Workplace English: Technical to Talk
You can write a perfect report, but can you chat before the meeting starts?
This is the "Workplace Paradox." Many professionals are excellent at their specific job in English because the vocabulary is repetitive. But when the meeting ends and someone asks, "So, do you have any plans for the weekend?"... you freeze.
Why "Small Talk" is Actually "Big Talk"
In English-speaking business culture (especially Australia, UK, and USA), small talk is trust-building. If you only speak about work, you can seem cold. If you chat about the weather for 2 minutes, colleagues trust your professional opinions more.
The "FORD" Technique
Not sure what to talk about? Remember FORD:
- F - Family/Friends: "Did you visit your parents this weekend?"
- O - Occupation: "How is that new project going?"
- R - Recreation: "Did you watch the match on Sunday?"
- D - Dreams/Days: "Any holidays planned for summer?"
Moving from Textbook to Reality
Textbooks teach: "Hello, how are you? I am fine, thank you."
Real workplaces say: "Hey, how's it going? Not too bad, you?"
To improve, stop studying grammar books and start listening to real conversations.
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