Small Talk ESL Class and Activity

This is an ESL activity I like to begin early in a class to go over appropriate and inappropriate conversations. The idea of small talk. I’ll put the sheet that I use for my class down below and add to this page later as I come up with more small talk ideas.

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Appropriate Subjects for Small Talk

Here is a list of common small talk subjects. If you have difficulties speaking about any of these topics, try to improve your vocabulary by using the resources available to you (Internet, magazines, teachers at school, etc)

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  Sports – current matches or games, favorite teams, etc.
  • Did you catch any good games this weekend?
  • Do you follow any sports teams?
  • Are you more of a playing sports person or a watching sports person?
  • Have you ever been to a live game? What was the atmosphere like?
  • Is there a sport you’ve always wanted to try but never have?
• Hobbies
  • What do you like to do when you have free time?
  • Have you picked up any new hobbies recently?
  • Is there something you used to do as a kid that you wish you still had time for?
  • Do you prefer indoor hobbies or outdoor ones?
  • If you had an entire Saturday with nothing planned, how would you spend it?
• Weather – boring, but can get the ball rolling!
  • Can you believe how hot/cold it’s been this week?
  • What’s your favorite kind of weather?
  • Do you prefer summer or winter? Why?
  • Does this weather remind you of home at all?
  • Have you ever experienced a really crazy storm or weather event?
• Family – general questions, not questions about private matters
  • Do you have a big family or a small one?
  • Are you close with your extended family?
  • Do you have any family traditions you look forward to every year?
  • Did you grow up with siblings? What was that like?
  • Does your family all live nearby or are they spread out?
• Media – films, books, magazines, etc.
  • Seen anything good on Netflix lately?
  • Are you a movie person or more of a series person?
  • Read any good books recently?
  • What kind of music are you into right now?
  • Have you ever watched a movie that completely changed how you think about something?
• Holidays – where, when, etc., but NOT how much!
  • Where did you go on your last vacation?
  • Do you prefer beach holidays or city trips?
  • What’s the best trip you’ve ever taken?
  • Is there a place you’ve always dreamed of visiting?
  • Do you like to plan every detail or just figure it out when you get there?
• Hometown – where do you come from, how is it different/similar to this town
  • Where are you from originally?
  • What’s your hometown known for?
  • How is your hometown different from where you live now?
  • Do you miss anything specific about home?
  • If someone visited your hometown for one day, where would you tell them to go?
• Job – once again, general questions not too specific
  • What kind of work do you do?
  • How did you get into that field?
  • What’s the best part of your job?
  • Do you prefer working with a team or on your own?
  • If you could try a completely different career for one year, what would you pick?
• Latest fashion and trends
  • Have you noticed any trends lately that you actually like?
  • Is there a fashion trend you just don’t understand?
  • Do you follow any fashion accounts or influencers?
  • Would you say your style has changed much over the years?
  • Do you think people dress differently here compared to your home country?
• Celebrities – any gossip you may have!
  • Have you heard any funny celebrity news lately?
  • Is there a celebrity you’d love to meet in person?
  • Do you follow any celebrities on social media?
  • Have you ever seen a famous person in real life?
  • Who do you think is the most overrated celebrity right now?

7 toxic topics that probably aren’t very good for small talk.

Of course, if you are meeting a close friend, these topics may be excellent. Just remember that ‘small talk’ is generally a discussion with people you don’t know very well.

• Salary – how much do you make? – That’s none of your business!
• Politics – wait to get to know the person better
• Intimate relationships – only for you and your partner – or maybe your best friend
• Religion — great for learning about different cultures and traditions, but best kept as a ‘tell me about yours’ conversation rather than a ‘let me tell you about mine’ conversation.
• Death – we need to face it, but not the first time we meet someone new
• Financial – related to salary above, most people prefer to keep financial information to themselves
• Sales – Don’t try to sell something to someone you have just met.

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Pair This With: Follow-Up Responses in Conversation

Just a quick addition to this page, in addition to what I have following this paragraph, you can precede this class with the Follow-ups in Conversation class that will beef up their small talk skills.

Small Talk Party Activity for ESL Class

After you have had them go over the content in small groups, you can pair them off and have them try their own small talk practice. I usually let them practice with just each other for a short time, and depending on the size of the class, I might have them do an impromptu small talk in front of the class with another part I have chosen at random.

Another way to twist this lesson is to have them all pretend that they are at a party with a bunch of people that they have never met before. I time them, and after a few minutes, I ring a bell and say mingle. They then have to find another partner or group to small-talk with. I find getting them out of their seats and moving adds to the ambiance, so no sitting down during the party!

Any ESL Small Talk Questions?

If you have any questions, comments, or ideas of your own, leave me a message in the comment section below, and I’ll be sure to get back to you.

Until next time, get out there and have a blast, because Teaching English is Fun!

Jim