OVERVIEW & OBJECTIVES

This advanced ESL conversation & small talk lesson offers engaging activities, PDF worksheets, and digital materials designed for C1-level students. In this lesson, students will:

• Discuss key concepts such as small talk, vulnerability, breaking the ice, and building rapport.
• Explore vocabulary related to meaningful conversation and emotional openness during the preview discussion.
• Watch a video explaining Vinh Jang’s “High-Low-Buffalo” technique for building quick, deep connections.
• Practice conversational techniques from the video by matching them with real-life examples and applying them in guided exercises.
• Engage in an activation activity where they either play the High-Low-Buffalo game or practice reframing common questions to initiate deeper conversations.

PREVIEW & DISCUSSION

Students start this advanced ESL conversation & small talk lesson by defining and discussing the key terms “small talk,” “vulnerability,” “breaking the ice,” and “rapport with others,” reflecting on how these ideas connect in everyday conversation. They then discuss their personal feelings about small talk and emotional openness, considering whether small talk should stay light or become more meaningful, and weighing pros and cons of each approach. Next, students analyze real-life office scenarios to explore how to respond in different social situations, focusing on building rapport and managing vulnerability. Finally, they discuss effective conversational techniques and which approaches might be best avoided.

VIEWING ACTIVITY

Students watch a concise video that introduces Vinh Jang’s “High-Low-Buffalo” technique—a simple, fun game designed to break the ice and foster meaningful connections quickly. After viewing, they complete activities identifying the three parts of the technique and what each represents. They also paraphrase both Vinh’s and Phoebe’s versions of High-Low-Buffalo to deepen understanding. To conclude this section, students complete sentences about the advantages of using the technique, focusing on how it builds connection, maintains flow, creates structure, and encourages vulnerability when meeting new people.

VIEWING FOLLOW-UP

Students discuss their opinions of the High-Low-Buffalo game as a rapport-building tool and whether they would try it themselves. They then match five conversational techniques—such as pulling on conversational threads, establishing common ground, reframing questions, paraphrasing, and sharing vulnerability—to corresponding examples. Finally, students practice these techniques by role-playing short conversational prompts designed to encourage deeper and more meaningful exchanges.

SKIP THE SMALL TALK & INITIATE BIG TALK

Students choose between two options: playing the High-Low-Buffalo game or engaging in a conversation using reframed, meaningful questions. Working in pairs or with the teacher, they either play the game as new colleagues or practice initiating deeper conversations using the studied techniques. After the activity, students reflect on the experience, discussing which techniques their partner used and which ones they found challenging to apply. If they choose the question-reframing option, they create more meaningful versions of common small talk questions and use conversational strategies during their discussions.

BENEFITS OF USING THIS ADVANCED ESL CONVERSATION & SMALL TALK LESSON

This ESL lesson plan supports teachers by offering structured activities that promote deep, meaningful conversations beyond superficial small talk. It introduces students to practical, easy-to-use techniques that increase confidence in social situations. The lesson encourages emotional openness while providing a safe framework for vulnerability. It also develops students’ ability to reframe everyday questions into insightful dialogue starters. Finally, it offers flexible activation options that cater to different class sizes and student preferences, making it ideal for advanced ESL conversation & small talk lessons.