—Yes, I ___________ there three times. It's fantastic.

— In April. I _______________ it for seven months.

Small Talk

    Americans often have short conversations, called small talk, about unimportant things with strangers or people they know but not very well. They may have small talk at parties while waiting in line at the store, at family events or work. It's a way to say hi and express friendliness.

    Small talk is very useful. It can avoid comfortable silences and build stronger relationships. For example when you first meet someone or talk to someone you don't know well, you can break the ice by making small talk. Small talk with a colleague (同事) about his child may help you to understand more of his life outside the office.

    In 2013, researchers from the University of Essex asked some people to make small talk in a study. They found small talk could make people happier. People who talked briefly (短暂地) with a waiter in a coffee shop felt happier than those who simply went in, ordered and left.

    However, some people are not good at small talk. Here are some tips to improve your small-talking ability.

    Firstly, find common ground. When you have something similar with your speaking partner, that means you have something to talk about.

    Secondly, ask open-ended questions. They are suitable (合适的) for small talk. For example, if you ask visitors whether they like your city, they may simply Say "Yes", But if you ask "What do you think of our city", they will have more freedom in how they answer.

    Thirdly, become a student. Nobody knows everything. So, as someone is answering one of your open-ended questions, they bring up something about which you know nothing. So, tell them! This lets the other person become the teacher. They feel good about sharing their knowledge and you get to learn something. It's a win — win situation.

    Finally, practice makes perfect. Like anything, getting good at making small talk takes practice.

    If you make small talk in your native language, you might become happier. If you are making small talk using English, you will most surely improve your speaking and listening skills.