Talk It Up!
Course Audience
Adult Non-Native English Speakers with Intermediate Skills
My Role
I served as the Instructional Designer in this course.
Tools Used
Articulate Storyline 360
Google Doc
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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.
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
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 languages 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.