Words (Core Vocabulary)
- greeting (n.) – a friendly way to say hello; “A simple greeting can start a conversation.”
- introduction (n.) / introduce (v.) – say who you are; “Let me introduce myself.”
- acquaintance (n.) – someone you know a little.
- colleague / coworker (n.) – someone you work with.
- neighbor (n.) – a person who lives near you.
- small talk / chit-chat (n.) – light, friendly conversation.
- icebreaker (n.) – an easy topic to start talking; “The weather is a common icebreaker.”
- compliment (n./v.) – say something nice; “I like your jacket.”
- topic (n.) – subject of conversation.
- follow-up (n.) – the next message or question.
- handshake / nod / smile (n.) – common friendly signals.
- personal space (n.) – comfortable distance between people.
- pronounce (v.) – say a name/sound correctly.
- polite / casual / formal (adj.) – levels of tone and style.
- host / guest (n.) – the person inviting / invited.
Phrases (From quick hellos to friendly closers)
Everyday openers
- Hi / Hey / Hello!
- Good morning / afternoon / evening!
- How’s it going? / How are you doing? / How are things?
- Nice to meet you. / Pleasure to meet you.
- Long time no see! / It’s been a while!
- How have you been?
Light small talk
- Crazy weather today, eh? (very Canadian)
- How’s your week going so far?
- Got any plans for the weekend?
- Busy day? / Early start?
- Do you live nearby?
- What brings you here today?
Showing interest
- Oh nice! / That’s great! / Sounds fun.
- No way! / Really? / I didn’t know that.
- Tell me more about that.
Smooth transitions
- By the way…
- Speaking of…
- On that note…
Friendly closers
- Anyway, I should get going.
- It was great chatting with you.
- Have a good one! / Take care!
- Talk soon. / See you around.
- Say hi to [Name] for me.
Contextual Examples (Natural, everyday)
- Hi! How’s it going? Pretty good, thanks. How about you?
- **Nice to meet you—**I’m Sara. What do you do at the company?
- Crazy weather today, eh? Yesterday was sunny, and now it’s snowing!
- Got any weekend plans? Yeah, I’m visiting friends on the Island.
- It was great chatting. Take care! You too—talk soon!
Mini-dialogue (elevator)
- A: Morning! Busy day?
B: Hey! Yeah, a couple of meetings. How about you?
A: Same here. Anyway, have a good one.
B: You too!
Collocations & Phrases (bold the key words)
Starting & maintaining conversation
- make small talk – “Canadians often make small talk about the weather.”
- break the ice – “A quick compliment can break the ice.”
- start a conversation – “He started a conversation with a smile.”
- keep the conversation going – “Ask follow-up questions to keep the conversation going.”
Introductions & names
- introduce yourself – “Please introduce yourself to the class.”
- ask for someone’s name – “Could I ask your name again?”
- confirm the pronunciation – “Can I confirm the pronunciation of your name?”
Positive signals
- give a compliment – “She gave a compliment about my presentation.”
- show interest – “Nodding helps you show interest.”
- make a good impression – “Arriving on time makes a good impression.”
Closers
- wrap up a chat – “Let’s wrap up—I’ve got to run.”
- swap numbers – “Do you want to swap numbers?”
- stay in touch – “Let’s stay in touch on LinkedIn.”
Canadian Cultural Context (How to sound natural & polite)
- Weather is king: Weather talk is a safe, friendly icebreaker year-round.
- Softeners like “sorry,” “just,” “a bit,” “I think” keep the tone gentle.
- Names matter: Asking how to pronounce a name is respectful.
- Personal space: A smile or nod is often better than a hug/handshake with new people.
- Avoid sensitive topics (salary, age, politics) in first meetings unless invited.
Extra Mini-Patterns (plug-and-play)
- Friendly + question: “Hi there—how’s your week going?”
- Compliment + ask: “I love your backpack—where did you get it?”
- Close + future link: “Great chatting—let’s stay in touch.”