ESL for IT · Level B1 · Teacher's Book · Print Edition
UNIT 2: SMALL TALK & NETWORKING IN IT
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🖨 Print: Ctrl+P → "Save as PDF" → enable Background graphics (green notes and orange KEY plates print white otherwise). Green = teacher notes (what the section is about + IPA glossary + how to teach). Orange KEY = answers under each task. Dashed block = listening script, teacher only.
👩 How to use this book
Green blocks = teacher notes: what the section is about in plain words + mini-glossary (term, IPA, meaning) + how to teach. Orange blocks = KEY with answers, placed right under each task. You do NOT need to be a programmer or a networking guru: you teach language and communication, the IT context provides motivation. If a student asks a tech question you can't answer — "Great question! Let's check the glossary / ask your DevOps colleague" is a perfectly professional move.
"I'm Lapa. Conferences terrify me: too many humans, not enough boxes to hide in. But years of QA taught me one thing — small talk is just testing with people: ask a question, listen to the answer, follow up. In this unit you will learn to break the ice, keep a conversation alive, and escape it politely. In English, of course."
2.1 · Warm-up: The Awkwardness Scale
Заметка · §2.1
О чём раздел: разминка-оценка: студенты помечают фразы-«открывашки» как хорошие / рискованные / ужасные и обсуждают собственный опыт неловкости. Цель — активировать тему и снять страх «я не умею болтать по-английски» через смех.
meetup/ˈmiːtʌp/ — неформальная встреча специалистов одного города или профессии; меньше и проще конференции.
opener/ˈəʊpnə/ — фраза, которой открывают разговор («открывашка»).
small talk/smɔːl tːk/ — лёгкая беседа «ни о чём»: погода, кофе, выходные; не «маленький разговор», а социальный клей.
Как вести: ключ к спорным строкам: 3 — жалоба на конференц-кофе это классический безопасный айсбрейкер (общий враг объединяет); 4 — рискованная, комментарий о внешности незнакомцу в западной культуре неуместен. Обсудите почему — это мостик к Culture Note #2.
1 Good, risky or terrible? §2.1A
Look at the opening lines below from a tech meetup. Mark them: G — good, R — risky, T — terrible. Then compare with a partner.
#
Opening line
G / R / T
1
"Hi! I don't think we've met — I'm Mark, I work on the backend."
2
"So... how much do they pay you here?"
3
"This conference coffee is terrible, isn't it?"
4
"You look tired. Are you OK?"
5
"What talks have you been to today?"
KEY: 1 G · 2 T · 3 G (shared complaint = classic icebreaker) · 4 R (personal appearance) · 5 G
2 Discuss §2.1B
Where do you make small talk in your job? (calls, Slack, kitchen, conferences, elevator)
What is the hardest part of small talk in English for you: starting, continuing, or ending?
Have you ever had a truly awkward silence in English? What saved you?
2.2 · Vocabulary: Where Small Talk Happens
Заметка · §2.2
О чём раздел: карта ситуаций, где случается small talk (зум до начала встречи, кухня, конференция, Slack, лифт), плюс словарь конференций. Студент должен понимать слова-реалии мероприятий, чтобы не теряться в объявлениях и разговорах.
conference/ˈkɒnfərəns/ — большая профессиональная конференция с докладами.
keynote/ˈkinəʊt/ — главный доклад мероприятия, обычно открывающий.
booth/buːθ/ — стенд компании на конференции.
badge/bædʒ/ — карточка участника на ленте: имя, компания, роль; пропуск и приглашение к разговору.
lanyard/ˈlænjəd/ — сама лента, на которой висит бейдж.
business card/ˈbɪznəs kɑːd/ — визитка; в IT почти вымерла, её заменил QR-код на LinkedIn.
elevator pitch/elɪveɪtə pɪtʃ/ — самопрезентация длиной в поездку на лифте (30–60 секунд).
follow-up/ˈfɒləʊʌp/ — действие «вдогонку» после встречи: письмо, сообщение, звонок.
Как вести: упр. 5 (историю про конференцию) читайте вслух по ролям: один студент — рассказчик, группа хором вставляет пропущенные слова. Получается живое аудирование без записи.
3 Match situations and openers §2.2A
Situation
Opener
1. A video call, before it officially starts
a) "How was your weekend? Did you finally fix that bug?"
2. The office kitchen, coffee machine
b) "Can you hear me? ...Great. So, how's your day going?"
3. Conference coffee break
c) "Anyone else's cat joining the call today? 🐱"
4. Slack #random channel
d) "Did you catch the keynote this morning?"
5. The elevator, 6 p.m.
e) "Going down? Me too. Long day?"
KEY: 1-b · 2-a · 3-d · 4-c · 5-e
4 Match words and definitions §2.2B
Word
Definition
1. conference
a) a short speech (30–60 seconds) about yourself or your product
2. meetup
b) a card (or QR code) with your contact details
3. keynote
c) a large professional event with talks and workshops
4. booth
d) the main talk of the event, usually the first one
5. badge
e) a message you send after meeting someone
6. business card
f) an informal gathering of professionals in one city
7. elevator pitch
g) a company's stand at a conference
8. follow-up
h) a card with your name and company that you wear on a lanyard
Last October I went to my first tech (1) in Berlin. At registration I got my
(2) and immediately lost it in my jacket pocket. The (3) was
about AI in testing — surprisingly interesting! At lunch I visited a startup's (4) ,
where a friendly engineer gave me her (5) (well, actually a QR code — nobody prints
cards anymore). In the evening I went to a local developers' (6) and practised my
(7) on three strangers. The next morning I sent everyone a polite
(8) — and one of them replied with a job offer. True story.
О чём раздел: восемь идиом-«шестерёнок» разговора: начать, поддержать, сменить тему, вежливо закончить, написать вдогонку. Это функциональный минимум: без этих фраз студент звучит обрывочно даже с хорошей грамматикой.
break the ice/brek i aɪs/ — «растопить лёд»: начать разговор шуткой или лёгкой темой.
hit it off/hɪt ɪt ɒf/ — мгновенно понравиться друг другу, «сойтись»; всегда с with: hit it off with someone.
wrap up/ræp ʌp/ — завершить, «свернуть» разговор или встречу.
run out of things to say/rʌn aʊt əv θɪŋz tu seɪ/ — исчерпать темы: повисло молчание.
change the subject/tʃeɪndʒ ðə sʌbdʒɪkt/ — сменить тему.
follow up with someone/ˈfɒləʊ ʌp wɪð ˈsʌmwʌn/ — написать или позвонить человеку после встречи, поддержать контакт.
Как вести: упр. 8 (сортировка реакций) превратите в игру: вы произносите реакцию вслух с разной интонацией — студенты поднимают карточку S или E. Интонация решает всё: «Cool. So... yeah» убивает разговор именно звуком, а не словами.
6 Match phrases and meanings §2.3A
Phrase
Meaning
1. break the ice
a) to have nothing left to say
2. make small talk
b) to like each other immediately
3. keep the conversation going
c) to start a conversation in a friendly way
4. run out of things to say
d) to chat about unimportant, friendly topics
5. change the subject
e) to contact someone again after a meeting
6. hit it off
f) to keep talking by asking questions and reacting
Complaining about the coffee is a classic way to at a conference.
We immediately — it turned out we both hate writing documentation.
I always by asking about the person's last project.
There was a terrible silence — we completely .
When he started talking about his divorce, I politely .
It was nice talking to you — sorry, I need to , my next call starts in five minutes.
Don't forget to the people you met yesterday — send them a message today.
KEY: 1 break the ice · 2 hit it off · 3 keep the conversation going · 4 ran out of things to say · 5 changed the subject · 6 wrap up · 7 follow up with
8 Shows interest or kills the talk? §2.3C
Sort the reactions: S — shows interest (keeps talk alive), E — ends the topic (kills the talk).
"No way! How did that happen?"
"Anyway, I'd better get back to work."
"That's fascinating — what was it like?"
"Cool. So... yeah."
"Oh, I've been there too! How long were you there?"
"Hmm. Interesting. [looks at phone]"
KEY: S: 1, 3, 5 · E: 2, 4, 6
2.4 · Reading: From Awkward Silence to Job Offer
Заметка · §2.4
О чём раздел: история Марты: односложные ответы чуть не убили разговор, а правило answer–add–ask (ответь + добавь деталь + спроси в ответ) привело её к работе. Это смысловое ядро юнита: формула, которую студенты унесут с собой.
backend developer/ˈbækend dɪˈveləpə/ — программист «невидимой» стороны: серверы, базы данных, логика.
tech stack/tek stæk/ — набор технологий проекта: языки, фреймворки, базы; «мы на одном стеке» = говорим на одном техническом языке.
deployment/dɪˈplɪmənt/ — процесс выкатки кода на сервер; «Monday deployments» в тексте — шутка-примета.
recommend/ˌrekəˈmend/ — рекомендовать.
Как вести: после чтения попросите сформулировать правило answer–add–ask своими словами и тут же применить: вы задаёте «How was your weekend?», каждый отвечает по формуле. Три круга — и формула их.
9 True / False / Not Stated §2.4A
From Awkward Silence to Job Offer: My First Tech Conference
I'm Marta, a backend developer from Krakow. Two years ago I went to my first international conference, and I was terrified. English was not my strong side, and I didn't know a single person there.
During the first coffee break I stood alone near the wall, holding my cup like a shield. Then a woman with a terrible coffee and a great smile asked: "Is this coffee supposed to be coffee? I'm Joana, by the way." That joke broke the ice, and I laughed so hard that some of my own coffee ended up on my badge.
Joana asked me which talk I had enjoyed most. I made my first mistake: I answered in one word. "Good." Dead silence. Fortunately, Joana was a professional networker. She smiled and asked: "Good how? What was it about?" And suddenly I was talking — about the talk, about my project, about why our payment system hates me.
That's when I learned the golden rule of small talk: answer, add, ask. Answer the question, add one extra detail, and ask a question back. One-word answers kill conversations; answer–add–ask keeps them alive. We used this rule for forty minutes and hit it off completely — same tech stack, same hatred of Monday deployments.
Before the next talk, we exchanged LinkedIn profiles. A week later Joana sent me a follow-up message: her company was looking for a backend developer, and she recommended me. Three interviews later, I got the job I have now. All because someone made a joke about terrible coffee — and I didn't answer in one word. Well, I did. But I learned.
#
Sentence
T / F / NS
1
Marta knew some people at the conference.
2
Joana started the conversation with a joke.
3
Marta's first answer was long and detailed.
4
Marta and Joana discovered they had things in common.
5
Joana offered Marta a job during the coffee break.
KEY: 1 F · 2 T · 3 F · 4 T · 5 F (a week later, by message)
10 Answer the questions §2.4B
How did Marta feel at the beginning of the conference?
What was Marta's "first mistake"?
What is the golden rule of small talk? Explain it in your own words.
How did the conversation end, practically speaking?
What happened a week after the conference?
KEY: 1 terrified / nervous, didn't know anyone · 2 she answered in one word ("Good") · 3 answer the question, add a detail, ask a question back · 4 they exchanged LinkedIn profiles · 5 Joana sent a follow-up message with a job opening and recommended Marta
11 Words in the text mean… §2.4C
started the conversation in a friendly way (¶2) =
replies like "yes", "no", "good" (¶3) =
liked each other immediately (¶4) =
a message sent after a meeting (¶5) =
KEY: 1 broke the ice · 2 one-word answers · 3 hit it off · 4 follow-up message
2.5 · Grammar: Questions That Work
Заметка · §2.5
О чём раздел: грамматическое ядро юнита — порядок слов в вопросах. В small talk вопросы ведут разговор: кто спрашивает, тот и рулит. Три типа: общий (Do you...?), специальный (Where do you...?) и вопрос к подлежащему без вспомогательного глагола (Who called you? — частая ловушка: студенты ставят do и получают ❌ "Who did call you?").
subject question/ˈsʌbdʒkt ˈkwestən/ — вопрос о подлежащем: спрашиваем, КТО сделал, а не кого/что; без do/does/did.
indirect question/ˌɪndəˈrekt kwestʃən/ — вежливая обёртка: "Could you tell me where you're based?"; внутри — прямой порядок слов, НЕ вопросительный.
Как вести: главная ошибка русскоязычных — пропуск вспомогательного глагола («Where you work?») и вопросительный порядок внутри косвенных вопросов («Could you tell me where are you based?»). Выпишите обе на доску ДО упражнений и попросите группу найти «преступление». В упр. 15 обсудите: косвенная форма НЕ спасает табу-вопросы — «Do you mind if I ask how old you are?» всё равно странно.
Type
Structure
Example
Yes/No
Auxiliary + subject + verb
Do you work remotely? Did you like the talk?
Wh- question
Wh-word + auxiliary + subject + verb
Where do you work? What did you think of the keynote?
Subject question (no auxiliary!)
Who/What + verb
Who called you? What happened after the talk?
Polite / indirect
Could you tell me...? / Do you mind if I ask...?
Could you tell me where you're based? Do you mind if I ask what you do?
Echo question (see 2.6)
Auxiliary + subject (?)
"I met the CEO." — "Did you?!"
⚠️ Classic mistakes: ❌ Where you are from? → ✅ Where are you from? · ❌ You liked the talk? → ✅ Did you like the talk? · With who you spoke? → ✅ Who did you speak with?
12 Unscramble the questions §2.5A
you / did / how / find / the conference ?
where / do / you / usually / work ?
what / you / did / do / before this talk ?
who / did / you / talk to / at the meetup ?
do / you / mind / if / I ask / a question ?
KEY: 1 How did you find the conference? · 2 Where do you usually work? · 3 What did you do before this talk? · 4 Who did you talk to at the meetup? · 5 Do you mind if I ask a question?
13 Choose the correct option §2.5B
(Who called / Who did call) you during the keynote?
(Who you met / Who did you meet) at the startup's booth?
What (happened / did happen) after the talk finished?
(Who designed / Who did design) this beautiful booth?
Who (you recommend / do you recommend) for the QA position?
KEY: 1 Who called · 2 Who did you meet · 3 happened · 4 Who designed · 5 do you recommend
14 Write a question for each answer §2.5C
"I'm from Krakow." → ____________________________________?
"I joined the company in 2021." → ____________________________________?
"The keynote was about AI in testing." → ____________________________________?
"I came to the conference with two colleagues." → ____________________________________?
"It takes me fifteen minutes to get to the office." → ____________________________________?
KEY: 1 Where are you from? · 2 When did you join the company? · 3 What was the keynote about? · 4 Who did you come to the conference with? · 5 How long does it take you to get to the office?
15 Polite & indirect; cross out the taboo §2.5D
Where do you live? → Could you tell me ____________________?
What is your role? → Do you mind if I ask ____________________?
How long have you been here? → I was wondering ____________________.
How old are you? → ❌
How much do you earn? →
KEY: 1 ...where you live · 2 ...what your role is · 3 ...how long you have been here · 4–5: don't ask — red topics (age, salary); indirect form does not make a taboo question polite
2.6 · Functional Language: React Like a Human
Заметка · §2.6
О чём раздел: эхо-вопросы и реакции-«поддакивания». Эхо-вопрос = вспомогательный глагол + местоимение с восклицательной интонацией: "I met the CEO." — "Did you?!" Это способ показать интерес, не придумывая новых слов: идеально для B1, которому не хватает лексики в живом разговоре.
No way!/nəʊ weɪ/ — «не может быть!»; дружеское удивление, не грубость.
Sounds tough./saʊndz tʌf/ — «звучит непросто»; сочувствие без драмы.
Как вести: упр. 18 («reaction tennis») играйте в быстром темпе: вы кидаете реплику — студент должен отбить эхо-вопросом за 2 секунды. Темп важнее точности: реакция должна стать рефлексом. Смешные реплики про кота обязательны — смех закрепляет структуру.
Echo questions = auxiliary + subject, with surprise intonation. They show interest without new words: "I met the CEO at the coffee machine." — "Did you? What did she say?" "I've never been to a conference." — "Have you not? You're in for a treat!" "I'm moving to Amsterdam." — "Are you? That's exciting!"
Reaction phrases:No way! · Really? · That's amazing! · Sounds tough. · Tell me more! · I know exactly what you mean.
16 Match statements and echo reactions §2.6A
Statement
Reaction
1. "I met the CEO at the coffee machine."
a) Haven't you? It's easier than it looks!
2. "I've never tried Kubernetes."
b) Don't you? I love them!
3. "I don't like networking events."
c) Are you? That's exciting!
4. "I'm moving to Amsterdam next month."
d) Did you? What did she say?
KEY: 1-d · 2-a · 3-b · 4-c
17 Complete the dialogue with reactions §2.6B
No way! · Really? · Sounds tough. · Tell me more! · Anyway,
A: So, how was the conference? B: Amazing! I met a woman who used to work at Google. A: (1) What did she tell you? B: Lots of things! She said their internal tools are worse than ours. A: (2) I always thought Google was perfect. B: Haha, me too. And then she invited me to her meetup next month. A: (3) Who else is going? B: About fifty people, mostly QA engineers. And I have to give a five-minute talk! A: (4) Five minutes in English? B: Yes... I'm terrified. (5) enough about me — how was YOUR week?
KEY: 1 No way! · 2 Really? · 3 Tell me more! · 4 Sounds tough. · 5 Anyway,
18 Reaction tennis (speaking) §2.6C
Your teacher (or partner) says the sentences below. React with an echo question + one follow-up question.
"I spoke English for three hours yesterday."
"I've never worked in an office — fully remote since 2019."
"My cat deleted a file during a demo once."
"I don't drink coffee at all."
2.7 · Listening: Coffee Break Conversation
Заметка · §2.7
О чём раздел: образцовый small talk у кофемашины: айсбрейкер-шутка → обмен фактами → эхо-реакции → вежливый выход с предложением соединиться в LinkedIn. Студенты слышат всю схему юнита в живой речи за 90 секунд.
QA lead/ˌkjuː ˈeɪ liːd/ — ведущий специалист по тестированию, глава QA-направления.
health-tech/helθ tek/ — компании на стыке медицины и технологий: приложения для клиник, телемедицина.
you're in for a treat/jɔːr ɪn fɔːr ə triːt/ — «тебя ждёт удовольствие»: идиома-обещание приятного сюрприза.
Как вести: читайте скрипт в паре с сильным студентом или соло, меняя голоса. Первое прослушивание — только настроение и вопрос «who is more experienced at conferences?». Задание 21 (фразы айсбрейкера / интереса / выхода) размечайте по скрипту тремя цветами маркеров.
19 Complete the gaps §2.7A
Tom and Lena meet near the machine.
Both of them work in .
Lena works at a company in Warsaw.
Tom has been to this conference times.
Tom says the real networking happens at the meetup.
Tom thinks the conference coffee is excellent. ______
Lena and Tom work in the same field. ______
Lena has been to many conferences abroad. ______
Tom recommends the evening meetup. ______
Tom asks Lena for her business card. ______
KEY: 1 F · 2 T · 3 F · 4 T · 5 F (LinkedIn, not a card)
21 Phrases for (a) ice-break, (b) interest, (c) exit §2.7C
KEY: (a) joke about the coffee + "I'm Tom, by the way" · (b) "No way!", "Really?", echo questions · (c) "I'd better let you go", "Enjoy the talk!"
🎧 Script — teacher only, show after listening
Lena: Hmm, this coffee is... interesting.
Tom: (laughs) Yeah, "conference coffee" — a special category. I'm Tom, by the way.
Lena: Lena. Nice to meet you. Did you catch the keynote this morning?
Tom: I did! The part about AI in testing was fascinating. Are you in QA too?
Lena: Actually, yes! I'm a QA automation engineer at a small fintech in Warsaw. How about you?
Tom: No way! I'm a QA lead at a health-tech company in Berlin. So, what did you think of the keynote?
Lena: I loved the demo, but I think the speaker went too fast. What about you?
Tom: Same here. I've been to this conference three times now, and the talks keep getting better. Is this your first time?
Lena: Yes, first time. I've never been to a tech conference abroad before.
Tom: Really? Then you're in for a treat — the evening meetup is the best part. Have you signed up?
Lena: Not yet. Is it worth it?
Tom: Absolutely. That's where the real networking happens. Hey, I'd better let you go — your next talk starts in ten minutes. Let's connect on LinkedIn?
Lena: Sure! I'll send you a request today.
Tom: Perfect. Enjoy the talk, Lena!
🌍 Culture Note #1: Small Talk Around the World
USA: small talk is social glue. Strangers chat in queues and elevators. "How are you?" is a greeting, not a question — the correct answer is "Good, thanks! You?", not your medical history.
UK: weather, queues, and understatement. "Not bad" = good. "Quite good" = mediocre. "I was a bit disappointed" = devastated.
🇩🇸🇫 Germany & Nordics: small talk with strangers is rare and can feel superficial. Silence is normal and comfortable. In Finland, silence is respect — don't fill it nervously.
🇯 Japan: business cards (meishi) are exchanged with two hands and studied carefully. Putting a card straight into your back pocket is a small crime.
💡 Golden rule in international teams: mirror your partner. If they give short answers and pauses — slow down. If they ask personal-friendly questions — open up a little.
🐾 Lapa: "Americans ask 'How are you?' and expect 'Good'. Finns ask 'How are you?' and expect a three-hour honest answer. Choose your victim carefully."
2.8 · Safe & Dangerous Topics
Заметка · §2.8
О чём раздел: светофор тем: зелёные (безопасные), жёлтые (осторожно), красные (табу с незнакомцами). Для студентов из культур, где вопрос «замужем?» — проявление заботы, это один из самых ценных блоков курса: он предотвращает реальные карьерные неловкости.
taboo/təˈbuː/ — запретная тема.
understatement/ˈʌndəsteɪtmənt/ — британское преуменьшение: сказать «a bit tricky» про катастрофу.
rule of thumb/ruːl əv θʌm/ — «правило большого пальца»: простое практическое правило, не строгий закон.
Как вести: упр. 23 (переписать красные вопросы в зелёные) обсуждайте всем классом ДО написания: пусть студенты сами предложат безопасные замены. Ваша роль — модератор, а не источник истин: так формулировки запомнятся лучше.
🌍 Culture Note #2: The Traffic Light of Topics
🟢 GREEN (safe): current projects and tech, conferences and talks, food and coffee, weekend plans, travel, pets, series and music, the weather (classic for a reason), remote work setup.
YELLOW (careful): office politics, salary and bonuses (never your own first), religion, health, sports rivalries, jokes about age or appearance.
🔴 RED (taboo with new acquaintances):"How old are you?", "Are you married / why not?", "Do you have kids / when will you?", "How much do you earn?", "You look tired / older / different."
💡 Rule of thumb: if you're not sure — ask about work or food. Nobody has ever been fired for asking "Any restaurant recommendations around here?"
🐾 Lapa: "I once asked a developer why he had no fur on his head. He didn't talk to me for a week. Red topics exist. Learn from my mistakes."
22 Green, yellow or red? §2.8A
"What are you working on these days?"
"How much do they pay at your company?"
"Do you have any restaurant recommendations here?"
"Why aren't you married?"
"How was your flight / train here?"
"You look tired. Everything OK at home?"
KEY: 1 🟢 · 2 🔴 · 3 🟢 · 4 🔴 · 5 🟢 · 6 🔴
23 Rewrite red questions into green §2.8B
Example: ❌ "How old are you?" → ✅ (don't ask — or: "How long have you been in IT?")
"How much do you earn?" → ____________________________________
"Do you have kids?" → ____________________________________
"Why do you look so tired?" → ____________________________________
KEY (possible answers): 1 "What made you choose this company?" / don't ask · 2 "How do you usually spend your weekends?" / don't ask · 3 "How's your week going?"
2.9 · Communication Toolkit: Anchor – Reveal – Encourage
Заметка · §2.9
О чём раздел: скелет разговора из пяти шагов: Anchor (зацепись за общую ситуацию) → Reveal (раскрой факт о себе) → Encourage (задай открытый вопрос) → Follow up (эхо + уточнение) → Exit (вежливо выйди). Это готовый алгоритм для студента, у которого «в голове пусто».
anchor/ˈæŋkə/ — «якорь»: то, что объединяет вас прямо сейчас (очередь, кофе, зал, погода за окном зума).
open question/ˈəʊpən ˈkwestən/ — вопрос, на который нельзя ответить «да/нет»: начинается с what / how / why.
exit phrase/ˈeksɪt frez/ — фраза вежливого выхода: "I'd better let you go", "I'll let you get back to it".
Как вести: упр. 24 (порядок реплик) сначала дайте парам проговорить вслух в своём порядке — уши находят логику быстрее глаз. В упр. 26 обсудите нюанс регистра: "Anyway, back to work" — для кухни и коллег, "It was great talking to you + LinkedIn" — для конференции; формальность растёт слева направо.
1. ANCHOR — comment on something you both share right now: "This coffee is an experience, isn't it?", "That talk went way over time!" 2. REVEAL — add one fact about yourself: "I'm Lena, I'm in QA — first time at this conference." 3. ENCOURAGE — ask an open question: "What about you? What brings you here?" 4. FOLLOW UP — echo + wh- question: "Three times?! What keeps bringing you back?" 5. EXIT — wrap up warmly: "I'd better let you go. It was great talking — let's connect on LinkedIn!"
24 Put the conversation in order §2.9A
#
Line
Order
1
"I'm Mark, by the way — backend developer, first time here."
2
"This queue for coffee is longer than the queue for registration, isn't it?"
3
"Three years? Wow — what has changed the most since then?"
4
"Haha, true! I'm Anna — I've been coming here for three years."
5
"I'd better let you go — enjoy the workshop! Let's connect on LinkedIn."
6
"Nice to meet you, Mark! What brings you to the conference?"
Two minutes before a Zoom call starts; silence; you and a colleague from another team.
A queue at a meetup registration desk.
The office elevator, Friday 6 p.m.
26 Match exit phrases and situations §2.9C
Exit phrase
Situation
1. "I'd better let you go — I know you have a talk in ten minutes."
a) ending a chat in the kitchen
2. "Anyway, back to work — my stand-up starts in two minutes!"
b) ending a conversation at a conference, warmly
3. "It was really great talking to you. Let's connect on LinkedIn — I'll send a request today."
c) ending a video call
4. "Thanks for the chat! I'll let you get back to it."
d) ending a conversation when the other person is busy
KEY: 1-d · 2-a · 3-b · 4-c
🌍 Culture Note #3: Remote Small Talk & Virtual Coffee
The first two minutes rule. On Western remote calls, the first 1–2 minutes belong to small talk. Jumping straight into the agenda feels robotic. "Hey! How's your week going?" first, Jira second.
"How are you?" = ping, not query. Answer short and return it: "Pretty good, busy week! You?" A five-minute honest report makes people uncomfortable.
Slack #random is currency. Memes, pet photos, food, "my build finally passed" — reacting with an emoji or a one-liner is legitimate networking.
Virtual coffee: 15–20 minutes, no agenda, camera on. Prepare 2–3 topics in advance (yes, really). It's how remote teams build trust.
Cats are universal. If a pet appears on camera, commenting on it is always a green topic. Always.
🐾 Lapa: "I have joined 47 video calls by accident. In 46 of them, I was the best part of the meeting."
2.10 · Speaking: Practise in the Wild
Заметка · §2.10
О чём раздел: четыре ролевые карты + elevator pitch. Card 4 («The Escape Game») — ваш бенефис: играйте Лапу, которая бесконечно рассказывает про баги, а студент должен вежливо выйти ровно за три реплики. Смех гарантирован, навык выхода отрабатывается под давлением.
attendee/əˈtendiː/ — участник мероприятия.
speaker/ˈspiːkə/ — докладчик на конференции.
elevator pitch/ˈelɪveɪtə pɪtʃ/ — 30-секундная самопрезентация (см. §2.2).
Как вести: перед ролевками дайте 3 минуты тихой подготовки по схеме Anchor–Reveal–Encourage–Follow-up–Exit: студенты пишут только опорные слова, не текст. Во время Escape Game держите таймер на экране — дедлайн добавляет азарта и реализма.
27 Role-plays §2.10A
Use the Anchor–Reveal–Encourage–Follow-up–Exit structure.
Card 1: Conference coffee break. Student A: first-timer, nervous, gives short answers at first. Student B: veteran of three conferences, must keep the conversation alive and end it politely.
Card 2: Virtual coffee. Student A: new colleague from another country, first week. Student B: teammate who organised a 15-minute virtual coffee to welcome them.
Card 3: After a talk at a meetup. Student A: attendee who loved the talk. Student B: the speaker (!). Answer questions, react modestly, exchange LinkedIn.
Card 4: The Escape Game. Teacher (as Lapa 🐱) talks endlessly about bugs. Student must wrap up the conversation politely in exactly three sentences — without being rude. Lapa will resist.
28 Elevator pitch §2.10B
Prepare 30 seconds about yourself using the template, then deliver it to a partner.
"Hi, I'm [Name]. I'm a [role] with [X] years of experience, currently working on [area/project]. Before that I [one interesting fact]. These days I'm really into [technology/topic]. And outside of work I [hobby] — which is basically [funny comparison]."
2.11 · Funny but True: How to Kill a Conversation
Заметка · §2.11
О чём раздел: анти-паттерны: односложные ответы, телефон в руке, мгновенные споры о Vim vs VS Code, овершеринг на первой минуте. Языковая цель — тренировка вежливых переформулировок из правой колонки таблицы.
oversharing/ˈəʊvəʃeərɪŋ/ — избыточная личная откровенность с малознакомыми: развод, диагнозы, зарплаты в первые пять минут.
eye contact/aɪ ˈkɒntækt/ — зрительный контакт; в западной культуре его отсутствие читается как скука или нечестность.
facepalm/ˈfeɪspɑːm/ — жест «рукалицо»: реакция на чужую бестактность; из интернет-культуры, но понятен всем.
Как вести: начните с признаний: «какую фразу из левой колонки вы делали сами?» — ваша собственная честная история первой разряжает группу. Culture Note #4 после таблицы — логичный мостик к письменному заданию §2.12 (follow-up сообщение).
29 Read the table. Which have YOU done? §2.11
❌ Conversation killer
✅ Instead
One-word answers: "Good." "Yes." "No."
Answer–add–ask: "Good! The demo was the best part. What did you think?"
"So... what do you do?" (at an IT event, to a stranger with a badge)
"What are you working on these days?" — the badge already says what they do
Oversharing in minute one: divorce, surgery, salary
Keep the first five minutes light; depth comes later
Glancing at your phone while someone talks
Phone face-down. Eye contact. Nodding exists for a reason.
"Actually, that's wrong..." (correcting a stranger's opinion about Vim vs VS Code in minute two)
"Interesting — I see it differently! What makes you say that?"
🌍 Culture Note #4: Networking Culture in Western IT
Talking to strangers is the point. At conferences and meetups, approaching unknown people is normal and expected. Your badge is an open invitation; nobody finds it strange.
LinkedIn is the new business card. Send a connection request with a personal note (2–3 sentences: where you met + what you discussed). Empty requests look like spam.
Follow up within 24–48 hours."Great meeting you at X — enjoyed our chat about Y." After a week, the person has forgotten you; after a day, they remember everything.
"Let's grab coffee sometime" is often polite fiction. If you mean it — propose a concrete time: "Are you free for a virtual coffee next Tuesday?"
Networking ≠ using people. The healthiest frame: "How can I be useful to this person?" Share a link, an article, a contact. Karma in IT is surprisingly real.
🐾 Lapa: "At my first meetup I hid under a table for an hour. At my tenth, I gave a talk. Same cat. The difference was practice — and one very patient human with a laser pointer."
2.12 · Writing: The Follow-up Message
Заметка · §2.12
О чём раздел: финальный продукт юнита — сообщение «вдогонку» после встречи: короткая заметка к запросу в LinkedIn (3 предложения) и полноценное follow-up письмо (60–80 слов). Это текст, который студент может отправить реальному контакту уже на этой неделе.
LinkedIn/lɪŋktn/ — профессиональная соцсеть.
connection request/kəˈnekʃn rɪˈkwest/ — запрос на добавление в контакты на LinkedIn.
stay in touch/steɪ n tʌtʃ/ — «оставаться на связи»; стандартная тёплая концовка.
Как вести: пример Лапы показывайте ТОЛЬКО после написания своих текстов. Взаимопроверка по чек-листу из четырёх пунктов: (1) напоминание о месте встречи, (2) личная деталь разговора, (3) польза или предложение, (4) тёплый финал. Без всех четырёх сообщение выглядит как спам.
Template: "Hi [Name]! We met at [event] while discussing [topic]. I really enjoyed our conversation about [detail]. Let's stay in touch!"
31 Follow-up message (60–80 words) §2.12B
Write to a person you met at a meetup last week. Plan: 1) greeting + reminder where you met; 2) reference to something specific you discussed; 3) something useful: a link, a recommendation, a contact; 4) a soft proposal (coffee / call / next event); 5) warm closing line.
Lapa's model (show after students write their own): "Hi Tom! It was great meeting you at the QA meetup yesterday — especially our serious scientific discussion about terrible conference coffee. 😄 As promised, here's the link to the automation framework I mentioned. If you're ever in Warsaw, let's grab a coffee — a good one, this time. Looking forward to staying in touch! — Lapa"
2.13 · Vocabulary Review
Заметка · §2.13
О чём раздел: закрепление лексики: текст-сумmary с пропусками и word formation. Быстрая сверка произношений ответов: badge/bædʒ/, keynote/ˈkiːnəʊt/, broke the ice/brək ði aɪs/, hit it off/hɪt ɪt ɒf/, wrap up/ræp ʌp/, LinkedIn/ˈlɪŋktɪn/, follow-up/ˈfɒləʊʌp/.
Как вести: word formation дайте в парах на скорость (3 минуты), затем взаимопроверка по ключам. Self-check (§2.14) — домашняя честная ревизия: попросите отметить пункты «могу, но с трудом» — это их план на повторение.
32 Complete the summary §2.13A
small talk · broke the ice · badge · keynote · hit it off · follow-up · wrap up · LinkedIn
Last month I went to my first tech conference. At registration I got my (1) and a terrible
coffee. During the (2) I sat next to a stranger who (3)
with a joke about the coffee. At the break we started some (4) about our projects
and instantly (5) . Before we had to (6) the conversation,
she sent me a connection request on (7) . A week later her
(8) message led to a job interview. Small talk: 1, awkward silence: 0.
KEY: 1 badge · 2 keynote · 3 broke the ice · 4 small talk · 5 hit it off · 6 wrap up · 7 LinkedIn · 8 follow-up
I can start small talk in 5+ situations (call, kitchen, conference, Slack, elevator).
I know the green, yellow and red topics for a first meeting.
I can ask correct yes/no, wh- and subject questions.
I can keep a conversation alive: answer–add–ask, echo questions, follow-ups.
I can politely end a conversation ("I'd better let you go", "I'll let you get back to it").
I can write a LinkedIn connection note and a follow-up message.
I know that "How are you?" is a greeting, and that silence in Finland is a compliment.
Заметка · Homework
О чём раздел: четыре задания: реальное follow-up письмо, скрытое аудирование через YouTube (Q&A с конференций), голосовое сообщение с elevator pitch (самооценка записи — мощный инструмент для B1) и личный словарь.
Как проверять: следующий урок начните с «follow-up Friday»: двое студентов зачитывают свои сообщения вслух, группа голосует: «ответили бы вы на такое?» Одна минута — а мотивация писать честно взлетает.
35 Homework 🏠
Writing. Write a real (or realistic) follow-up message: to a colleague, a conference contact, or an imaginary QA lead from Berlin. 60–80 words, structure from 2.12B.
Listening. Watch 5–7 minutes of any conference talk Q&A or meetup intro on YouTube. Write down: 3 small-talk or reaction phrases you heard, and 1 question you would ask the speaker.
Speaking (optional but powerful). Record a 60-second voice message: your elevator pitch + 2 questions for a new colleague. Send it to your teacher or listen and self-correct.
Vocabulary. Add 10 items from this unit to your personal word list with example sentences.