🇬🇧 🥳 Social · Everyday conversation, with effort (A2)

🥂 Small talk at a party

🎯 Start, keep going and politely end a conversation with a stranger

Use the usual 50-minute plan: warm-up → key phrases → challenges → role-play → discussion → wrap-up. Share this page on Zoom so the student can see the phrases, but keep "Your card" to yourself.

💬 Warm-up questions

Do you like parties?
How do you start talking to someone new?

🔑 Key phrases

So, how do you know the host?ホストとはどういう知り合いですか？
What do you do?お仕事は何を？
Oh really? That sounds interesting.へえ、おもしろそうですね。
How long have you been doing that?どのくらいやっているんですか？
Same here!私もです！
It was really nice talking to you.お話しできてよかったです。

📚 Useful words

host — 主催者
mutual friend — 共通の友人
catch up — 近況を話す
mingle — いろいろな人と話す
awkward silence — 気まずい沈黙
grab a drink — 飲み物を取りに行く

⚡ Speaking challenges

Ask 3 follow-up questions about my job.
Keep a conversation going about the weather for 1 minute.
End a conversation politely in 2 ways.
Introduce two people to each other.

🎭 Role-play

A house party with people from many countries.

🧑‍🎓 Student's card

Talk to a stranger for 5 minutes: find 2 things in common, then end the conversation politely.

🧑‍🏫 Your card (tutor)

Be a stranger who gives short answers at first. Open up only when the student asks follow-up questions.

🌀 Twist (halfway through): Awkward silence! The student must restart the conversation with a new topic.

🗣️ Discussion questions

What topics are safe for small talk? Which ones aren't?
Is small talk important or a waste of time?
How is small talk different in Japan?

📌 Homework

Write 10 small-talk questions you can use at your next event次のイベントで使える雑談の質問を10個書く