Small Talk: B1+ - Deborah Capras

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don’t worry too much about making mistakes. Generally, people don’t pay a lot of attention to language errors, but they won’t forget someone who is showing an interest in them and is interesting to talk to. That is what small talk is really all about.

      

My goals

      â€¢ Make a good first impression

      â€¢ Greet people I’ve never met before

      â€¢ Check names and help people to remember mine

       Study focus

      At conferences, networking events and even in the office – wherever you do business – you will meet new people. How do you make a good first impression? A warm, friendly greeting will help you. Using small talk to start a conversation will help too. Try to make sure that people remember you and try to remember them too. You might not hear their name properly the first time, and in this chapter you will learn how to ask people to repeat their name.

       Key phrases

       Making the first move

      I don’t think we’ve been introduced. My name’s Hans, Hans Schiller.

      Hi, I’m Mary, Mary Smith.

      We haven’t actually met, but I’m Hans Schiller.

      May I introduce myself? I’m Mary Smith.

      I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Mary Smith.

       Giving the right response

      It’s a pleasure to meet you.

      Pleased to meet you.

      (It’s) good/great/nice to meet you.

      (It’s) good/great/nice to meet you too.

       Checking names

      I’m sorry, but I didn’t catch your name.

      I’m sorry, but what was your last name again?

      How do you spell your name?

      â€˜Athanasis’. Am I saying it correctly?

       Helping people to remember your name

      Please, call me John.

      Let me give you my (business) card.

      Here’s my (business) card.

       Go to www.collinselt.com/businessresources to listen to the key phrases.

       Scenarios

Rena: Hi, I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Rena Chioti.
Antonio: Nice to meet you, Ms Chioti. Am I saying it correctly?
Rena: Yes, but please, call me Rena.
Antonio: Rena. I’m Antonio, Antonio Messina.
Rena: Good to meet you too, Antonio. How do you spell your name? Is it with double ‘s’?
Antonio: Yes, like the city in Sicily. My family’s from there.
Rob: We haven’t actually met, but I’m Rob Williams.
Markus: It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Professor Kern, Markus Kern.
Rob: It’s good to meet you too.
Markus: I’m sorry, but I didn’t catch your last name.
Rob: It’s Williams, as in Robbie Williams. You know, the singer. Let me give you my business card.
Markus: Thank you. And here’s mine.
Jules: Hello. I don’t think we’ve been introduced. My name’s Jules, Jules Chirac.
Sergei: Oh, I’m sorry, Jules! Sandra, this is Jules Chirac, our designer in our French office. Jules, this is Sandra Harper. She’s with RTV.
Sandra: Nice to meet you, Jules. I’ve seen your work. It’s impressive.
Jules: Thank you. That’s great to hear. It’s nice to meet you too.

       Go to www.collinselt.com/businessresources to listen to the scenarios.

       Over to you

       1 Match the sentence beginnings with the sentence endings.

1 I’m sorry, but I 2 Let me give you 3 I don’t think we’ve 4 May I 5 It’s a pleasure to a been introduced. b meet you. c didn’t catch your name. d introduce myself? e my business card.

       2 John is talking to Sayuri when Ria joins them. Put the dialogue in the correct order.

1 Ria: Hello. I don’t think we’ve

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