外研版 选修六 模块一 Introduction and Reading

•3 Describe two things you shouldn’t do in a conversation. •Look at your watch; yawn ( sigh, look away, change the subject, finish other people’s sentences). •4 Why is it a good idea to nod and smile when the other person is talking? •To show that your are listening. •5 What does the quotation from Benjamin Disraele tell you about people? •People like talking about themselves.
Words Preview
small talk informal serious
闲谈，聊天
adj.非正式的 adj.严肃的
Warm up
Which conversation in the pictures is a “small talk”?
Discussion What is small talk?
Discussion and Speaking
2 Read the words.
careers cars examinations film stars food music politics sport travel weather
1 If you talk about these topics, is the conversation serious or small talk? 2 Which of the topics do you like talking about with your friends? 3 Which of them do you talk about with your parents? 4 Which of them do you talk about with your teacher? 5 Which of them do you never talk about?
Skimming the passage
• Decide what kind of book it is from. • It is from a book which tells you what to do at social events. We can guess from the title “How Good Are Your Social Skills” and subtitles “Learn how to do small talk”, “Develop your listening skills” and “Learn the rules”.
1 The singer was really good! She _________ me a lot! impressed 2 He had an accident and damaged his ________ bicycle. 3 Don’t shout at the children. You should encourage them to do better. _________ prepare 4 Make sure you _______ for your English examination. Do more homework! 5 At the party, I _________ a boy who recognised used to attend my school.
4
Complete the sentences. sigh yawn nod avoid lack smile
• 1 When I meet strangers, I don’t like to talk about myself, so I _____ avoid answering personal questions. • 2 There are very few foreign visitors lack to my town, so we ____ the opportunity to meet people from other countries.
Steps
1. Practice. Converse with everyone you come across. 2. Read everything 3. Force yourself to get into small talk situations 4. Immerse yourself in culture, both high and low. 5. Keep a journal. 6. Talk to yourself in the mirror. 7. Expand your horizons. 8. Be a better listener. 9. Work on confidence, overcoming shyness and any feelings of stage fright.
• The general idea:
• This passage is about social skills. It tells us how to have a conversation and how to do small talk and when we go to a social occasion, we should pay attention to social rules in different countries.
small talk (from Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary): conversation about unimportant things, often between people who do not know each other well: I don't enjoy parties where I have to make small talk with complete strangers.
1 Read the dictionary definitions of
small talk and answer the questions.
• 1 Which definitions make small talk sound like a positive thing? • The Longman definition. • 2 Which definitions refer to places where small talk might take place? • The Collins/Oxford definitions.
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•3 I said that we don’t have enough opportunity to speak English and he nodded ______ his head in agreement. •4 I think the man I spoke to was tired- he _______ a lot. yawned •5 He looked very sad when I asked him about his home. He sighed when he _____ answered me. •6 I felt very welcome when I arrived at smiled the party. The host ______ at me and shook my hand.
Careful Reading
The main idea of each paragraph:
• Part 1 (Paras.1-2) Introduction to the body of the passage by asking questions • Part 2 (Para.3) How to do small talk • Part 3 (Paras.4-6) Dos and don’ts while listening • Part 4 (Paras.7-8) The social rules
Famous Dictionaries
• Macmillan English Dictionary • Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English • Collins Cobuild English Language Dictionary • Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary
How to make small talk
Small talk can be a big challenge, but a little preparation and confidence is all you need.
Tips
1. Be yourself. Keep in mind that confidence and humor are superb substitutes for comedic genius or wit. 2. Remember, you never have to do it alone. 3. Keep a few exit lines in mind too. For example, “Thanks for the wonderful chat, but I must make believe I'm interested in everybody else.”
身体语言，肢体语言 v.打哈欠 v.叹气，叹息 把目光从……移开 社交规则 除此之外，另外 了解，找到（信息） n.机会
1 Complete the sentences with the
correct form of the words in the box. damage encourage impress prepare recognise
•3 Why is it a problem if someone has no small talk? •They find it difficult to make new friends. •4 What do you think is the Chinese for “small talk”? •闲谈，聊天。
Words Preview
confidently make friends lack (be) nervous about advance think of nod adv.自信地 交朋友，建立友谊 v.缺乏，缺少 对……焦虑不安 adj.预先的，在前的 想起，回忆起 v.点头
body language yawn sigh look away from social rules in addition find out opportunity
3 Read the passage again and answer
the questions. • 1 According to the article, should people plan what they’re going to say at parties? • Yes, they should prepare some topics to talk about. • 2 What do people think about those who talk too much? • They are not impressive.
1. Light conversation: polite conversation about matters of little importance, especially between people who do not know each other well 2. Small talk is pleasant conversation about common interests. 3. Polite conversation about trivial or uncontroversial matters. 4. Casual or trivial conversation. 5. Light informal conversation for social occasions