Do you ever feel that small talk is pointless? Like it’s just wasting precious time?

That’s how some Germans might see it. My experience with a CEO years ago definitely confirms this! He’d shut down my “How are you?” with a quick “Let’s get down to business, Christine.“ 

If you’re someone who feels uncomfortable with superficial conversations, let me tell you that talking to others, even just a bit, actually has some great benefits:

• Makes life easier: Imagine oiling your bicycle chain—that’s what talking to people does for your day! Asking for help. Saying hello. It all helps things run smoothly.
• Makes people happy: You know that feeling when someone smiles at you? Talking to others can brighten their day (and yours too!).
• You learn new stuff: You never know what you might learn from a quick chat! It’s like a mini info-adventure.
• Opens doors: Talking to someone could lead to some great opportunities! You might find a new job, meet a new friend or even start a business together (like me some years ago)! Who knows?
• Helps your career: People like working with those they feel comfortable with, right? So say hello and build those connections. They’ll help you grow your network.
• Can lead to friendships (and maybe more!): A simple chat could turn into a lifelong friendship, a business partner or even… well, anything is possible!

So next time you see someone, don’t be shy! Say hello, chat a bit and see what happens.

You might be surprised at how much fun and good things can come from a little small talk!

Keep it simple, smile and be yourself. Chatting can be awesome!

I’d love to hear your thoughts! Do you enjoy small talk? What are your biggest challenges when talking to others?

Gestern erlebte ich eine kleine Herausforderung in Sachen Englisch…

… und zwar beim Essen mit unseren Geschäftsfreunden aus England. Ich war so aufgeregt, sie endlich persönlich kennenzulernen. Franz war wie immer tiefenentspannt und plapperte fröhlich auf Englisch drauflos, während ich innerlich schon Panik schob.

Als die Speisekarten kamen, sahen unsere Gäste sie etwas ratlos an.

“So sorry,”, sagte ich, “they only have a German menu. We can help with the translation.”

(Christine hat schon vorher erwähnt, dass es nicht ‘menu card’ sondern schlicht und einfach ‘menu‘heißt.)

Also nahm ich mir die Speisekarte vor und fing an, die einzelnen Gerichte zu übersetzen.

‘Schnitzel’ war einfach, aber bei ‘Sauerbraten’ und ‘Knödel’ musste ich passen. Zum Glück hatte ich Franz dabei, der mir mit den Fachbegriffen helfen konnte.

Franz erklärte ganz stolz: “’Sauerbraten’ is braised beef soaked for a few days in a vinegar solution before being served,” “’Knödel’ are ‘dumplings.’”

“As dessert,” Franz sprach weiter, “I can recommend blancmange with fresh berries. Shall we order?”

Zusammen genossen wir dann ein leckeres Essen zusammen.

Fazit:

• Mit ein bisschen Teamwork kann man jede Herausforderung meistern.
• Englischkenntnisse sind in der globalen Welt unverzichtbar.

Nächstes Mal:

• Ich gehe die Speisekarte vorher auf Englisch durch.
• Ich schreibe mir ein paar wichtige Wörter und Phrasen auf.
• Ich übe Smalltalk mit Franz und Christine.

Ich bin guter Dinge, dass ich beim nächsten Mal noch besser Englisch sprechen werde.

Bis bald,

Greta

PS: Christine hat uns ihr Deutsch-Englisches Lebensmittel-Glossar geschickt. Ich finde es gut. 

PPS: Der Abend war übrigens ein voller Erfolg. Aber ich war froh, dass Franz dabei war!

Fish and chips, stiff upper lip, endless cups of tea…

Stereotypes can be fun. But they don’t tell the whole story!

From the rolling hills of Scotland to the bustling streets of London, Britain is a diverse nation—with people from all walks of life.

So, is this “typically British”?

• Enjoying a pub night out with the mates (friends)
• Queuing patiently (even when the line is long!)
• Exploring the great outdoors
• Having dry wit and self-deprecating humour
• Appreciating a good cup of tea (but open to other drinks too!)
• Always being polite and respectful (saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’)
• Welcoming and embracing diversity

Of course, these are just general traits!

We know everyone’s unique.

What else makes someone “typically British”?

Guess what? Your English Conversation Coach is learning something new: square dancing!

Who knew fancy footwork and strange calls could be so tricky? It turns out learning 70 moves takes almost as long as mastering a new language!

But guess what? These two activities might seem different, but they have surprising things in common!

How are dancing and languages similar?

• Building blocks: Picture it like building with Lego bricks! In dancing, you start with small steps. In languages, it’s small words. Then, you put them together to create cool dances or express yourself!
  
• Practice makes progress: Remember practising piano as a child? Square dancing can be a bit amusing too! Just like playing scales helps you learn to play the piano, regular language practice helps you speak more smoothly.

• Mistakes are friends: We all trip up, literally and figuratively! The good news? Mistakes help you learn in both dancing and languages. You laugh, you learn, you get better!

• Friends make it fun: Dancing the waltz solo is no fun, right? Having supportive partners and a community is great in both dancing and languages. They help you keep going and celebrate your progress!

Remember, both challenges are about having fun, being okay with mistakes, and never giving up. 

Ready to waltz your English to the next level? 

When you’re ready, I’m here to guide you!