lived in Lisbon — Alfama gang, apparently. You mentioned a research-heavy project coming up; I'd genuinely love to hear more whenever you've got the bandwidth. No pressure on timing. I've attached a couple of recent case studies from health-tech work in case any of it overlaps. Happy to jump on a 20-minute call, or just keep it on email — whatever's easier. Either way, hope the rest of the week is a calm one.
Speaking · §10
10–15 minMake it a real conversation
ROLEPLAY — 'Two minutes at the drinks table.' Take turns with your teacher or partner. Each person plays themselves at an industry event. You have ONE minute to open, find common ground and exchange a hook for follow-up; then the other person takes a turn. Use at least two discourse markers per turn and one graceful close.
Useful phrases
- • First time at one of these?
- • Anyway, what brings you here?
- • By the way, I really enjoyed…
- • No way — me too / I did too.
- • Mind you, it wasn't all easy…
- • Have you got a card?
- • Right, I should probably make the rounds.
- • Really nice meeting you — I'll follow up next week.
- AnaFirst time at one of these?
- You_______________
- AnaHa. Anyway, what brings you here?
- You_______________
- AnaOh nice — I'm on the product side. We did a mobile project last year that nearly broke us.
- You_______________
- AnaExactly. Anyway, I should make the rounds — could I get your card?
- You_______________
Optional · Teacher-led
Teacher Activities
Two optional teacher-led activities for live classes. ~25 min total
Homework · §11
Take-homeTake it home
Record a 60-second voice memo of yourself opening a small-talk conversation at an imaginary event. Use two discourse markers and one graceful close. Listen back — did you actually pause after the markers?
Write a 100-word follow-up message to someone you've met in real life but never followed up with. (You don't have to send it.) Include one piece of common ground and one low-pressure call to action.
Write one true sentence using each of: break the ice, hit it off, common ground, make the rounds, wrap up.
Re-listen to the conference drinks-table dialogue. Note every discourse marker (anyway, by the way, mind you, right, actually). Which ones do you already use? Which one will you steal this week?
Recap · §12
2–3 minWhat you've learned
- You can use discourse markers (anyway, by the way, actually, mind you, right) to manage a conversation naturally.
- You can open, build and close a short small-talk conversation with B2 phrases.
- You can find and name common ground to make a chat memorable.
- You can exit a conversation politely without sounding abrupt or apologetic.
- You can write a low-pressure follow-up message after meeting someone once.