Keeping the Conversation Flowing

“Wie geht’s dir? Gut, danke. Und dir? Auch gut, danke.” Silence.
End of conversation. While a casual "How are you?" opens up
conversations in many cultures, it often falls flat in
Switzerland. The Swiss tend to value privacy, and small talk
doesn't always come naturally. In this episode, let's look at how
to break the ice at your next company lunch or after-work Apéro.





Key takeaways: 


Take the First Step: As the newcomer, you often
have to put in the initial effort. However, once those
connections are made, they are long-lasting. 





Avoid Yes/No Questions: To get people chatting,
you need a follow-up plan. Stick to open-ended questions about
safe, universally loved topics like weekend plans, hobbies, and
travel. 





The Switch to German: Social situations like
office lunches are exactly where Swiss workplaces default back to
German, even if the official working language is English. Having
a few go-to open questions ready allows you to participate
without feeling overwhelmed. 





Phrases to try: 


Und, was hast du am Wochenende gemacht? (So, what did you do at
the weekend?) 





Und, was machst du am Feierabend? (So, what are you doing tonight
after work?) 





Und, wie waren deine Ferien? (So, how was your
holiday/break?) 





Ready to spark lively conversations at your next office lunch?
I’ve gathered all of these questions, along with my top
networking tips, in my ProDeutsch Everyday Guide
here.





Key moments: 


00:00 Why "How are you?" leads to silence in Switzerland 


00:35 Understanding the introverted nature of Swiss social
etiquette


01:30 Open questions to keep conversations flowing 


02:00 Three foolproof German conversation starters


02:40 Your next steps to mastering German for your Zurich life





Work with me


Learn more about my tailored language coaching for busy
professionals at sandra-wood.com


Share your thoughts


We’ve reached the end of the season! I would love to hear what
you enjoyed and what you would like me to cover next. Share your
thoughts in the comments or by contacting me at
sandra-wood.com


Credits


Produced and hosted by Sandra Wood


Podcast artwork by Beryl Kwok


Post-production by Communicating for Impact





Danke fürs Zuhören und bis bald. Ciao!