Improve Your English Just by Listening | Small Talk at Work (B1)

You say "Hi, how are you?" at work... and then there's silence? In this B1 English podcast, Emma and Ryan show you how to start small talk, keep it going, and end it politely, from the office kitchen to a forty-second elevator ride. 👉 Listen, answer out loud when we pass you the mic, and tell us in the comments: "What's the hardest part of small talk for you: starting it, keeping it going, or ending it?" CHAPTERS 0:00 Ten minutes in the printer room 1:03 Part 1: Starting It 9:27 Part 2: Keeping It Going 20:31 Part 3: Ending It 27:57 Rewind: all the new words 29:29 Swap It: sound more natural 30:15 Your Mic: speaking practice 31:47 Goodbye NEW WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS • How's your week going? — a friendly question to start a short conversation; the answer can be short • Any plans for the weekend? — a short, casual way to ask what someone is going to do on the weekend • … is a lifesaver — something that helps you a lot when you really need it • Tell me about it. — I strongly agree; I feel the same way (after a complaint you share) • What about you? — a short question that gives the conversation back to the other person • How come? — a casual way to ask why • That sounds like … — used to react to what you heard; sounds like + a noun • Speaking of … — used to move to a new topic that connects to what someone just said • I should get back to work. — a polite way to end a conversation: you need to return to your work • It was nice chatting with you. — a warm, friendly way to end a short conversation • Catch you later. — a casual goodbye when you expect to see the person again • Have a good one! — a friendly goodbye: have a good day, evening or weekend • small talk — light, friendly conversation about simple topics • pretty + adjective — quite (relaxed, spoken English) • Anyway — used to move the conversation on, or to start ending it • grab lunch — to get lunch quickly and informally, often with someone Level: B1 (intermediate). Lower level? Follow the story, not every word. Higher level? Listen for the reactions and natural phrases. ☕ The English Table Podcast: real, everyday English conversations with Emma and Ryan. New episodes every week. Subscribe, and share this episode with a friend who's learning English! #EnglishPodcast #LearnEnglish #EnglishConversation #B1English Music: "Cheery Monday" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...