You're making small talk with a friend about the weather. It's March, when the weather usually starts to get warm, but today it's snowing. You say:
It's awfully cold for March.
adverb, comparison, intensifier, small talk, weather 
Recently, the weather has been changing drastically from one day to the next. Two days ago, it was sunny and warm, but today it's snowing. You're making small talk with a
What's up with this erratic weather we've been having, huh?
You arrive at a client's office on an international business trip. You're making small talk about your flight there. You say:
It took forever to go through customs.
airport, business, exaggeration, small talk, trip, 日本語サポート It's the beginning of December and you're shopping for Christmas gifts to give people. You run into a neighbor at a shopping mall and stop to make small talk. You explain why you're there:
I'm getting a head start on my Christmas shopping.
Christmas, gifts, idioms, mall, neighbor, progressive aspect, shopping, small talk, 日本語サポート You just met a new employee at your company who has been working there for a few days. After introducing yourself, you want to make some polite small talk.
How do you like it so far?
introductions, small talk, time (reference), work You're talking to someone who you just met for the first time. You find out that he used to live in New York. You've thought about living there in the past. You ask:
What's it like living in New York?
gerund, small talk, stranger You're talking to someone you just met at a party. You want to know what kind of job she has. You ask:
So Claire, what do you do?
job, party, set phrase, small talk, stranger, 日本語サポート It's been raining for a few days. You're making small talk with a coworker. She says that she hopes it doesn't rain on the weekend because she has plans to go out with a relative who is visiting. You heard from the weather report that the rain will end on Thursday or Friday. You say:
It's supposed to clear up by Friday.
coworker, prediction, rain, small talk, weather I wish it would stop raining.
rain, small talk, weather, wish You're out to lunch with a group of coworkers and talking about your daily routines. One coworker says that her commute to work is 45 minutes long. You want to continue the conversation, so you tell how long your commute time is. You say:
It only takes me about 15 minutes.
commute, routine, small talk, time, work (topic) 
