Fluvia

Small talk

Practise small talk in English with coworkers

You follow the meetings, but in the office kitchen you answer "good, you?" and the conversation dies. Here you talk to a coworker who leaves silences instead of rescuing you, so that you fill them. Free, no sign-up.

Situations
3, from the office to an event
Who you meet
a coworker, a barista, someone at an event
Correction
as you speak, not at the end
Goal
keep it going and ask something back
Sign-up
none
Price
free

The three situations

  • Monday morning small talk with coworkers

    You freeze in the office kitchen and answer 'good, you?' every time.

    Sam — a coworker making coffee in the office kitchen

    Keep a three-minute exchange going with more than one-word answers, and ask something back.

    Start →

  • Small talk at a coffee shop

    You want to stop dreading the counter when you order.

    Maya — a cheerful barista at a neighbourhood café

    Order a drink and hold a relaxed, natural small-talk exchange.

    Start →

  • Networking at a tech event

    You are going to an event where you will have to introduce yourself in English.

    Priya — a product designer you've just met at a conference

    Introduce yourself well, keep the conversation flowing, and exchange contacts.

    Start →

Why small talk is rehearsed differently

Small talk is not failed on vocabulary. It is failed because nobody told you that "how was your weekend?" takes two sentences and a question back, and that the silence afterwards is yours to fill, not theirs.

So here the coworker does not rescue you. Answer in one word and they leave a gap, then pick up the small thing you did say. It is deliberately uncomfortable, because that is how you learn to fill the gap.

The goal is concrete: get past three exchanges without the conversation dying, with answers longer than one sentence and at least one question of your own.

Frequently asked questions

How do I practise small talk in English with no one to practise with?
With an AI that plays the coworker and leaves silences, which is the hard part. Here it is free with no account, and the silence is yours to fill.
What do you answer to "how was your weekend?"
Two sentences and a question back. "Pretty quiet, actually — I finally fixed my bike. What about you?" The question back is what stops the silence.
Does it work if I am B1?
Yes. The coworker pitches their English at your level, and small talk is exactly where a B1 can sound natural without advanced vocabulary.
Does it correct me while I speak?
Yes, at the moment of the mistake, and it gives you back a more natural version of what you just said.

FROM WHAT YOU READ TO WHAT YOU SAY

Monday morning stops being a problem

Three minutes in the office kitchen, rehearsed beforehand, change how your coworkers see you.

Practise small talk