先来看看何为Small Talk?

Small Talk:

Conversation without real meaning; conversation without any particular purpose;conversation about general subjects;conversation one starts with unfamiliar people in order to be more involved; conversation used to make friends with new people;conversation used to make the atmosphere better.

没有具体意义的对话;没有特殊目的的对话;关于大众话题的对话;为了进一步融入而展开的与陌生人的对话;为了结交新朋友而展开的对话;为了使气氛更融洽而展开的对话。

常用话题：

1.How was your flight or train ride? Perhaps the first question you would ask them, out of politeness.

旅途如何?这可能是你首先该问的问题，比较礼貌。

2.How is your hotel? If they have already checked into a hotel, you can ask if their accommodations are acceptable to them. Just another polite question.

你的旅馆如何?如果他们已经入住的话，你可以问问他们觉得住宿是否可心，这又是一个比较礼貌的问题哦。

3.Do you play any sports? / Do you play golf? This is a good question to ask Western businessmen especially. Most of them do play golf - it has become very, very common in recent years. Others might play tennis, squash or basketball. Most Western women do yoga or at least go to the gym.

你做什么运动吗?你打高尔夫吗?这个是可以问西方商务人士的很典型的话题。大多数西方商务人士都打高尔夫，近些年，高尔夫已经成为一项非常常见的运动。也有一些可能会打网球，壁球或者篮球的。大部分西方女士做瑜伽或者至少会去健身所运动。

4.How’s the weather like in your country? Whereabouts are you from?

你们国家天气如何?你来自具体哪个地方呢?

5.Do you have children? That should be plenty of casual conversation. American businessmen especially like to get down to business without too much small talk. After your meeting, you could go to a bar or pub to get to know each other better. Your foreign friend will be more relaxed and more talkative in that situation

你有孩子吗?像这类轻松的话题还很多。美国商人特别喜欢直接进入商务话题，所以过多寒暄就不必了。你们会面之后，你们可以去酒吧或酒馆来进一步了解彼此。那时你的外国友人会更加放松，也更健谈些。

All right, 接下来就是get down to business了!