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Lesson 03 - Breaking The Ice - Booklet

The document provides guidance on introducing yourself and starting conversations in English. It discusses breaking the ice by smiling, being friendly, and asking open-ended questions. Proper greetings depend on formality, from casual "hello" to more formal "good morning/afternoon/evening." Introductions involve stating your name and asking for theirs. Small talk questions like "how are you?" are common introductions, with short, polite responses sufficient. Handshakes are usually for formal settings while casual settings like parties require less. The document also reviews personal pronouns and possessive adjectives used in introductions and conversations.

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62 views

Lesson 03 - Breaking The Ice - Booklet

The document provides guidance on introducing yourself and starting conversations in English. It discusses breaking the ice by smiling, being friendly, and asking open-ended questions. Proper greetings depend on formality, from casual "hello" to more formal "good morning/afternoon/evening." Introductions involve stating your name and asking for theirs. Small talk questions like "how are you?" are common introductions, with short, polite responses sufficient. Handshakes are usually for formal settings while casual settings like parties require less. The document also reviews personal pronouns and possessive adjectives used in introductions and conversations.

Uploaded by

Lauren
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Breaking the ice: Introducing yourself and starting a conversation.

The fear of speaking to strangers really comes from BREAKING THE ICE means doing
the fear of seeming “weird” or looking foolish. You or saying something to get
are essentially afraid of the other person’s reaction, conversation going at the
like a strange look, or even someone laughing at start of a party or when
you…. people meet for the first
time.
Be friendly! Smile and enjoy the experience..
Take pressure off. A lot of fear around starting a conversation comes from putting
pressure on yourself to have a certain result from the conversation.
Don’t make the conversation only about yourself. Give room to the other person to ask
questions and expresses opinions.
Be honest. Don’t try to talk about a subject you have no knowledge about.
Avoid closed-loop questions (yes/no).: Instead of “Do you like apples juice?”, ask the
open question “What is your favorite type of juice?”

Starting a conversation.
Any polite conversation starts with a Or you may use a more formal dialogue
greeting. There are many ways to greet when having and English conversation
someone, and your choice will depend with a colleague, a teacher, a stranger or
on who you are talking to. It may be an a government employee.
informal conversation with a friend or
an acquaintance (someone you know,
but not very well).

A conventional phrase

GREETING used to start a letter or


conversation or otherwise
to acknowledge a person’s
arrival or presence.

INFORMAL GREETINGS FORMAL GREETINGS


• Hello! (a universal greeting that works • Good morning! (reserve for any time
for every conversation) before noon)
• Hi! (a neutral and friendly greeting) • Good afternoon! (typically used
• Hey! (an informal and relaxed greeting) between noon and 5-6pm)
• Greetings! (quite formal and rare this • Good evening! (anytime after 6pm)
days, but could be used humorously
among friends)
REMEMBER: Good night! Normally
• Howdy! (a casual greeting that is not
means that you are saying good bye.
commonly used)
It’s also commonly used right before
going to bed.
Breaking the ice: Introducing yourself and starting a conversation.
Introductions
What is you have never met the person you are talking to before? Then, after greeting
them, it would be polite to introduce yourself and ask for their name.

My name is Claire. What’s your name? But that’s boring! It sounds a little uptight, and it
can sound like you are speaking from a script.
Look at these examples:

Hi there, I’m Kat. I’m new, I just started in the Marketing department last week. How’s
it going?

Hey, I’m Kat, I’m a friend of John’s, do you guys work together?
If you want to introduce a person to Once you have introduce yourself, use
someone else, you cam simple say: one of the phrases below to respond to
someone’s introduction:
Please meet my friend Tom. (formal)
• Nice to meet you! (the most common)
This is Tom! (common introduction) • Pleased to meet you! (simple and polite)
• It’s a pleasure! (informal, but nice)

A few taboos: Handshake or no handshake?


• It is recommended never asking a
new English-speaking acquaintance a Shaking someone’s hand is
direct question about their salary, usually reserved for
religion, age, money or weight. These introductions at work or formal
topics can be awkward and settings, where you might be
uncomfortable. meeting colleagues or
associates outside of work.
• Obviously, you avoid making
negative remarks or repeating ugly If you are at a party or
stereotypes that might be seen as informal situation, a nod of the
rude, racist or cruel. head, wave of the hand “Hi!” or
even a light handshake barely
grabbing can be enough.
Breaking the ice: Introducing yourself and starting a conversation.
Making small talk in English
After you have exchange names and greeted each other, you may go on to make
some small talk.
The most common question is “How
are you?”. In fact, it is so common Small talk is common in many English-
that it becomes automatic for people speaking countries, especially in the U.S.,
to say it, even when they hardly Canada and England. It is considered
know the person! polite to add small talk to the beginning
of the conversation before talking about
“How are you?” is often even the subject of the conversation, whether it
considered part of the greeting (i.e. is personal or professional.
Hi, how are you)

There are several ways to ask someone An interesting thing about asking
how they are doing: this questions is that an answer is
not really required. Unless you are
• How are you? / How are you doing? (neutral) a very close friends with someone,
• How’s it going? (more informal) they are not expecting you to tell
• How are things? (informal) them an honest answer about your
• What’s up? (very informal) day.

A simple answer and a “How are you?” in return is enough for a typical conversation
in English:
• I’m well. How are you?
• It’s going well, thank you. How are you doing?
• Fine, thanks. And yourself?

Activity 1 Read the introductions and check the box to indicate where they are
taking place. (1. At work 2. At a party / get together 3. Neighbourhood)

1 2 3
Hey there, I’m Kat, first time, have you been here before?

Hi, Stephanie? Morning, I’m Mark. I work with James in


Engineering. He asked me to come by and meet you.

Hiya, we just moved into the neighbourhood and wanted to


say hi. I’m Mark, and this is Kat.

I know we’ve seen each other around, but haven’t officially


met yet. Kat.
Breaking the ice: Introducing yourself and starting a conversation.
Let’s check some Grammar
Personal Pronouns Possessive Adjectives
Personal pronouns are used Possessive adjectives are used to show possession
for a specific object or or ownership of something. While we use them
person and they change when we refer to people, it is more in the sense of
their forms to indicate the relationship than ownership.
different genders, numbers, • The possessive adjective needs to agree with the
case and persons speaking. possessor and not with the thing that is
possessed.
There are 2 types of • Like all adjectives in English, they are always
personal pronouns: located directly in front of the noun they refer to.
SUBJECT PRONOUNS and (Possessive Adjective + Noun)
OBJECT PRONOUNS. • We do not include an S to the adjective when the
noun is plural like in many other languages.

Subject Pronouns SINGULAR PLURAL

SINGULAR PLURAL My Our


Your Your
I We Her / His / Its Their
You You
She / He / It They

AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCES > Subject + To BE + Complement

I am Cuban. My name is Lynda. I’m very well, thank you.

NEGATIVE SENTENCES > Subject + To BE + not + Complement

TO BE I’m not Mr. Green. You are not my friend. She isn’t happy.

QUESTIONS > To BE + (not) + Subject + Complement + ?


Question word + To BE + (not) + Subject + Complement + ?

Are you Canadian? What is your name?


Breaking the ice: Introducing yourself and starting a conversation.
Activity 2 Watch the video and answer the questions.
A. Complete the names of the characters.

B. Mark the statements that are True.


Molly and Peter are in the same class.

Ms. Taylor’s class is in room 201.

Molly’s last name is Lyn.

Mrs. Smith think the girl’s name is Holly

C. Complete the dialogue.

Molly: Excuse me. ___________!


Peter: Hi!
Molly: _____________________________________. What’s your name?
Peter: ________________________. My friends call me Pete.
Molly: My friends call me…Molly. Hi Pete! _____________________________.
Peter: It’s nice to meet you, too.
Molly: Are you a student here?
Peter: _______________________. My class is at 9 o’clock with _________.
Molly: ________________? She’s my teacher. You’re in my class.
Peter: Great!
Molly: Where is our class?
Peter: Eh….it’s over there.
Breaking the ice: Introducing yourself and starting a conversation.
Activity 3 Watch the video and answer the questions.

A. Match the pictures with the names. Write the correct letter before each sentence

__ 1. He’s Giorgio. __2. She’s Marie. __3. He’s Paul. __4. She’s Cheryl. __5. He’s Bob.

B. Write the occupation of each person in each blank.

A receptionist
An office manager
A travel agent
A tour guide
A singer

C. Check each statement True or False.

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