← Back to course English Energy · Episode 1
0 / 20
Episode 1 · English Energy

Small Talk,
Big Impact

The first two minutes of a conversation. The ones that make someone smile.

Після цього епізоду ти зможеш почати коротку розмову з незнайомою людиною (помітити щось, сказати одне речення, поставити просте питання), коротко відповісти на Are you…? чи Do you…? і перепитати, якщо щось незрозуміло.

Level A2 British English Short answers

How to Get the Most from This Lesson

  1. Lesson 1, on your own: read and listen to the story, then learn the words. Tap the underlined words to see them in Ukrainian.
  2. Lesson 2, with a teacher or on your own: the dialogue, the grammar and speaking. On your own, listen, answer out loud and record yourself. Speaking out loud is the most important part. Do not skip it.
  3. Lesson 3, on your own: five exercises that check themselves, and a mission for the week.
Two women talking in a café queue
Lesson 1 Lesson 1 · On your own · текст, аудіювання, словник
Your starting point

Thirty seconds about you

Before the story, record yourself for about thirty seconds: say hello, your name, where you are from, and one thing about your day. Mistakes are fine. Save the recording: in Episode 12 you will do the same task and hear the difference.

“Hi, I’m __________. I’m from __________. Today I feel __________, because __________.”
Before you read

How easy is it for you?

Is it easy for you to start talking to a stranger, or to keep small talk going? There is no right answer here. Pick the face that is true today.

Step 1 · Text

The Two-Minute Door

Read it twice: once on your own, then again with the audio.

Nina is not shy. With her friends, she talks and laughs all evening. But with strangers, she says nothing.

Ніна не сором'язлива. З друзями вона говорить і сміється цілий вечір. Але з незнайомцями вона мовчить.

At the bus stop, she looks at her phone. In the queue, she looks at the floor. She thinks: “What can I say? My English is not perfect. And what if the person doesn’t answer?”

На зупинці вона дивиться в телефон. У черзі дивиться в підлогу. Вона думає: «Що я скажу? Моя англійська не ідеальна. А якщо людина не відповість?»
A woman waiting at a bus stop, looking at her phone
A woman standing in a queue, looking down

One morning she is in the queue for coffee. A woman she doesn’t know says: “Long queue today, isn’t it?” Nina smiles. “Yes! But the coffee is good here.” The woman laughs. They talk for two minutes: about coffee, about the rain, about Monday. Then the woman takes her cup and says: “Have a lovely day!”

Одного ранку вона стоїть у черзі за кавою. Жінка, яку вона не знає, каже: «Довга сьогодні черга, правда?» Ніна усміхається: «Так! Але кава тут хороша.» Жінка сміється. Вони говорять дві хвилини: про каву, про дощ, про понеділок. Потім жінка бере своє горнятко і каже: «Гарного дня!»
Nina and a stranger leaving a café with coffee, talking

It is only two minutes. It is only a queue and a cup of coffee. But Nina feels good for the rest of the morning.

Це лише дві хвилини. Це лише черга і горнятко кави. Але решту ранку Ніна почувається добре.

Nina never learns her name.

Ніна так і не дізнається її імені.

Small talk is a small door. Behind the door, there are people.

Small talk це маленькі двері. За дверима люди.
Step 2 · Listen and write

What did you hear?

Five sentences from the story. Play each one on its own with the button beside it, as many times as you need, and write the missing word.

Nina is not .
But with , she says nothing.
Long today, isn’t it?
My English is not .
Have a day!

Step 3 · Words and phrases

Listen and repeat

Try to remember first, then flip the card. Say every phrase out loud. Not in your head, out loud, so your mouth remembers it.

Картки з позначкою «Для говоріння» вчи активно і вживай сам чи сама. Решту досить розуміти.

  • small talk /ˈsmɔːl tɔːk/ коротка невимушена розмова на легкі теми (погода, черга, кава)
  • a queue /kjuː/ черга
  • Long queue today, isn’t it? Довга сьогодні черга, правда?
  • What a nice surprise! Яка приємна несподіванка!
  • How are you today? Як ти сьогодні?
  • Not bad, thanks. And you? Непогано, дякую. А ти?
  • a bit sleepy /ə bɪt ˈsliːpi/ трохи сонна
  • to notice /ˈnəʊtɪs/ помічати
  • It’s raining again. Знову дощ.
  • Are you waiting for…? Ти чекаєш на…?
  • It’s always late. Він завжди запізнюється.
  • Have a lovely day! Гарного дня!
  • a stranger /ˈstreɪndʒə/ незнайомець
  • Sorry, could you say that again? Вибачте, можете повторити?
  • Could you speak more slowly, please? Можете говорити повільніше, будь ласка?
  • Do you mean…? Ви маєте на увазі…?
  • Let me think. Зараз подумаю.
The last four are your safety net. You will need them in every episode, and in every real conversation. Didn’t catch a word? Ask. Need a second? Say “Let me think.” The conversation goes on.
Lesson 2 Lesson 2 · With a teacher or on your own · перевірка, діалог, граматика, говоріння

With a teacher, you do this part together in an online lesson. On your own, go block by block: check your answers with the buttons, and in the speaking tasks record yourself and compare with the model.

Before we start

Two minutes with a stranger

Nina talks to a woman in the queue for two minutes and never learns her name. Have you ever had a nice little chat like that with a stranger?

Before the dialogue

Quick check: the text

You already know this text. Three questions, no looking back.

Nina is quiet with her friends too.

In the coffee queue, the woman starts the conversation.

Nina learns the woman’s name.

Before the dialogue

Answer in a few words

Short answers, from the text. A few words are enough.

At the bus stop, what does Nina look at?
What does the woman say first?
How long do they talk?
What do they talk about?
According to the end of the story, what is small talk?

Step 4 · Dialogue

Emma and Nina

A café in London, Tuesday morning.

Scene 1 · In the queue
EmmaNina! Hello!
NinaEmma! What a nice surprise.
EmmaLong queue today, isn’t it?
NinaVery long. But the coffee is good here.
EmmaTrue. How are you today?
NinaNot bad, thanks. A bit sleepy. And you?
EmmaCold, but happy.
Scene 2 · At the table
NinaEmma, I have a question. You talk to everybody. In the shop, on the bus, in the queue. How?
EmmaIt’s easy. Three steps.
NinaThree steps?
EmmaOne: notice something. Two: say one sentence about it. Three: ask a small question.
NinaThat’s all?
EmmaThat’s all. Look at the rain. “It’s raining again!” And then: “Do you like the rain?”
NinaHmm. But my English is not perfect.
EmmaMy English isn’t perfect either. I just say it anyway.
NinaReally? But you know all the words.
EmmaYou know more words than me. You know the grammar too. You just wait for the perfect sentence.
EmmaSmall talk is not perfect English. Small talk is: “Hello, I see you.”
NinaI like that.
Scene 3 · Practice
EmmaGo on then. I’m a woman at the bus stop.
Nina(laughs) Erm… Cold today, isn’t it?
EmmaVery cold! Are you waiting for the number 5?
NinaYes, I am. It’s always late.
Emma(stops acting) See? Perfect.
NinaBut it’s only two sentences.
EmmaTwo sentences, and the person smiles. That’s the big impact.
NinaOkay. I’ll try tomorrow. One stranger, one sentence.
EmmaOne sentence is enough. Have a lovely day, Nina.
NinaHa! Have a lovely day, Emma.
Переклад діалогу. Сцена 1: «Ніно! Привіт!» «Еммо! Яка приємна несподіванка.» «Довга сьогодні черга, правда?» «Дуже довга. Але кава тут хороша.» «Це точно. Як ти сьогодні?» «Непогано, дякую. Трохи сонна. А ти?» «Змерзла, але щаслива.» Сцена 2: «Еммо, маю питання. Ти говориш з усіма. У магазині, в автобусі, в черзі. Як?» «Це просто. Три кроки.» «Три кроки?» «Перше: щось помічаєш. Друге: кажеш про це одне речення. Третє: ставиш маленьке питання.» «І все?» «І все. Подивись на дощ. „Знову дощ!“ А потім: „Тобі подобається дощ?“» «Хмм. Але моя англійська не ідеальна.» «Моя англійська теж не ідеальна. Я просто все одно говорю.» «Справді? Але ти знаєш усі слова.» «Ти знаєш більше слів, ніж я. І граматику знаєш. Ти просто чекаєш на ідеальне речення.» «Small talk це не ідеальна англійська. Small talk це „Привіт, я тебе бачу“.» «Мені це подобається.» Сцена 3: «Ну давай. Уяви, що я жінка на зупинці.» «Емм… Холодно сьогодні, правда?» «Дуже холодно! Ти чекаєш на п'ятий?» «Так, чекаю. Він завжди запізнюється.» «Бачиш? Ідеально.» «Але це лише два речення.» «Два речення, і людина усміхається. Оце і є big impact.» «Добре. Завтра спробую. Один незнайомець, одне речення.» «Одного речення досить. Гарного дня, Ніно.» «Ха! Гарного дня, Еммо.»
After the dialogue

Complete the line

Straight from the scenes you just heard. Pick the word that completes each line.

“Long today, isn’t it?”

“Not bad, thanks. A bit . And you?”

“Three: ask a small .”

“My English isn’t perfect .”

“Yes, I am. It’s always .”

Step 5 · Grammar

Small question, short answer

In small talk, answers are often short. To answer a yes/no question, use the first verb of the question (am, is, are, do, does, can) in the right form. Then you can add one more sentence, like Nina: “Yes, I am. It’s always late.”

У small talk відповіді часто короткі. Щоб відповісти на питання «так чи ні», візьми перше дієслово з питання (am, is, are, do, does, can) у потрібній формі. Потім можна додати ще одне речення, як Ніна: «Yes, I am. It’s always late.»
Are you waiting for the number 5?Yes, I am. / No, I’m not.
Do you like the rain?Yes, I do. / No, I don’t.
Is the coffee good here?Yes, it is. / No, it isn’t.
Can you see the bus?Yes, I can. / No, I can’t.
Ти чекаєш на п’ятий? Так, чекаю. / Ні, не чекаю. Тобі подобається дощ? Так, подобається. / Ні, не подобається. Кава тут хороша? Так, хороша. / Ні, не хороша. Ти бачиш автобус? Так, бачу. / Ні, не бачу. Зверни увагу: українською ми повторюємо головне дієслово (чекаю, подобається), а англійською перше дієслово питання (am, do, is, can).
The rule in one line: the short answer uses the first verb of the question (be, do or can), not the main verb.
Are you…? → Yes, I am.  ·  Do you like…? → Yes, I do. (Not: Yes, I like.)  ·  Is it…? → Yes, it is.  ·  Can you…? → Yes, I can.
In a “yes” answer, do not shorten the verb: Yes, I am (not: Yes, I’m).
Правило в одному рядку: коротка відповідь бере перше дієслово з питання (be, do або can), а не головне дієслово. Are you…? → Yes, I am. Do you like…? → Yes, I do (не Yes, I like). Is it…? → Yes, it is. Can you…? → Yes, I can. У відповіді «так» дієслово не скорочуємо: Yes, I am, а не Yes, I’m.
How are you? is different. It is not a yes/no question, so the answer is not “Yes, I am”. Say how you are, then ask back. To a stranger: Fine, thanks. And you? To someone you know, add one detail: Not bad, thanks. A bit sleepy. And you?
How are you? працює інакше. Це не питання «так чи ні», тому Yes, I am тут не підходить. Скажи, як ти, і спитай у відповідь. Незнайомій людині: Fine, thanks. And you? Знайомій людині можна додати одну деталь: Not bad, thanks. A bit sleepy. And you?

Now the practice. The questions use words from this episode. Write the missing word in the short answer.

“Are you waiting for the number 5?” “Yes, I .” (be)
“Do you like the rain?” “Yes, I .” (do)
“Is the coffee good here?” “Yes, it .” (be)
“Is the queue short today?” “No, it .” (be)
“Can you see the bus?” “Yes, I .” (can)
small talk? (you / like)

Speaking
Speaking 1 · From the text

Retell the story in five steps

One sentence out loud for each card. Say it yourself first, and only then open the model.

Step 1 · a queue

Where is Nina one morning?

Nina is in the queue for coffee.
Step 2 · a woman

Who speaks first, and what does she say?

A woman she doesn’t know says: “Long queue today, isn’t it?”
Step 3 · Nina answers

What does Nina answer?

Nina smiles and says: “Yes! But the coffee is good here.”
Step 4 · two minutes

What do they talk about?

They talk for two minutes: about coffee, about the rain, about Monday.
Step 5 · all morning

How does Nina feel afterwards?

Nina feels good for the rest of the morning.

Now all five sentences in a row, in one recording.

Speaking 2 · From the dialogue

Be Nina

Emma speaks, you answer as Nina. Round 1: read along with the model. Round 2: speak on your own, with only a Ukrainian hint on screen.

Speaking 3 · Your turn

Your three steps

Choose a real place you go to every week: a supermarket queue, a bus stop, the gym, a lift. Write your own three lines using Emma’s formula.

1 · Notice “Look at __________!”
2 · Say “__________ today, isn’t it?” or “It’s __________ here.”
3 · Ask “Are you waiting for __________?” or “Do you like __________?”

Now say them out loud. The page will listen and tell you which phrases from the lesson you used.

Speaking 4 · Fast

Ten seconds to answer

Five questions in a row. Keep your answers short and answer quickly. Mistakes are fine. Just don’t go quiet.

Stuck? Say one of these:
“Sorry, could you say that again?”
“Could you speak more slowly, please?”
“Do you mean…?”
“Let me think.”

Get ready to speak out loud.

Lesson 3 Lesson 3 · On your own · вправи, місія, надсилання
Exercises
Exercise 1

Match the pairs

Tap a phrase on the left, then its meaning on the right.

Exercise 2

True or False?

About the text and the dialogue.

Nina talks a lot with her friends.

In the queue, Nina starts the conversation.

The woman says “Have a lovely day!”

Nina and the woman talk for an hour.

Emma’s three steps are: notice, say, ask.

Nina thinks her English is perfect.

Exercise 3

Choose the word

One word is missing. Pick it.

Long today, isn’t it?

Not bad, . And you?

Are you for the number 5?

The number 5 bus? It’s always .

Have a day!

Small talk is not perfect .

Exercise 4

Put the lines in order

This is Scene 3. Drag a line by its handle, or move it with the arrows, until the conversation makes sense. Not sure? Listen to the scene and let your ear decide.

  1. Emma: Go on then. I’m a woman at the bus stop.
  2. Nina: Erm… Cold today, isn’t it?
  3. Emma: Very cold! Are you waiting for the number 5?
  4. Nina: Yes, I am. It’s always late.
  5. Emma: See? Perfect.
  6. Nina: But it’s only two sentences.

Exercise 5

Translate into English

Write full sentences. Capital letters and punctuation are not checked.

Довга сьогодні черга, правда?
Непогано, дякую. А ти?
Ти чекаєш на п’ятий?
(Про автобус) Він завжди запізнюється.
Гарного дня!

Speaking 5 · In real life

Your mission this week

The hardest task in this lesson. And the only one that really changes anything.

Send

Studying with a teacher? Send your work

Only for learners who study with a Viva Vox teacher: your teacher will see your exercise results, your lines from Speaking 3 and your mission note before the next lesson. Studying on your own? Skip this step: your progress is already saved in this browser.

This is what will be sent:



    

    

  


    

  


  
  

    Takeaways
    
What to take with you

    
    
  


  

    ← Back to course
    
    Episode 2. How Are You, Really? →