International Negotiations

Extension activity

Write the following questions on the board.

1 

What is the perfect balance, in percentage terms, between talking and listening?

2 

What is the best balance between questions about your partner and comments about 

yourself? How many questions are too many?

3 

What is the best thing to do if your partner doesn’t seem interested in a topic you have 

raised in small talk?

4 

Which is better: to keep talking as long as possible about one topic, or to change the 

topic frequently?

5 

Should you try to stay be enthusiastic if your partner doesn’t seem interested in small 

talk?

Trainees discuss the questions in pairs and then share their ideas with the class. Trainees 

then read the commentary on page 63 to compare it with their ideas. Discuss any 

differences or surprises with the class.

Answers

1  With a talkative partner, 60% listening and 40% talking.

2  No more than three questions in a row.

3  Close it with a final positive remark.

4  Keep talking as long as the topic is interesting to both of you.

5  No – be cheerful, but don’t pretend to be enthusiastic.

7 

Trainees take turns to introduce their partners to the class. If you have a large class, divide 

the class into groups of around six trainees for these mini-presentations. Afterwards, give and 

elicit feedback on the effectiveness of these presentations.