Communication

G. Read the text. (Đọc văn bản)

English speakers often make small talk when they meet someone new. In general, small talk should make people feel more comfortable—not less comfortable—so the topics should not be very personal. For example, “Which department do you work in?” is a good question at work, but “How much money do you make?” is too personal.

Answer:

Người nói tiếng Anh thường có thói quen trò chuyện nhỏ khi gặp người lạ. Nói chung, trò chuyện nhỏ nên làm cho người ta cảm thấy thoải mái hơn, chứ không phải bất an hơn, vì vậy các chủ đề không nên quá cá nhân. Ví dụ, "Bạn làm việc ở phòng ban nào?" là một câu hỏi tốt ở nơi làm việc, nhưng "Bạn kiếm được bao nhiêu tiền?" thì quá cá nhân.

G. Circle the topics that are good for small talk when you meet someone for the first time. Then add two more ideas. Compare your ideas in pairs.

(Khoanh tròn các chủ đề phù hợp để nói chuyện nhỏ khi bạn gặp ai đó lần đầu tiên. Sau đó thêm hai ý nữa. So sánh ý tưởng của bạn theo cặp)

family money religion school sports work __________ __________

Answer:

Good for small talk: family, school, sports, work

Additional ideas:

• Hobbies/interests

• Travel

Comparison:

While family, school, sports, and work are more common topics for small talk, hobbies/interests and travel can also be great icebreakers. These two topics are more personal and can help establish common ground or shared experiences between the speakers. However, it's important to gauge the other person's interest in these topics and avoid delving too deeply into sensitive or controversial areas.

H. In pairs, read the situations. Choose a question to ask for each situation. Then, write and practice brief conversations based on the situations.

(Theo cặp, đọc các tình huống. Chọn một câu hỏi để hỏi cho từng tình huống. Sau đó, viết và thực hành các đoạn hội thoại ngắn dựa trên các tình huống)

Situation 1. Min-Hee talks to Judy. It’s Judy's first day at this job.

a. Are you new in this city?

b. Are you making a good salary here?

Situation 2. Andrei is from Russia. He talks to Eduardo at the International Students’ Club. It’s Eduardo's first meeting.

a. Where are you from?

b. Do you practice a religion?

Situation 3. Mark lives in apartment 104. He meets his new neighbor Lisa in the apartment building.

a. Do you like living here?

b. Are you married?

Situation 4. Liz is making small talk with another student in her class.

a. What was your grade on the test?

b. Did you think the test was difficult?

Answer:

Situation 1:

Liz: Hi Judy, welcome to the office! Are you new in this city?

Judy: Yes, I am. I moved here just a week ago.

Liz: That's great. How do you like it so far?

Judy: It's been good. People seem friendly here.

Liz: Yeah, this city is known for its friendly locals. Are you making a good salary here?

Judy: I think so. It's my first job out of college, so I don't have much to compare it to.

Liz: Well, that's good to hear. I hope you like your work here.

Judy: Thanks, I'm looking forward to it.

Situation 2:

Andrei: Hi Eduardo, welcome to the International Students’ Club. Where are you from?

Eduardo: Hi Andrei, I'm from Brazil. What about you?

Andrei: I'm from Russia. That's cool, Brazil is such a beautiful country.

Eduardo: Yeah, it is. Have you been there?

Andrei: No, not yet. But it's on my list of places to visit.

Eduardo: You should definitely come. Do you practice a religion?

Andrei: Yes, I'm Orthodox Christian. How about you?

Eduardo: I'm Catholic. It's great that we can learn about different cultures and religions here at the club.

Andrei: Yes, I agree. It's always interesting to learn about new perspectives.

Situation 3:

Mark: Hi, I'm Mark. I live in apartment 104. Are you new here?

Lisa: Hi Mark, I'm Lisa. Yeah, I just moved in last week.

Mark: Do you like living here?

Lisa: Yeah, it's been great so far. The location is convenient, and the apartment is cozy.

Mark: That's good to hear. I've been living here for a few months now, and it's been nice. Are you married?

Lisa: No, I'm not. How about you?

Mark: No, I'm single too. It's nice to have a friendly neighbor, though.

Lisa: Yeah, definitely. It's good to know someone in the building.

Situation 4:

Liz: Hi, I'm Liz. What did you think of the test?

Student: Hi, I'm John. I thought it was pretty tough. How about you?

Liz: Yeah, I agree. I found some of the questions really challenging.

John: What was your grade on it?

Liz: I got a B-. I was hoping for an A, but I guess I need to study more.

John: Yeah, me too. I got a C+. It's tough to balance studying with everything else we have going on.

Liz: I know, right? But we can do it. We just need to stay focused and keep working hard.

I. With your partner, discuss the “incorrect” answers from H.

(Cùng với đối tác của bạn, thảo luận về các câu trả lời “không chính xác” của H)

Why do you think those questions might make someone feel uncomfortable? Do you think it’s the same in Vietnamese culture?

Answer:

In Situation 1, asking about someone's salary can make them feel uncomfortable because it's a personal and sensitive topic. Some people might feel like their worth is being judged based on their salary, or they might feel uncomfortable sharing that information with a stranger. In Vietnamese culture, it may also be considered impolite or too direct to ask about someone's salary.

In Situation 2, asking about someone's religion can make them feel uncomfortable because it's a personal and sensitive topic for many people. Some people may not want to disclose their religion to others, or they may feel like they're being judged based on their beliefs. In Vietnamese culture, it may also be considered impolite or too personal to ask about someone's religion.

In Situation 3, asking about someone's marital status can make them feel uncomfortable because it's a personal and private matter. Some people may not want to share this information with others, or they may feel like they're being judged based on their relationship status. In Vietnamese culture, it may also be considered impolite or too direct to ask about someone's marital status.

Overall, it's important to be mindful of the questions we ask others and to respect their privacy and boundaries. In Vietnamese culture, as in many cultures, there are certain topics that are considered sensitive or personal and should be approached with tact and sensitivity.

Goal check

1. In pairs, write four good questions to ask when you meet someone new in the following situations:

* Situation 1: You are a new student in the class. You don't know anybody here.

* Situation 2: You are at the bus stop. Your bus will arrive in 10 minutes.

* Situation 3: You are waiting in line to buy movie tickets at a cinema.

2. Join another pair and ask and answer your questions.

Are all of the questions good for making small talk?

Answer:

Situation 1:

1. What brings you to this class?

2. Have you studied this subject before?

3. What do you like to do outside of class?

4. Do you have any recommendations for good lunch spots nearby?

Situation 2:

1. Do you take this bus often?

2. How long have you lived in this area?

3. Have you tried any of the cafes or restaurants around here?

4. Do you have any fun weekend plans coming up?

Situation 3:

1. Have you seen any good movies lately?

2. Do you have a favorite movie genre?

3. How often do you go to the movies?

4. Do you have any recommendations for movies to see?

These questions are good for making small talk and getting to know someone a little bit better in each of these situations. They are open-ended and not too personal or sensitive, which can help to build rapport and create a friendly atmosphere.

When joining another pair, each person can take turns asking and answering the questions, allowing for a more natural conversation to develop.

Yes, all of these questions are good for making small talk. They are friendly and non-intrusive, and they allow for the conversation to flow naturally without getting too personal or sensitive.