Starting a Conversation at the Coffee Machine
A colleague from the London office is at the coffee machine — how to start a conversation naturally and say goodbye without "We see us".
Tip: listen to the episode twice before you start the test. · Worksheet (PDF)
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Comprehension test
Listen first, then answer. No penalties — every explanation points to the moment in the conversation.
We do — although in English it's '___ at the meeting'.
Nice to finally meet you ___ — we've only ever met on video calls.
Transcript
Key phrases
Language notes
In this episode two colleagues get talking at the coffee machine: introducing yourself, sharing recommendations, asking about the visit and exiting politely. You learn the key office small-talk phrases — and why "Wir sehen uns" is never "We see us" in English (level B1).
The opener: context beats cold start
Jonas does not open with a stock phrase but with shared context: "You're Emily from the London office, right?" plus an immediate self-introduction. This combination — recognising the person, name, own role — is the easiest small-talk opener at work. After that, the setting carries the conversation: the coffee machine delivers a natural first topic with "Any recommendations?" that puts nobody under pressure.
Culture note: small talk is not a waste of time
In German offices small talk often counts as a nice extra; in British and American companies it is part of the job. The minutes at the coffee machine build exactly the trust that later makes emails and meetings faster. Typically British in this episode: the weather as a safe topic and self-deprecating humour ("It has broken stronger people than us") — laughing along is enough, nobody expects a punchline in return.
The exit: leaving politely and saying goodbye correctly
Emily ends the conversation with the standard formula "I should get back" plus a reason ("my next meeting starts in five minutes") — so the exit never feels abrupt. At goodbye, Jonas falls into the most famous German farewell trap: "We see us" is the word-for-word translation of "Wir sehen uns" and does not exist in English. Correct is simply "See you": "See you at the meeting", "See you tomorrow", "See you at two".
Keep practising: Learn business English online — with real teachers from Simmonds, since 2004.
Frequently asked questions
What language level is this episode for?
Level B1 (CEFR). The conversation uses natural, friendly office English; all eight key phrases are explained bilingually.
How do I start small talk in English at the office?
With shared context: place the person ("You're … from …, right?"), introduce yourself, then take a topic from the setting — the coffee machine, the weather, the visit. Safe questions: "How long have you been with the company?" and "How's your visit going?"
Is there a transcript to read along?
Yes, the full transcript with German support notes is on this page — listen first, then take the test, then read along.
Where can I practise small talk in English live?
In the online business English courses from Simmonds Language Services (englisch-lehrer.com/online): live lessons with real teachers on Zoom, for companies and individuals across Germany — since 2004. It starts with a free consultation.
Are the voices real?
Episodes are produced with high-quality AI voices (Hume) and editorially reviewed by our trainer team — the same method as our interactive lessons.
Want to practise these phrases in a real conversation?
The podcast trains your ear — in our online lessons you practise the conversation yourself, with real teachers. For companies across Germany since 2004.