This is the presentation for English learners with some insights on small talk: the reasons why it is difficult for English learners, how to succeed and learn to communicate better, plus I share a couple of advice on how to ask questions an easier way. The presentation was used on a live webinar on December 08th. Here is the replay link: https://youtu.be/jqLgL7o5AhE.

1. Secrets of Small Talk:
Asking Questions

2. Hello!
I am Daria Storozhilova
I am a professional English teacher specialising
in Communication.
I have created a @smartlanguagelearning
project to help English learners master Speaking
and Writing skills in a modern way.

3. 1.
Small Talk - yay or nay?
Is it a real thing?

4. Informal, friendly conversation
about unimportant subjects.
(Merriam Webster Learner's
Dictionary)
Small Talk

5. Small talk is
important!

6. It helps making
contact
Most deals are
closed in the
'smoking room'.

7. What will help you be cool
■ Don't try to be different from
your usual self;

8. What will help you be cool
■ Don't try to be different from
your usual self;
■ Listen!!!

9. What will help you be cool
■ Don't try to be different from
your usual self;
■ Listen!!!
■ Answer the last thing you
heard, don't just talk about
the topic in general

10. If you know what to say
before the person stops
talking,
communication is not happening!!!

11. Why is small talk
so hard for
English learners?

12. We are all stressed
about new people.

13. We are not used to
asking questions.

14. 2.
Asking questions an easy way
Play safe

15. ■ Use tag questions
How to turn your sentence
into a question

16. ■ This is a very beautiful
city.
■ You have been here
before.
■ The meeting was quite
harsh today.
■ You like it here.
■ It looks serious.
How to turn your sentence
into a question

17. ■ This is a very beautiful
city.
■ You have been here
before.
■ The meeting was quite
harsh today.
■ You (do) like it here.
■ It (does) looks serious.
How to turn your sentence
into a question

18. ■ This is a very beautiful
city,
■ You have been here
before.
■ The meeting was quite
harsh today.
■ You (do) like it here.
■ It (does) looks serious.
How to turn your sentence
into a question
■
■ isn't it?
■
■ haven't you?
■
■ wasn't it?
■ don't you?
■ doesn't it?

19. POSITIVE,
Tag Questions Principle

20. POSITIVE,
Tag Questions Principle
NEGATIVE?

21. POSITIVE,
NEGATIVE,
Tag Questions Principle
NEGATIVE?

22. POSITIVE,
NEGATIVE,
Tag Questions Principle
NEGATIVE?
POSITIVE?

23. ■ This is a very beautiful
city,
How to turn your sentence
into a question
■
■ isn't it?
■
■
■

24. ■ This is a very beautiful
city,
■ You have been here
before,
How to turn your sentence
into a question
■
■ isn't it?
■
■ haven't you?
■
■
■

25. ■ This is a very beautiful
city,
■ You have been here
before,
■ He has never been
here before,
How to turn your sentence
into a question
■
■ isn't it?
■
■ haven't you?
■
■ has he?
■
■

26. ■ This is a very beautiful
city,
■ You have been here
before,
■ He has never been
here before,
■ You are not a doctor,
How to turn your sentence
into a question
■
■ isn't it?
■
■ haven't you?
■
■ has he?
■ are you?
■

27. Now, your
turn!

28. We all like travelling.
Make the tag questions out of
this sentences and say them
out loud

29. We all like travelling,
don't we?
Correct Question

30. She is the new Head
of Department.
Make the tag questions out of
this sentences and say them
out loud

31. She is the new Head
of Department,
isn't she?
Correct Question

32. Everybody will be
there.
Make the tag questions out of
this sentences and say them
out loud

33. Everybody will be
there, won't they?
Correct Question

34. This is your first time
here.
Make the tag questions out of
this sentences and say them
out loud

35. This is your first time
here, isn't it?
Correct Question

36. You would never
think time flies so
fast.
Make the tag questions out of
this sentences and say them
out loud

37. You would never
think time flies so
fast, doesn't it?
Correct Question

38. ■ Use tag questions
■ Use indirect questions
How to turn your sentence
into a question

39. ■ Do you know…
■ Any idea...
■ Could you tell me…
■ Please tell me..
■ I was wondering...
How to turn your sentence
into a question
+ sentence

40. Indirect Questions
Do you know where it is?
Any idea how long this meeting will
last?
Do you know when we will land?
Any idea how it works?

41. Practice makes
perfect!

42. What I offer
■ Online English Exchange Group (one
time a week, two levels (Low
Intermediate and Advanced),
throughout the year)
■ Communication Course - Online
Group (one time a week, Low
Intermediate Level, 12 classes, 3
months, starts in January)

43. Thanks!
More information how to join the
groups on www.stordar.com.
Any questions?
contact@stordar.com
Facebook @smartlanguagelearning
Twitter @StordarLearn
Instagram @smartlanguagelearning

44. Next Webinar
Setting English Learning
Goals
for 2017
Monday, December 19th,
6.00pm CET

45. Credits
Special thanks to all the people who made and released
these awesome resources for free:
■ Presentation template by SlidesCarnival
■ Photographs by Death to the Stock Photo (license)
■ Diverse device hand photos by Facebook Design
Resources