Warm-up · Small Talk or Formal?
This lesson is about small talk — casual, friendly conversation. But first: do you know the difference between small talk and professional language? Read each phrase and click the correct button.
"I'm in charge of expat recruitment for our region."
"How was your weekend?"
"Would you mind forwarding that email to me?"
"Crazy weather today, isn't it?"
"I'll follow up on that and get back to you today."
✨ Why does small talk matter? International colleagues — especially from the UK — often start every call with 1–2 minutes of small talk before business. If you jump straight to work topics, it can feel cold or rude. A few friendly sentences build trust fast.
Chunks · Small Talk Phrases
Sixteen chunks in four categories. Learn them as complete, ready-to-use phrases — not word by word. Tap a card to see the Russian translation and an example of when to use it.
Greetings and openers
"How's it going?"
casual greeting
Как дела? / Как ты? (неформально)
"Hi Michael! How's it going?" — perfect for the first 30 seconds of any call.
"Not bad, thanks — and you?"
reply to a greeting
Неплохо, спасибо — а ты/вы?
Always bounce the question back. It shows interest and keeps the conversation going.
"Can't complain!"
positive reply
Не жалуюсь! / Всё нормально!
"How are you?" — "Can't complain! Busy week but good." Very common in UK English.
"Happy Monday!" / "Happy Friday!"
day opener
Удачного понедельника! / Ура, пятница!
A simple, friendly way to open a call at the start or end of the week.
Weather
"What's the weather like there?"
asking about weather
Какая у вас погода?
Great for international calls — everyone is somewhere different!
"It's absolutely freezing here!"
describing cold weather
Здесь просто дикий холод!
"What's the weather like?" — "It's absolutely freezing here, minus 18 this morning!"
"We've been having great weather lately."
good weather
У нас последнее время отличная погода.
Notice: "we've been having" — present perfect continuous. Learn as one fixed chunk.
"Typical Almaty weather!"
weather comment (any city)
Типичная погода для [города]!
Use with any city: "Typical London weather — grey and rainy!" Makes people smile.
Weekends and free time
"How was your weekend?"
Monday opener
Как прошли выходные?
The most common Monday morning opener in any international office. Always ask this.
"I had a really relaxing weekend."
talking about your weekend
У меня были очень расслабляющие выходные.
"How was your weekend?" — "I had a really relaxing weekend — stayed home, watched films."
"We went to..."
describing activities
Мы ходили / ездили в...
"We went to a lovely restaurant on Saturday" / "We went to the mountains for the day."
"Do you have any plans for the weekend?"
Friday question
Есть какие-нибудь планы на выходные?
The perfect Friday afternoon question. Shows interest in the other person.
Keeping the conversation going
"That sounds great / fun / lovely!"
positive reaction
Звучит здорово / весело / замечательно!
React to anything good with this. "We went hiking!" — "That sounds amazing!"
"Oh really? Tell me more!"
showing interest
Правда? Расскажи подробнее!
Shows you are genuinely interested. Keeps the conversation going naturally.
"Same here!"
agreement / connection
У меня тоже! / Аналогично!
"I had a really busy week." — "Same here! Non-stop meetings."
"I know what you mean."
empathy / understanding
Я понимаю, о чём ты говоришь.
"Monday mornings are tough." — "I know what you mean — I need three coffees to start!"
✋ Tap any card to see translation and example
Fill in the Gaps
Complete each sentence with one word from the word bank. You can click a word chip to insert it into the next empty gap, or type directly. Each word is used exactly once per group.
Word bank · sentences 1–4
1. "How's it today, everyone? Ready for Monday?"
2. "It's absolutely here — minus 15 this morning!"
3. "Not , thanks! Busy week but good."
4. "Can't — the sun is finally out in Almaty!"
Word bank · sentences 5–8
5. "How was your ? Did you do anything fun?"
6. "That really lovely — where did you go exactly?"
7. "Do you have any for the weekend? Any trips?"
8. "I know what you — Mondays are always the hardest!"
Dialogue Example
It's Monday 9:28am. The team call starts in two minutes. Nagima, Michael, and Rami are already on. Read through the small talk — then try reading Nagima's lines out loud without looking at the notes.
Monday Team Call · 2 minutes before start
Michael
UK
UK
Good morning! Anyone else on already?
Nagima
Happy Monday! Yes, I'm here. How's it going, Michael?
Michael
Can't complain! Had a good weekend. You?
Nagima
Not bad, thanks! I had a really relaxing weekend — we went to a dacha outside the city. It was lovely. What's the weather like there in London?
✅ She answers AND asks back — perfect small talk technique
Michael
Grey and rainy, as always. Typical London weather!
Nagima
I know what you mean — we had two weeks of grey weather here too. But it's finally sunny today!
Rami
UAE
UAE
Morning everyone! We've been having great weather here — 28 degrees all week.
Nagima
Oh really? That sounds amazing! We're at minus 10 — I'm very jealous, Rami! Okay, I think everyone's here now — shall we start?
✅ She ends small talk naturally and moves to business — great transition
Situations · Speak It
Three real small talk moments. Read the situation, prepare your response, then say it out loud. Aim for natural, confident — not perfect.
Situation 1
You join a video call two minutes early. Your colleague from London is already there. There is an awkward silence. You need to start a conversation.
Open the small talk. Ask about their week, the weather, or the weekend. Keep it going for at least 3 exchanges.
How's it going? L5
What's the weather like there? L5
How was your weekend? L5
That sounds great! L5
"Hi! Good to see you. How's it going? Busy week?" — then listen and react: "Oh really? That sounds fun!" or "I know what you mean!"
Situation 2
Your German colleague Lena mentions that she went skiing in Austria over the weekend. She's telling you about it briefly.
React to her news with interest. Ask at least one follow-up question. Use chunks that show you are engaged and curious.
That sounds amazing! L5
Oh really? Tell me more! L5
Same here! L5
I know what you mean. L5
We went to... L5
"Oh really? That sounds amazing — I've always wanted to try skiing! How long did it take to drive there? I went to the mountains near Almaty last month — not skiing, but the views were incredible."
Situation 3
It's Friday 5pm. You finish a call with two international colleagues. Before hanging up you want to end on a warm, friendly note — not just "bye."
Say a friendly Friday goodbye with a small talk comment. Wish them a good weekend. Use at least 2 phrases from today's lesson.
Happy Friday! L5
Do you have any plans for the weekend? L5
That sounds great! L5
feel free to reach out L1
"Happy Friday everyone! Do you have any plans for the weekend? That sounds lovely — enjoy! Have a great one. Feel free to reach out if anything comes up. See you Monday!"
✨ Key rule: Good small talk is 50% talking and 50% listening. Always ask a question back. The magic formula: Answer → Add one detail → Ask back.
Homework · 2 Tasks
1
Write 3 Small Talk Starters
Write one small talk question you could ask a colleague from: the UK, the UAE, and Germany. Make them natural and specific — not just "how are you?" Think about their weather, their city, their weekend culture. Send the three questions to your teacher.
⏱ ~10 min2
Use It in a Real Call
Before your next English call or meeting this week, use at least one small talk phrase from today's lesson. It can be as simple as "How's it going?" or "Happy Friday!" After the call, write down: what you said, how they responded, and how it felt. Share it with your teacher.
⏱ Real life practiceQuizlet List · Copy & Paste
Add these to your deck from Lessons 1–4. Study the full chunk — small talk phrases must sound natural, so memorise them as complete units.
How's it going? — Как дела? / Как ты? (неформально)
Not bad, thanks — and you? — Неплохо, спасибо — а ты/вы?
Can't complain! — Не жалуюсь! / Всё нормально!
Happy Monday! / Happy Friday! — Удачного понедельника! / Ура, пятница!
What's the weather like there? — Какая у вас погода?
It's absolutely freezing here! — Здесь просто дикий холод!
We've been having great weather lately. — У нас последнее время отличная погода.
Typical [city] weather! — Типичная погода для [города]!
How was your weekend? — Как прошли выходные?
I had a really relaxing weekend. — У меня были очень расслабляющие выходные.
We went to... — Мы ходили / ездили в...
Do you have any plans for the weekend? — Есть какие-нибудь планы на выходные?
That sounds great / fun / lovely! — Звучит здорово / весело / замечательно!
Oh really? Tell me more! — Правда? Расскажи подробнее!
Same here! — У меня тоже! / Аналогично!
I know what you mean. — Я понимаю, о чём ты говоришь.