Audiofile: Exercise 2.9.Mp3

2.10. Suggest an appropriate question tag to complete B’s responses. Then read them aloud, using either a rising or a falling tone on the tag as appropriate.

1. A: Don’t forget your gloves. B: They’re yours, ………………….?

2. A: He could have been killed crossing the road like that. B: What a stupid thing to do, ………………………………?

3. A: Try to come early to get a good seat. B: There’ll be a lot of people, …………………..?

4. A: What a terrible noise. B: You’re not a rock music fan, ………………?

5. A: Where shall I leave you? B: Drop me in front of the station,…………..?

Now listen and check your answers. audiofile: Exercise 2.10.mp3

2.11. Keeping conversation going.

When we are taking part in a conversation, we often show the current speakers that we are following what they are saying, and that we want them to go on. A number of sounds, words and phrases are commonly used to do this, usually with a rising tone. These include mm, uhuh, mhm, okay, right, yeah, I see. When these are used with a falling tone, they often indicate that we think the speaker has finished or that we want to take aturn in the conversation ourselves. To show interest and to encourage the speaker to continue, we can also use short questions such as Did you? Were they? Haven’t we? typically with a fall-rising tone. We also use Really? with a fall-rising tone for a similar purpose.

Notice that the word really can have different meanings, depending on the tone used with it. For example, with a rise-falling tone it often expresses surprise, but with a rising tone it often expresses doubt.

Listen to this conversation. Two people are talking about a proposed new road through the countryside. Are the words and phrases in bold said with a falling tone, rising tone, or fall-rising tone? audiofile: Exercise 2.11_1.mp3

A: So it’ll go past those trees…

B: Mhm.

A: … across that foodpath…

B: Yeah.

A:… and down across the top of that field.

B: Right, and who owns that?

A: All the fields around here are part of a big farm.

B: Uhuh.

A: Belongs to the farmer who lives in that white house.

B: Right.

A: Of course, he won’t be happy about that plans.

B: Won’t he?

A: No, I doubt that he’ll want to sell any of his land.

B: Okay. So what’ll happen then?

A: I suppose the council could force him to sell.

B: Really?

A: But that would’t be popular with the local community.

B: I see.

Now check your answers.

Listen to the conversation again. This time the B parts have been left out. Say them aloud, using the same tones on the words in bold.

Audiofile: Exercise 2.11_2.Mp3

Follow up: English uses sounds such as mm, uhuh, and mhm to keep conversation going. Do you use the same or different sounds in Russian? Do you use the same pattern of falling, rising, and fall-rising tones on these sounds?

2.12. Role play a first meeting.

2.12.1. Student A, you are the visitor: you arrive on time at the company headquarters in Zurich for a meeting with James Schiro, a colleague working on the same international project. You work in a local country business unit – you choose the country. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the progress of the project. If James Schiro is not there to meet you, ask when he will be in the offoce.

Student B, you are the host and will meet the visitor: you work at the company headquarters in Zurich. Your boss is James Schiro. James just told you that he will be ten minutes late for a meeting with a visitor who is about to arrive at the office. He has asked you to look after the visitor until he arrives. When the visitor arrives, explain the situation to the visitor and make him/her feel comfortable with small talk until James arrives. As you talk observe your visitor and choose a style of communication which works for both of you.

Student C should observe the meeting and give feedback. Use this feedback form to take notes on the first meeting between the visitor and the host.

Feedback	Good (examples)	Could be better (examples)
First introductions Greets politely Explains situation
Small talk Asks questions Finds common ground Creates positive atmosphere
Body language Helps the conversation

2.12.2. Student A, you are the host of an international project meeting. You are about to meet two colleagues for the first time five minutes before an international project meeting. Talk to Student B, Miguel, first and then meet Student C, Dani. Try to adapt your communication style to the different personalities. You have heard that Miguel is quite serious about his work so be careful in your questions. You have heard that Dani is very easy to get on with and likes to socialise with colleagues.

Student B, you are the first visitor (Miguel). As a person, you’re task-focused and do not usually invest a lot of time in small talk. People often say you are quiet and reserved. You always give short answers when questions are asked and ask few questions back. You do not smile often because you think business is a serious activity. You are punctual and you like to start meetings on time. Read your profile below.

Personal profile	Professional profile
Home: moved to Porto, Portugal, two months ago	Responsibilities: Head of Marketing
Family: married, no children	Current tasks: marketing strategy for Portugal and Spain
Out of work interests: football and fishing	Word abroad: 3 months in Madrid
Relationships at work: Head of Finance has left the company	Business developments at work: working closely with Italy to develop joint strategy

Student C, you are the second visitor (Dani). As a person, you are relationship-focused and to like to make small talk. You enjoy speaking about personal subjects like home and family, and are very ready to show photographs of your children to strangers. You also like to ask personal questions to get to know people. Read your profile below.

Personal profile	Professional profile
Home: Stockholm, Sweden	Responsibilities: Head of Marketing in Scandinavia
Family: two young sons (one at school now)	Current tasks: developing a new strategy in Finland
Out of work interests: you play in a rock band	Word abroad: in Helsinki three days per week
Relationships at work: you have good contact with CEO (Chief Executive Offier) of the company, Eric Hallberg	Business developments at work: looking to expand into Estonia next year

After the role play discuss the questions.

• How effectively did the host manage each visitor?

• How effectively did the host adapt to the communication style of each visitor?

• What do you think are the biggest challenges to managing small-talk in English?