The Business Pre-int tb indd

1  The weather, sports news and something that you and the 

speaker have in common.

2  Personal information and negative comments about other 

people.

3  Don’t continue talking about something that the other 

person doesn’t seem interested in and avoid one-word 

answers.

The Business Pre-int TB.indd   16

21/2/08   13:18:58

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1.5 Speaking

Beginning and ending small talk

6

  Focus students on the first jumbled phrases. Elicit the 

correct order of the phrase from the whole class. Then ask 

students to work in pairs to complete the rest of the exercise. 

Have each pair read an answer to check the exercise. 

Alternatively, work through the exercises as a whole-class 

activity, taking suggestions and writing them on the board. Do 

a quick final check as to which phrases start a conversation 

and which would close one.