Effortless English Learning - Talk to new people

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Effortless English Learning

Talk to new people 

Alison: Welcome to Effortless English Learning!
Will: We’re here to help you improve your English in a fun and natural way.
Alison: I’m Alison.
Alison: I speak American English.
Alison: I’ve lived in the U.S. for many years.
Will: And I’m Will.
Will: I speak British English.
Will: I spent a long time in the U.K.
Alison: Before we start, don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast.
Will: And if you need subtitles, turn on the CC feature to follow along.
Alison: Now, today we have an exciting topic.
Alison: How to talk to new people!
Will: That’s right!
Will: Meeting new people can feel a bit tricky.
Will: Especially if English is not your first language.
Alison: But don’t worry!
Alison: Today, we’ll show you how to make small talk sound easy and natural.
Will: And we’ll also look at some differences between American and British small talk.
Alison: Yes!
Alison: Because sometimes, people use different phrases in the U.S. and the U.K.
Will: And if you mix them up, things can get awkward or even funny!
Alison: So, let’s make sure you know the right way to start a conversation.
Will: But first, we have a short recorded conversation for you.
Alison: Listen carefully to how the speakers introduce themselves and keep the conversation going.
Will: After that, we’ll break it down and explain useful phrases.
Alison: Alright, let’s listen to the conversation!

Terry: Hey, I’m Terry. Nice to meet you!

Lydia: Hi, Terry! I’m Lydia. Nice to meet you too!

Terry: Do you come to these parties often?

Lydia: Not really. A friend invited me. What about you?

Terry: Same here! I don’t know many people yet.

Lydia: Well, now you know me!

Terry: That’s true! So, what do you do?

Lydia: I work in marketing. How about you?

Terry: I’m a software engineer. Do you like your job?

Lydia: Yeah, it’s fun! But sometimes it’s stressful.

Terry: I get that. Deadlines can be crazy.

Lydia: Exactly! But I like being creative.

Terry: That’s cool. Do you work from home?

Lydia: Half the time. It’s nice, but I miss the office too.

Terry: I know what you mean. I like working with people.

Lydia: Yeah! It makes things more interesting.

Terry: So, what do you do for fun?

Lydia: I love hiking and trying new food. You?

Terry: I love food too! Got any favorite restaurants?

Lydia: Too many! But there’s a great taco place downtown.

Terry: I love tacos! Maybe I should check it out.

Lydia: You should! Their fish tacos are amazing.

Terry: Sounds awesome. Do you like cooking too?

Lydia: A little, but I’m not great at it.

Terry: Same here. I can make eggs, that’s about it.

Lydia: Hey, eggs are important!

Terry: True! Can’t survive without breakfast.

Lydia: Exactly! Do you drink coffee?

Terry: Every morning. Can’t start my day without it.

Lydia: Same! Black coffee or with cream?

Terry: Black. Simple and strong.

Lydia: Nice! I like mine with oat milk.

Terry: Oat milk is good! So, do you like traveling?

Lydia: Love it! I just went to Italy last year.

Terry: No way! Italy is on my bucket list.

Lydia: You should go! The food alone is worth it.

Terry: I believe it. So, where do you want to go next?

Lydia: Japan, for sure. I love Japanese culture.

Terry: That’s awesome! Maybe we’ll run into each other there.

Lydia: Who knows? The world is small!

Alison: Let’s take a closer look at the conversation.
Will: Yes! There are many useful phrases here.
Alison: The first one is "Nice to meet you!"
Alison: This is the most common way to greet someone new.
Will: Absolutely!
Will: In the U.K., we sometimes say, "Pleased to meet you!"
Alison: Right!
Alison: But in the U.S., "Pleased to meet you" sounds a bit formal.
Will: So, if you’re in America, "Nice to meet you" is the safest choice.
Alison: Next, we have "Do you come to these parties often?"
Alison: This is a common way to continue a conversation.
Will: Yes, but be careful!
Will: If you say this in a certain way, it can sound like a pickup line.
Alison: True!
Alison: If you ask it too seriously, it may sound flirty.
Will: A safer way to ask is, "Have you been here before?"
Alison: Or, "Is this your first time at this event?"
Will: That way, you sound more natural and friendly.
Alison: Next, let’s look at "What do you do?"
Alison: This is a common way to ask about someone’s job.
Will: Yes, but in the U.K., we often say, "What do you do for a living?"
Alison: Right!
Alison: In the U.S., we usually keep it short and say, "What do you do?"
Will: If you’re not working, you can say, "I’m a student" or "I’m between jobs."
Alison: Good point!
Alison: And if you don’t want to talk about work, you can say, "I do a little bit of everything!"
Will: That’s a clever way to avoid the question.
Alison: Next, let’s talk about how to keep a conversation going.
Alison: One way is by using short responses like "That’s true!" or "Exactly!"
Will: Yes!
Will: These phrases show that you’re listening.
Will: They also make the conversation feel more natural.
Alison: Another tip is to ask, "How about you?"
Alison: This keeps the conversation balanced.
Will: Right!
Will: Instead of just answering a question, you can return it.
Will: For example, "I’m a software engineer. How about you?"
Alison: That makes the conversation feel smooth.
Alison: If you don’t ask anything back, the chat might stop too soon.
Will: Exactly!
Will: If someone asks, "What do you do for fun?"
Will: You can answer and then say, "What about you?"
Alison: That way, the conversation keeps moving.
Alison: Another great tip is using "Same here!"
Will: Yes!
Will: If someone says, "I love food!" you can reply, "Same here!"
Alison: It’s a simple way to show agreement.
Alison: It also makes you sound more natural.
Will: And don’t forget, tone of voice matters!
Will: Even a good phrase can sound rude if you say it the wrong way.
Alison: Yes!
Alison: Saying "What do you do?" with a flat voice might sound cold.
Will: But if you smile and say it warmly, it sounds friendly.
Alison: So, remember to use the right tone when speaking.
Will: These small details can make a big difference!

Alison: Now, let’s talk about cultural differences.
Will: Yes! Small talk is different in the U.S. and the U.K.
Alison: In the U.S., people are quite direct.
Alison: A common way to start a conversation is, "Hey! How’s it going?"
Will: In the U.K., we’re a bit more reserved.
Will: We might say, "Lovely day, isn’t it?"
Alison: That sounds so British!
Will: It is!
Will: Talking about the weather is a safe way to start a chat.
Alison: That’s true!
Alison: In America, people might ask, "What’s up?"
Alison: But it doesn’t always need a real answer.
Will: Yes, in the U.K., we often say, "You alright?"
Alison: Right!
Alison: But Americans might think that means, "Are you okay?"
Will: Exactly!
Will: They may think something is wrong.
Alison: So, if someone from the U.K. says, "You alright?" just reply, "Yeah, I’m good!"
Will: And if an American says, "What’s up?" you can just say, "Not much!"
Alison: Now, let’s look at "Cheers."
Alison: In America, "Cheers" means a toast with drinks.
Will: But in the U.K., we also use it to mean "Thank you."
Alison: Right!
Alison: If a Brit says "Cheers!" after getting their coffee, they mean "Thanks!"
Will: That’s correct!
Will: But if an American hears "Cheers!" at a coffee shop, they might be confused.
Alison: Here’s another one—"Excuse me" versus "Sorry."
Alison: Americans say "Excuse me" when moving past someone.
Will: But Brits often say "Sorry," even if they didn’t do anything wrong!
Alison: That’s so interesting!
Alison: Americans say "Sorry" when they actually feel bad.
Will: But Brits say "Sorry" all the time.
Will: If two Brits bump into each other, they both say "Sorry!"
Alison: And sometimes, Brits say "Sorry" just to be polite.
Will: Yes!
Will: If a waiter brings the wrong drink, a Brit might say, "Sorry, but I think this is not what I ordered."
Alison: An American would just say, "Oh, I didn’t order this!"
Will: Exactly!
Will: Americans sound more direct.
Alison: But neither way is wrong.
Alison: It’s just a cultural difference!
Will: That’s right!
Will: If you’re in the U.S., people expect directness.
Alison: And in the U.K., being extra polite is always safe.
Will: So, understanding these little differences helps avoid confusion.
Alison: Yes!
Alison: It also makes small talk much easier.

Alison: Now, let’s talk about common mistakes people make.
Will: Yes! Small talk seems easy, but there are some common errors.
Alison: The first mistake is using overly formal language.
Alison: For example, saying, "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Will: That sounds too old-fashioned!
Will: In daily life, just say, "Nice to meet you!"
Alison: Exactly!
Alison: If you sound too formal, it might feel unnatural.
Will: And people might think you’re being distant.
Alison: Another mistake is giving one-word answers.
Alison: If someone asks, "Do you like your job?" and you just say, "Yes," the conversation dies.
Will: Right!
Will: Instead, add a little more.
Will: Say, "Yes, I love it! It’s creative and exciting."
Alison: That way, the other person has something to respond to.
Will: Here’s another mistake—not asking anything back.
Will: If someone asks, "What do you do?" and you just answer, the chat stops.
Alison: Yes!
Alison: Always ask, "How about you?"
Alison: This keeps the conversation balanced.
Will: Another mistake is overthinking grammar.
Will: Some learners worry too much about making mistakes.
Alison: Right!
Alison: But small talk is about connection, not perfect grammar.
Will: Yes!
Will: Even native speakers make small mistakes when chatting.
Alison: So, focus on being natural instead of being perfect.
Will: Another common mistake is not knowing when to stop talking.
Will: If you keep talking without letting the other person speak, it feels like a speech.
Alison: That’s true!
Alison: A good rule is to say one or two sentences, then pause.
Will: Yes!
Will: Give the other person time to react.
Alison: Some people also worry too much about sounding interesting.
Alison: But small talk isn’t about telling amazing stories.
Will: Exactly!
Will: It’s about showing interest in the other person.
Alison: If you ask good questions, the conversation will be fun!
Will: Yes!
Will: Another mistake is asking too many personal questions.
Alison: Right!
Alison: "Where do you live?" or "How much do you earn?" can feel too direct.
Will: Instead, ask safer questions like, "What do you do for fun?"
Alison: That keeps things light and comfortable.
Will: Now, let’s talk about our personal experiences.
Will: Alison, have you ever made any of these mistakes?
Alison: Oh, definitely!
Alison: When I first moved to the U.S., I was too formal.
Alison: I would say, "How do you do?" and people looked confused.
Will: That does sound too formal!
Will: In the U.K., some people still say it, but not often.
Alison: I also used to give short answers.
Alison: Someone would ask, "What do you do?" and I’d just say, "I study marketing."
Will: And then… silence?
Alison: Yes!
Alison: I didn’t realize I needed to ask back.
Will: I had the same problem when I moved to the U.K.
Will: I didn’t know how to end a conversation politely.
Alison: Oh, that’s a good one!
Alison: Some people struggle with ending small talk.
Will: Yes!
Will: In the U.S., people say, "Well, it was nice talking to you!"
Alison: And in the U.K., people say, "Right, I’ll let you get on then."
Will: Exactly!
Will: That’s a polite way to say, "I need to go now."
Alison: So, small mistakes are normal, but we can learn from them!
Will: Yes!
Will: Just remember to keep it natural, be polite, and ask questions!

Alison: Now, let’s talk about how to make conversations more interesting.
Will: Yes! Small talk doesn’t have to be boring.
Alison: A great way to keep a conversation going is expanding on topics.
Alison: Instead of just answering a question, give a little extra information.
Will: For example, if someone asks, "What do you do for fun?"
Will: Don’t just say, "I like music."
Alison: Right!
Alison: Instead, say, "I love music, especially live concerts! What about you?"
Will: That makes the conversation more engaging.
Alison: Another tip is to use open-ended questions.
Alison: Instead of asking, "Do you like movies?" ask, "What kind of movies do you like?"
Will: That way, the other person has more to say.
Will: And it makes the conversation last longer.
Alison: Here’s another trick—sharing small personal stories.
Alison: If someone says they love traveling, you can say, "Oh, I just went to Japan last year!"
Will: Yes!
Will: That invites the other person to ask more.
Will: It makes the chat feel natural and fun.
Alison: Another great way is finding common interests.
Alison: If someone mentions food, ask about their favorite dishes.
Will: Yes!
Will: If you both love Italian food, you have more to talk about!
Alison: Another thing to remember—use humor when possible.
Alison: A simple joke or light comment makes conversations more enjoyable.
Will: Exactly!
Will: But avoid jokes about politics or sensitive topics.
Alison: Yes!
Alison: Keep it light and friendly.
Will: Now, let’s talk about how to handle awkward pauses.
Will: If the conversation stops, don’t panic!
Alison: Yes!
Alison: A great way to restart is saying, "By the way, have you seen any good movies lately?"
Will: That’s a great tip!
Will: Another way is to comment on the situation.
Will: If you’re at a party, say, "This place has great music!"
Alison: Yes!
Alison: That makes the chat feel smooth.
Will: Another tip is to use observations.
Will: If someone is holding a coffee, ask, "Oh, do you like lattes?"
Alison: That way, you create a new topic.
Alison: The key is to stay relaxed and curious.
Will: Exactly!
Will: The best conversations feel easy and natural.
Alison: So, don’t stress too much!
Alison: Just focus on being engaged and having fun!

Alison: Now, let’s talk about special situations.
Will: Yes!
Will: Sometimes, small talk depends on where you are.
Alison: Right!
Alison: Talking to a new colleague is different from chatting at a party.
Will: Let’s start with workplace conversations.
Will: If you meet a new coworker, keep it professional but friendly.
Alison: Yes!
Alison: Instead of "What do you do?" ask, "How long have you been with the company?"
Will: That sounds more natural in an office setting.
Will: And avoid talking too much about personal life.
Alison: Yes!
Alison: Keep it light, like "Have you worked on any fun projects recently?"
Will: Now, what about meeting new people at a café or bar?
Will: This is more casual.
Alison: Right!
Alison: You can say, "I love this place! Have you been here before?"
Will: That’s a great way to start a relaxed conversation.
Will: And if you want to end the chat, just say, "It was nice talking to you!"
Alison: Yes!
Alison: Now, let’s talk about meeting people at formal events.
Will: Ah, like weddings or conferences.
Will: In these situations, people expect polite small talk.
Alison: Yes!
Alison: You can say, "How do you know the host?" at a wedding.
Will: And at a conference, ask, "What brought you to this event?"
Will: That sounds professional but still friendly.
Alison: Now, let’s discuss things to avoid in small talk.
Will: First, don’t start with negative topics.
Will: Complaining about traffic or the weather isn’t the best way to begin.
Alison: Right!
Alison: Instead, try a neutral or positive topic.
Will: Another thing to avoid is talking only about yourself.
Will: Small talk is a two-way street.
Alison: Yes!
Alison: Always ask about the other person too.
Will: And avoid sensitive topics like politics or money.
Will: These can make people uncomfortable.
Alison: Good point!
Alison: Keep the conversation light and easy.
Will: Finally, let’s talk about how to exit a conversation politely.
Will: If you need to leave, don’t just walk away!
Alison: Right!
Alison: A simple way is saying, "Well, it was great chatting with you!"
Will: Or, "I should get going, but it was nice meeting you!"
Alison: That way, you leave on a friendly note.
Will: Yes!
Will: Small talk isn’t just about starting a conversation.
Will: It’s also about ending it the right way.
Alison: Exactly!

Alison: Alright, let’s do a quick recap of what we learned today.
Will: Yes!
Will: We talked about how to start a conversation with new people.
Alison: We also looked at some key phrases from our recorded conversation.
Will: And we compared American and British small talk.
Alison: Right!
Alison: Some phrases can be confusing if you don’t know the cultural differences.
Will: Like "You alright?" in the U.K.
Will: Or "Cheers" meaning "Thank you."
Alison: We also discussed common mistakes people make.
Will: Yes!
Will: Things like using one-word answers or being too formal.
Alison: And we shared tips on how to keep a conversation going.
Will: Like asking open-ended questions.
Will: Or using small personal stories.
Alison: We also talked about special situations.
Alison: Like workplace small talk versus casual chats.
Will: And how to politely end a conversation!
Alison: So, what’s the key takeaway from today?
Will: Small talk is a skill, and you can practice it!
Alison: Yes!
Alison: The more you practice, the more natural it feels.
Will: And don’t be afraid to make mistakes!
Will: The important thing is to stay relaxed.
Alison: Exactly!
Alison: Just focus on being friendly and curious.
Will: Now, we’d love to hear from our listeners!
Will: What phrases do you use when meeting new people?
Alison: Have you ever had an awkward small talk moment?
Will: Let us know in the comments!
Alison: And don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast.
Will: That way, you won’t miss our next episode.
Alison: Thanks for listening!
Will: See you next time!