Small Talk Skills for ESL Healthcare Professionals

If English is your second language and you work in healthcare—whether you’re a nurse, physician, therapist, technician, or support staff—small talk can feel awkward or unnecessary. You might think, “I just want to focus on patient care.”

I’m a medical speech language pathologist, so I know first hand about the challenges we all face in clinical settings. But here’s the thing: in healthcare, small talk helps build trust, teamwork, and psychological safety—with patients and colleagues. In this blog post I’ll walk you through five strategies to help you feel more empowered and confident using small talk in clinical and workplace settings—and then we’ll end with a mini practice exercise you can start using immediately.

Let’s define what small talk is. Simply put, small talk is really just light, casual conversation between two people who don’t know each other well, if at all. On the surface, it may not seem all that meaningful. But, small talk is one of the most powerful communication tools you use every single day. Small talk is how humans connect.

 Consider it a social bridge, and for those who speak English as a second language, learning how to cross that bridge can completely change how confident and connected you feel with native English speakers. How you handle those few minutes of casual conversation can show others how approachable, friendly and confident you seem.

 An important idea for you to remember is that small talk is not about being clever or funny. Small talk is not a performance, and you don’t have to worry about impressing people or speaking perfectly. Small talk  doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be genuine. Does that sound like it might be difficult for you? Don’t worry, because small talk is a skill anyone can learn. So, if you start to think of  small talk as a skill—something you can practice and improve—you start to feel more confident walking into conversations at work, social events, or even quick everyday interactions.

 So Why does Small Talk Matter in Healthcare?

In healthcare environments, small talk helps in a number of ways. Small talk can:

• Put patients and their families at ease. Remember, patients and their families may already feel nervous, uncomfortable and uncertain. Small talk can help them feel a little more comfortable in a sometimes intimidating situation. Put yourself in the patient’s place. Being hospitalized, or in a clinic for treatment, maybe a rehab therapy setting…that’s a scary situation for many people. A friendly face, and a little friendly conversation, can go a long way toward making that patient feel more at ease.

•  Build rapport quickly with coworkers, patients, or anyone you might encounter

• Strengthen teamwork during long or stressful shifts. A few friendly words can reduce the tension in those stressful medical situations

Small talk can make communication feel more human. Small talk helps everyone relax. It can reduce social anxiety for both people in the conversation. Here’s an important reminder: you’re not the only one who feels awkward.

It’s especially important to remember this in the healthcare setting. Small talk is not just filler talk or useless chatter. It’s a social skill that creates a connection. It builds trust and shows that you’re friendly and approachable. Being seen as friendly and approachable is always welcome in the healthcare setting because we know how high pressure this environment can get.  Small talk makes both parties feel comfortable with each other before diving into a deeper conversation. I’ll say it again. Small talk builds rapport and trust. Before people can trust you, they need to feel comfortable with you. Small talk creates that comfort.

So let’s consider some small talk opportunities in the healthcare setting. Think about moments like:

• Walking into a patient’s room

• Standing at the nurses’ station

• Waiting for a meeting to start

Small talk isn’t a distraction. It’s a connection tool. And the good news is, you don’t need perfect English to use it well. Aren’t you glad to know that?

So as a medical professional, how can you build your confidence when it comes to small talk, whether it’s with patients and their families, coworkers or colleagues? I’ve got five strategies to help you feel more empowered when it comes to those little conversations that we call small talk.

Strategy #1: Use Familiar, Safe Healthcare Small Talk

Healthcare small talk is often practical and predictable:

• “How’s your shift going so far?”

• “Is it busy today?”

• “How are you feeling this morning?”

These phrases are used every day, and that’s a good thing.

You’re not expected to be creative. You’re expected to be clear and kind. And we could all use a lot more kindness.

Strategy #2: Answer + Add One Clinical-Friendly Detail

A common habit of ESL speakers is giving very short answers: For example, when asked, “How are you doing today?” the reply might be

• “Good.”

• “Fine.”

• “Busy.”

Just one word answers. Remember, you want to keep the conversation flowing and appear to be friendly and approachable. Instead of a one word answer, try this instead: give an answer + one extra detail.

Example: when asked “How are you doing today?”  respond

Instead of short answers like:

• “Good.”

• “Okay.”

Try:

• “Good! Just catching up on charting.”

• “A little busy, but manageable.”

This shows engagement without oversharing, and feels very natural in healthcare settings. Remember, we’re all in this together.

 Strategy #3: Lean on Empathy, Not Perfect Language

In healthcare, empathy matters more than advanced vocabulary.

Simple phrases go a long way:

• “That sounds like a long shift.”

• “I can imagine that was stressful.”

• “I hope the rest of your day is smoother.”

Even simple, slightly imperfect English can feel very warm and professional when empathy is clear. A genuine smile helps, too.

Strategy #4: Prepare for Common Workplace Moments

Instead of trying to prepare for every conversation, focus on specific situations:

• Before rounds

• During shift changes

• In elevators or hallways

• Before meetings or trainings

Try to prepare:

• One opening line…”How is your day going so far?”

• One follow-up…”Have you met the new administrator yet?”

• One polite exit

Exit examples:

• “I should get back to my patients.”

• “Nice talking with you! See you later.”

Prepared exits reduce anxiety and help you feel in control. Write them down or keep them in your cellphone for reference if you need to.

Strategy #5: Redefine What ‘Good’ Small Talk Means

Here’s something that I want you to remember. In healthcare, small talk success is:
✔ Being respectful
✔ Being present
✔ Being human

It is not about sounding like a native speaker or being funny.

If during small talk in the workplace you connected briefly and professionally, that’s success. If you exchanged a few sentences with a colleague and smiled? That’s a win. Confidence in small talk, especially if you speak English as a second language, grows through repetition, not perfection.

 🎯 Mini Practice Exercise (5 minutes)

Exercise: The 3-Line Small Talk Drill

Step 1: Choose ONE healthcare situation

• Starting a shift

• Entering a patient’s room

• Standing with a coworker before a meeting

Step 2: Prepare THREE lines

1. Opening

• “How’s your shift going so far?”

• “Good morning. How are you feeling today?”

2. Add one detail or response

• “It’s been busy, but not too bad.”

• “I hear we’re short-staffed today.”

3. Close politely

• “I’ll check back in later.”

• “Let me know if you need anything.”

Step 3: Practice out loud
Say the three lines out loud, not silently.
Your brain needs to hear your voice using English confidently. Practice, practice, practice. You will get better at small talk. I promise. And you’ll begin to feel more confident, and more empowered as a speaker of English.

Bonus Challenge (Optional Homework)

For the next week:

• Initiate one small talk interaction per shift

• Keep it under 30 seconds

• Do not judge your grammar, only your participation

Confidence comes from repetition, not perfection. And the more you practice small talk, the more confident and prepared you’ll feel. As I tell my clients, many times confidence isn’t built in big moments. It’s built in small ones. And as we’ve learned, small talk can have a big impact.

 Remember, small talk in healthcare isn’t small—it’s part of patient-centered care and strong teamwork.

If English is your second language, remember: Your accent does not reduce your professionalism. Your presence, just being there, that’s what matters. And you are already communicating more effectively than you think.

Small talk is not about filling silence. In the healthcare setting, small talk brings the human touch to what can often be a stressful and uncertain environment. Your small talk conversations don’t  need to be perfect. They don’t need to be impressive. Your small talk  just needs to be real.

Working From Home is No Baloney!

Like many of you, I run my business from my home office. I love the independence, but I'm not great at setting boundaries. Let me give you an example.

I was in my office, deep in concentration, putting the finishing touches on the script for the latest episode of my podcast, "Fluent & Fearless." The door slowly opens. It's my husband. Holding a package of bologna.

He asks me, "Does this baloney look bad to you?" I'm on a deadline, not feeling especially festive, and the last thing I want to look at is green lunchmeat.

"Yes," I manage to utter through clenched teeth. "It's green." Green like the Grinch. And I'm feeling kinda Grinchy right now. But that's my fault for not setting boundaries and making it clear that I am not to be interrupted for the rest of the workday. And it's also my fault for trying to do too much with too little time during the holidays. I'll bet many of you can relate!

If you’re feeling more stressed than festive, you’re not alone. Here are a few simple ways to manage stress while working from home during the holiday season:

✨ Create a “soft start” to your day
Before opening email, take 5 minutes to breathe, stretch, or set one realistic priority. Calm first. Chaos later.

🎧 Protect your focus windows
Block small chunks of uninterrupted time, even 30 minutes. Let others know when you’re unavailable. Boundaries are not rude; they’re professional.

🗓 Lower the bar (just a little)
This is not the season for perfection. Aim for clear and done, not flawless.

🚶 Schedule movement like a meeting
A short walk between calls can reset your nervous system more than another cup of coffee.

🗣 Name the stress instead of pushing through it
Saying “This is a busy season, and this feels stressful” actually reduces its power. Awareness = regulation.

The holidays don’t require you to be endlessly productive and endlessly cheerful.
They just ask you to be human.

What’s one small thing you’re doing to protect your energy this season?

Have a very festive holiday season from all of us at ProNounce Speech and Accent Specialists!

Oh yes, I can

Isn’t it discouraging how some people are happy to squash your dreams and are quick to tell you what you can’t do when you want to achieve something positive? “You’re too young.” “You’re too old.” “You don’t have enough money.” “Are you sure you want to (fill in the blank)?” I’ve heard them all in my life, sometimes from people who were really important to me. I’m a people pleaser at heart, but I’m glad I didn’t listen to all the negativity. There is something deeply satisfying about succeeding in spaces where people never expected you to show up.

Here’s the thing: the people saying “you can’t” usually aren’t actually talking about you. They’re talking about themselves—their fears, their limits, their doubts about their own lives. If you listen too closely, you’ll end up dragging around their baggage instead of packing your own suitcase full of possibility. Life is short and the road is long. The last thing you want to do is haul around someone else’s insecurities.

Here’s some more truth: the world will always have something to say about what you “should” or “shouldn’t” do. The best way to handle this is to be true to yourself. When you shut out that noise and keep going, you create your own proof. So the next time someone tries to tell you “you can’t,” smile politely, thank them for their input, and then go do it anyway. Because when you finally cross that finish line—whether it’s starting your business, writing that book, climbing a mountain, or even driving a motorhome across the Mackinac Bridge while towing a boat (see my photo)—you’ll get to say the sweetest words ever: “Oh yes, I can.”

Three Quick Ways to Prove “Yes, I Can”

1. Write Down the Doubts — and Flip Them.
   For every “you can’t,” write down a “yes, I can because…” statement. It trains your brain to see possibility instead of obstacles.

2. Start Small, But Start Now.
   You don’t need the perfect plan. Send the email, make the call, sign up for the class — one small action tells the world (and yourself) that you’re serious.

3. Surround Yourself with “Yes” People.
   Find mentors, friends, or even online communities that cheer you on. It’s easier to keep going when you’ve got a team rooting for you.

Because at the end of the day, success isn’t about being the right age, having the right amount of money, or fitting into someone else’s box. It’s about showing up, doing the work, and saying out loud — with confidence and maybe a little sass — “Oh yes, I can.”

And then doing it.

~~~Katherine A., who did it even though she thought she couldn’t.

Procrastination is My Middle Name

(And Yes, I’m Having Fun Playing, So I’m Late Posting This)

If procrastination were an Olympic sport, I’d be a gold medalist — maybe even a coach. I’ve been putting things off since the dawn of time (or at least since middle school homework). My to-do list and I have a complicated relationship: I write it, I admire it, and then I ignore it. If you’ve ever chosen scrolling over starting, you and I could be best friends.

But here’s the thing — procrastination isn’t always the villain. Sometimes it’s just my brain saying, “Hey, I need a second to process this!” Other times, it’s me being slightly terrified that whatever I start won’t be good enough. And let’s be honest, sometimes it’s just me prioritizing important things, such as reorganizing my snack cabinet. The trick is learning to tell the difference — and then gently dragging myself back on track. And not getting distracted by all those delicious snacks.

One of my favorite hacks? I make tasks laughably small. Need to write a presentation? Step one: open the laptop. Step two: write the title. Step three: pat myself on the back for being a productivity icon. It sounds ridiculous, but small wins build momentum — and momentum is what finally gets me from “someday” to “done.”

And here’s the secret I wish I’d learned sooner: motivation is overrated. I used to sit around waiting to “feel ready,” which, spoiler alert, never happened. But once I started taking action — even just five minutes of it — I discovered that motivation shows up after you start. It’s like motivation is hiding behind the couch, waiting for you to make the first move. My new mantra is “Now’s the time and the time is now.”

So yes, procrastination might still be my middle name, but it doesn’t get the last word. Every time I start something before I feel ready, I remind myself I’m capable of more than I thought — and that’s a pretty great feeling. If you’re sitting there avoiding something right now, take the tiniest step. Open the file. Write one sentence. In no time at all, you will be doing a happy dance… right after you finish procrastinating by reorganizing your snack cabinet one more time.

~~~Katherine A. (Queen of Snacks)