Talk It Up! — Janet Xie

Problem

Non-native English speakers often struggle with making small talk in professional settings due to cultural differences and lack of confidence. While they may have strong technical English skills, casual conversations can feel awkward or unfamiliar, limiting their ability to connect with coworkers.

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Solution

I designed an interactive eLearning course using Articulate Storyline to help learners practice small talk in realistic workplace scenarios. The course included guided prompts, cultural tips, and a feedback mechanism that was originally intended to integrate with ChatGPT for personalized feedback.

Design Process

Research

I conducted structured interviews and think-aloud sessions with both experts and novices to identify learning gaps in small talk. Talking to experienced non-native speakers and native speakers helped me understand common challenges like topic selection, cultural misunderstandings, and confidence issues.

In think-aloud sessions, participants verbalized their thoughts while engaging in small-talk scenarios. This showed where learners hesitate, struggle to keep conversations going, or feel unsure about transitions. These insights helped me pinpoint key difficulties and shape the course to address real-world challenges.

Backward Design

Identify Desired Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, I want learners to:

Confidently initiate and sustain small talk in professional settings
Recognize culturally appropriate topics and conversational norms in the workplace
Transition smoothly from small talk to work-related discussions without feeling awkward
Identify body language and use active listening to enhance their small-talk skills

Determine Acceptable Evidence of Learning

To make sure learners reach these goals, I designed assessments that allow them to demonstrate their skills:

Scenario-based activities where they choose appropriate responses
Simulated conversations where they practice small talk and get real-time feedback
Self-reflections where they assess their confidence and comfort levels
Interactive role-playing exercises where they engage in workplace small talk

Design Instructional Activities

I designed interactive and engaging activities in Articulate to help learners build their skills:

Animated scenarios that show good and bad examples of small talk
Branching conversations where learners see the impact of their choices
Guided practice with instant feedback, helping them refine their responses
Gradual skill-building exercises, starting with structured practice and moving toward real-world conversations

Live prototype

This is the finished course, built in Articulate Storyline 360: enter a name to start, then work through the five units below.

Course units

Unit 1 — What Is Small Talk?
Unit 2 — Small Talk in Professional Settings
Unit 3 — Starting a Small Talk at the Appropriate Time (reading body language, catching the pause, letting others finish)
Unit 4 — Choosing Appropriate Topics (casual, context-focused, and inappropriate topics)
Unit 5 — Engaging Someone in a Small Talk

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