Culture Bites: Approaching Small Talk Across Cultures

Course Overview

Culture Bites: Approaching Small Talk Across Cultures is a practical audio-based minicourse designed to help you navigate small talk in international workplaces. While small talk is a key part of professional relationships in some cultures, in others, it can feel unnecessary or even distracting. This course explores how different cultures approach small talk, why it matters, and how you can adapt your style to build trust and connections without overstepping boundaries. This course is part of Talaera's Culture Bites, a collection of short, podcast-style lessons (5–10 minutes each) that help you communicate effectively in international and culturally diverse environments. Each course in this audio series focuses on real-world topics like managing silence in conversations, handling humor across cultures, and navigating different communication styles. With this course, you'll gain confidence in starting, maintaining, and adapting small talk to fit diverse professional settings. Perfect for advanced and native English speakers.

Learning Objectives:

By completing this course, you will learn how to:

• Identify cultural differences in small talk expectations
• Apply strategies for engaging in small talk across diverse workplaces
• Recognize when to transition from small talk to business topics
• Adapt small talk topics and approach based on cultural context

Target Audience

Anyone with Advanced English (B2-C2) and native English speakers