Networking and Building Relationships in English.

Many opportunities at work come through relationships, not just formal meetings. In this lesson you will explore social situations such as chatting before a meeting, talking to new contacts at a conference and connecting on LinkedIn. You will notice how successful networkers start and maintain small talk, find common ground and close conversations naturally. You will learn flexible questions and topics that are safe in international business contexts, as well as polite ways to avoid sensitive subjects. You will also work with short sample profiles and messages to see how professionals present themselves online and follow up after meeting someone. Role plays and short writing tasks will help you practise introducing yourself, asking about the other person and suggesting future contact. By the end, you will feel more confident using English to build and maintain professional relationships across cultures.

1. Starting a conversation at a conference.

Imagine you have just arrived at an international conference. You find a seat before the first session and someone sits down next to you. You know this is a great chance to build your network, but it can feel a bit uncomfortable to start speaking. In this block, we will focus on that first moment: how to open the conversation, introduce yourself and ask a simple, friendly question. You will hear a short dialogue between you and a new contact called Alex. Listen for three things. First, how the conversation starts. Second, how each person introduces their role. And third, which small talk questions they use to keep the chat going. After you listen, you will answer a few questions and create your own opening questions for a real event. Do not worry about perfect grammar; the priority is to sound natural, polite and relaxed. As you work, pay attention to short phrases like, Is this your first time at this event?, Which team are you part of?, and That sounds really interesting. These are exactly the kind of flexible expressions you can reuse in many situations.

Scene: Before the first session.

You are at an international business conference. You sit down, take out your notebook, and a person about your age sits next to you. This is Alex, who works for a tech company in another country.

You decide to start a short conversation before the keynote talk begins.

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Model dialogue: first contact.

You: Hi, is this your first time at this event?

Alex: Hi! No, I came last year as well. It was really good. How about you?

You: It is my first time, yes. I am really interested in the sessions on remote teams.

Alex: Nice. By the way, I am Alex. I work as a marketing manager for a software company in Warsaw.

You: Great to meet you, Alex. I am Sara, I am responsible for customer success at a fintech company in Madrid.

Alex: That sounds really interesting. Which team are you part of?

You: I am in the European team, but we work with international clients.

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Why does this opening work?.

Notice a few useful points:

• The conversation starts with a simple, safe question about the event: Is this your first time at this event?
• Both people give short introductions: name + role + company.
• Alex uses a friendly follow-up question: Which team are you part of?
• The tone is positive but not too personal.

At conferences, workshops or training days, these topics are usually safe:

• The event: sessions, speakers, organisation.
• Work roles: job titles, teams, type of projects.
• Travel: where you came from, the city, the venue.

Try to avoid personal topics like salary, politics or family, especially at the beginning.

Keep this scene in mind. In the task below, you will listen to a very similar conversation and then create your own opening questions for a real-life networking situation.

Practice & Feedback

Now it is your turn to work with this situation.

1. Listen to the short dialogue between you and Alex. Try to listen twice without writing, then listen again and make notes.
2. Then answer the three listening questions in full sentences. Do not worry if your answers are not word-for-word; focus on the correct information.
3. Finally, write two opening questions you would feel comfortable using with a new person at a conference or internal training.

When you write your opening questions, use the ideas on the screen: ask about the event, their role or their team. Avoid very personal topics. Aim for friendly, clear language with polite question forms.

Write your answers to the three questions and your two new questions in one message. Label them clearly like this: Q1: ..., Q2: ..., Q3: ..., `My questions: 1) ...

...`.

2. Finding common ground in small talk.

You have started the conversation with Alex and exchanged names and roles. Now the real networking work begins. In this block we will look at how to move beyond very basic questions and find common ground, so the conversation feels natural rather than mechanical. You will read a short continuation of the dialogue between you and Alex. Pay attention to the topics you talk about. Notice how you both use open questions, such as, What kind of projects are you working on at the moment? and How do you find working with international teams? These questions invite longer answers and make it easier to discover shared interests. We will also focus on your reactions. Simple phrases like That sounds really interesting, Oh, we have something similar, or I know what you mean help to build rapport. After reading the dialogue, you will reflect on which topics are safe for international small talk, choose some that fit your own context, and create three open questions you could really use. Try to imagine a real conference, training or company event you might attend in the future.

Continuing the conversation: finding common ground.

Let us continue the scene with Alex at the conference.

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You: So, what kind of projects are you working on at the moment?

Alex: Right now I am leading a project to improve our warehouse software. We are trying to make deliveries faster.

You: That sounds really interesting. I work on something similar, we are updating our internal tools for the sales team.

Alex: Nice. And how do you find working with international teams?

You: I enjoy it, but it can be challenging with different time zones. We often have late video calls.

Alex: I know what you mean. We have colleagues in Asia and South America, so it is always someone's evening.

You: Exactly. At least events like this are a good chance to meet people face to face.

Alex: Yes, I agree.

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Open questions vs closed questions.

In the dialogue, notice how your questions are open:

• What kind of projects are you working on at the moment?
• How do you find working with international teams?

These questions cannot be answered with just yes or no. They invite longer answers and stories, which helps you discover common ground.

Compare with these closed questions:

• Are you working on a project now?
• Do you like international teams?

These are not wrong, but they usually end the conversation more quickly.

Safe small talk topics at professional events.

Here are some topics that usually work well in international business contexts:

• Current work projects.
• Experiences of working with international teams.
• How they find the event, city or venue.
• Professional interests, conferences or courses.

Be more careful with topics like politics, religion, or very personal questions about family or money. With new contacts, it is usually better to stay on neutral ground.

In the task below, you will reflect on the topics used here and then create some open questions that match your real work life.

Practice & Feedback

Read the dialogue above again and think about the flow of the conversation. Then scroll down and read it once more in the box. Pay special attention to the topics and to the question forms Alex and you use.

Now answer these three things in one message:

1. In 2–3 sentences, explain which topics Alex and you use in your small talk and why they are good choices for an international event.
2. List three safe topics that you personally would feel comfortable talking about with a new contact. These can be from the list, or from your own experience.
3. Write three open questions you could ask a new person to find common ground. Try to use phrases like What kind of..., How do you find..., or Tell me a bit about....

Label your answer clearly, for example: `1) ...

1. ...
2. Questions: a) ... b) ... c) ...`. Aim for clear, complete sentences so I can help you improve them.

3. Closing a conversation and suggesting contact.

In many networking situations, starting the conversation is not the hardest part. What often feels difficult is knowing **how to end** the conversation politely, without sounding rude or strange. You do not want to talk for too long, especially if there is a session starting, but you also do not want to disappear suddenly. In this block, we will look at the final part of your conversation with Alex, just before the conference session begins. You will see how to close the conversation in a positive way and, if you want, suggest future contact. Listen for a few key phrases. To close the conversation, you might say, It has been great talking with you, or I do not want to keep you from the next session. To suggest staying in touch, you can use questions like, Would you like to stay in touch on LinkedIn? or May I add you to my network? After reading and thinking about the model, you will write a short chat-style closing with Alex in a conference app. This will help you sound friendly, confident and professional when you finish conversations in real life.

Ending the chat before the session starts.

The lights dim and you see that the keynote talk is about to begin. You need to finish the conversation with Alex, but you would like to stay in contact.

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You: It has been great talking with you, Alex. I do not want to keep you from the next session.

Alex: Same here, it was really nice to meet you.

You: Would you like to stay in touch on LinkedIn?

Alex: Yes, absolutely. Please do, it would be great to stay connected.

You: Perfect, I will send you a request later today.

Alex: Thanks. Enjoy the keynote!

You: You too, see you later.

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Useful phrases to close a conversation.

When you want to finish a conversation politely, it helps to:

Signal that you are closing, but in a friendly way:

• It has been great talking with you.
• It was nice meeting you today, thanks for your time.
• I should let you get to the next session.

Mention the reason briefly (next session, time, other people):

• I do not want to keep you from the next session.
• I need to join my colleagues, but it was great to meet you.

Suggest future contact, if appropriate:

• Would you like to stay in touch on LinkedIn?
• May I add you to my network?
• Let us keep in touch and see if we can collaborate in future.

End with a positive closing line:

• Looking forward to staying connected.
• Enjoy the rest of the event.

In many modern conferences, there is also an event app with messaging. In the task below, you will imagine sending Alex a quick chat-style message in the app, just after the session, to close the conversation and confirm that you will connect online.

Practice & Feedback

Imagine that after the keynote session you open the conference app and send Alex a short chat message. You want to:

• Say it was good to talk.
• Mention the session or something positive.
• Suggest connecting on LinkedIn.
• Close the chat naturally.

Read the example above again and use some of the phrases such as It has been great talking with you., I do not want to keep you from the next session., Would you like to stay in touch on LinkedIn?, or Looking forward to staying connected.

Write 3–5 short chat messages, as if you are texting Alex in the app. You can write them on separate lines, for example:

You: ...

You: ...

You: ...

Keep the tone friendly and professional, not too formal. Try to adapt the language to your own job and event. I will reply as Alex and then give you feedback on the language.

4. Understanding a LinkedIn connection message.

You have met Alex in person and ended the conversation politely. The next step in modern networking is often to connect online, especially on LinkedIn. In this block, we will look at a model LinkedIn profile and a short connection message, and you will notice how professionals present themselves and refer back to a meeting. When you send a connection request, it helps to follow a simple structure. First, remind the person where and how you met. Second, mention something specific you enjoyed about the conversation. Third, suggest staying in touch, without any hard sales or pressure. As you read the example on the screen, focus on phrases like It was nice meeting you today, thanks for your time, I enjoyed our conversation about..., and Let us keep in touch and see if we can collaborate in future. These expressions sound friendly and professional with almost any contact. After you read, you will answer a few short questions about the message, so you can see clearly which parts you should copy in your own future messages.

Alex's LinkedIn profile (short version).

Name: Alex Novak

Headline: Marketing Manager at LogiTrans

Location: Prague, Czech Republic

About: I help logistics companies improve their customer experience through better data and communication.

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Model connection message.

You met Alex at the conference and now you send a personalised connection request.

> Hi Alex,

>

> It was nice meeting you today, thanks for your time. I enjoyed our conversation about working with international teams and the challenges with time zones.

>

> If you are happy, I would like to add you to my network so we can stay in touch. Let us keep in touch and see if we can collaborate in future.

>

> Best regards,

> Sara

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Why does this message work?.

Look at the structure:

Greeting and context

• Hi Alex,
• It was nice meeting you today, thanks for your time.

This reminds Alex who you are and where you met.

Specific reference to the conversation

• I enjoyed our conversation about working with international teams and the challenges with time zones.

This shows that the message is personal, not a copy-paste template.

Polite suggestion to connect

• If you are happy, I would like to add you to my network so we can stay in touch.

The phrase If you are happy makes the tone softer and more polite.

Future-looking, positive closing

• Let us keep in touch and see if we can collaborate in future.

This opens the door for possible cooperation without any pressure.

In the task below, you will check your understanding of this structure and start preparing to write your own connection message.

Practice & Feedback

Read Alex's short profile and the model connection message carefully. Think about how the writer reminds Alex who they are, what they talked about and why connecting could be useful.

Now answer these three questions in your own words:

1. Which sentence in the message reminds Alex where and when you met?
2. Which part of the message shows that the writer is interested in Alex's work and not just sending a generic request?
3. Which phrase or sentence would you most like to reuse in your own LinkedIn messages, and why?

Write your answers in full sentences, for example: 1) The sentence that reminds Alex is... because....

After answering, you can also suggest one small change to the message to make it sound more like you (for example, change the final line or add a detail related to your job). I will check your ideas and help you make them sound clear and professional.

5. Writing your LinkedIn follow-up message.

You have now seen how a good LinkedIn connection request is structured. In this block, you will write your own follow-up message to Alex. This is a chance to bring together everything you have practised: introductions, small talk topics, and polite suggestions to stay in touch. Before you start writing, it helps to plan your message in four short steps. First, greet the person and remind them where you met. Second, mention something you enjoyed or found interesting about the conversation. Third, explain briefly why it could be useful to stay connected, for example to share ideas or keep in touch about a topic you both care about. Finally, close with a polite, positive line. Remember to keep the message short and easy to read. On LinkedIn, people are busy and often check messages quickly on their phones. Aim for clear, simple sentences and friendly, professional language. In the activity, you will write a complete message of around 60 to 100 words. Use phrases from the lesson, but adapt them to your own role, company and interests so the message feels authentic.

Planning your own connection request.

Imagine it is the evening after the conference. You open LinkedIn on your phone and search for Alex Novak. You find his profile and click on Connect. A box appears where you can add a note.

Here is a simple structure you can follow:

Greeting and reminder of context

• Hi Alex,
• It was nice meeting you today at the logistics conference in Berlin.

Reference to your conversation

• I enjoyed our conversation about working with international teams.
• I found your project on warehouse software really interesting.

Soft suggestion to connect / possible value

• If you are happy, I would like to add you to my network so we can stay in touch.
• Maybe we can share ideas about improving internal tools in future.

Polite closing

• It was nice meeting you today, thanks for your time.
• Let us keep in touch and see if we can collaborate in future.
• Looking forward to staying connected.

You do not need to use all of these lines. Choose the ones that fit you best.

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Language box: useful chunks.

You can reuse and adapt these phrases:

• It was nice meeting you today, thanks for your time.
• I enjoyed our conversation about...
• If you are happy, I would like to add you to my network so we can stay in touch.
• Let us keep in touch and see if we can collaborate in future.
• Looking forward to staying connected.

In the task below, you will write your own LinkedIn connection message to Alex. Try to keep it short, specific and polite.

Practice & Feedback

Now write your own LinkedIn connection message to Alex, based on the conference scenario.

Imagine that:

• You met Alex before the keynote session.
• You talked about working with international teams and your current projects.
• You want to stay in touch, but you do not want to sound like you are selling anything.

Write a short note of 60–100 words that you would be happy to send from your real LinkedIn account. Include:

1. A friendly greeting and a reminder of where you met.
2. One or two details from your conversation.
3. A soft suggestion to connect or collaborate in future.
4. A polite closing line.

Use some of the phrases from the language box above, but adapt them to your own job, company and personality.

Write the full message as you would send it. I will check your structure, tone and language, and then show you an upgraded version you can reuse in real life.

6. Mini role play from first hello to follow-up.

You have now worked with each part of the networking process: starting small talk, finding common ground, closing the conversation and following up on LinkedIn. In this final block, you will put everything together in a short written role play. Imagine you are back at the conference. You will script your side of the interaction with Alex, from the first hello before the session to the follow-up message later. This is a safe space to experiment, so feel free to adapt details to your real job and interests. To help you, there is a simple framework on the screen. You will write: first, two or three lines to open the conversation and introduce yourself; next, three or four lines where you ask open questions and react to Alex; then, two or three lines to close the conversation and suggest staying in touch; and finally, a short LinkedIn-style message as a follow-up. Focus on using the key phrases from this lesson and keeping a natural, friendly tone. After you write your script, I will give you feedback on your language and also reply briefly as Alex, so you can see how your networking might sound in real life.

Your complete networking mini-script.

Now it is your turn to create a full mini-scene, from first hello to follow-up. Use Alex as your partner.

You will write your side of the interaction in four parts:

Opening before the session

• Say hello and ask a safe opening question.
• Introduce yourself and your role.

Example lines:

• Hi, is this your first time at this event?
• Nice to meet you, I work as...
• I am responsible for...

Finding common ground

• Ask 2–3 open questions about Alex's work or the event.
• React to Alex's answers with short comments.

Example lines:

• What kind of projects are you working on at the moment?
• How do you find working with international teams?
• That sounds really interesting.

Closing the conversation and suggesting contact

• Close politely and mention the next session or your schedule.
• Suggest staying in touch.

Example lines:

• It has been great talking with you.
• I do not want to keep you from the next session.
• Would you like to stay in touch on LinkedIn?

Follow-up LinkedIn message

• Write a short note you send later that day.

Example lines:

• It was nice meeting you today, thanks for your time.
• I enjoyed our conversation about...
• Let us keep in touch and see if we can collaborate in future.

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How to write your script.

Write your answer in one block of text, but clearly separate the four parts. For example:

• Opening: + your lines
• Common ground: + your lines
• Closing: + your lines
• LinkedIn: + your message

Do not worry about Alex's exact answers; just imagine typical responses and focus on what you say. Use language from the lesson and adapt it to your real role, company and interests.

Practice & Feedback

Use the framework above to write your complete mini-script with Alex.

1. Under Opening:, write 2–4 lines where you start the conversation and introduce yourself.
2. Under Common ground:, write 3–5 lines where you ask open questions and react to Alex's work or the event.
3. Under Closing:, write 2–4 lines where you close the conversation politely and suggest staying in touch (for example on LinkedIn).
4. Under LinkedIn:, write a short connection message of 50–80 words that you send to Alex later.

Try to use several phrases from the lesson, such as Is this your first time at this event?, What kind of projects are you working on at the moment?, It has been great talking with you., Would you like to stay in touch on LinkedIn?, I enjoyed our conversation about..., and Looking forward to staying connected.

Do not worry if it is not perfect. Focus on sounding natural, friendly and professional. I will respond as Alex and then give you detailed feedback.