Have you ever been invited to a work social event that you really didn't want to go to? The annual staff party, drinks, ball – these words can cast fear into the hearts of many. It's a common complaint that transcends every culture we know. There is no magic wand when it comes to language advice, but this month, let us look at two scenarios and offer some pointers.

Scenario one: You're stuck in the buffet queue behind your boss. You know at some point that he/she could turn around and look at you, expecting you to speak. My advice is to say something like, "What's your favourite kind of food?", "Are you vegetarian?" or, "Have you ever taken a cookery course?". In other words, don't talk about work. You're surrounded by food, you're both hungry – talk about food. If you don't think you can do that, then quickly move to the back of the queue.  

Scenario two: You are standing with a small group of colleagues and your boss comes over to join you. They might start the conversation, but if you want to break the silence you can say something like, "How do work social events differ in Hong Kong from your experience in other countries?", or, "What's the main difference in the way people socialise outside work here in Hong Kong to the places you have worked in?". The beauty of these simple questions is that your boss will hopefully have plenty to say, and you probably won't have to talk about anything too specific. The key to this kind of social interaction is that you ask the questions, making the other person talk and taking the pressure off you.