Scribd
Upload
50 views

Unit 2: 2.1 How I Manage Group Discussions - Audioscript

Uploaded by

Ajah
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
50 views

Unit 2: 2.1 How I Manage Group Discussions - Audioscript

Uploaded by

Ajah
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 1

Unit 2: 2.

1 How I manage group discussions – Audioscript

Good morning everyone! Today I’d like to talk to you about group discussions and how you can take a more
active part in them in class. My first tip is good preparation. If you know what the topic of the discussion will be,
you can prepare in advance. Here are the steps:
• Read about the main issues related to the topic

• Spend some time deciding what your own position is about the topic

• Research vocabulary related to the topic so that you can talk about the topic more confidently

• Make a list of the nouns, verbs and adjectives that you think will be useful and practise them before the
discussion

Listening is a very important discussion skill so make sure you listen and reply to their ideas and opinions. A
good discussion is one where people share and discuss different viewpoints. It isn’t a competition! Being
effective in a discussion isn’t about speaking all the time. In discussions, quality is more important than quantity.
In other words, what you say is often much more important than how much you say. By giving other people a
chance to say what they think, and replying politely with your ideas, you’ll earn their respect.

• Give facts or statistics to support your idea

• Quote expert opinion

• Refer to your own experience

• Explain your ideas but be prepared to support what you say and don’t make ‘empty’ points

There are lots of useful expressions that you can use in discussions. You can say: “You’re absolutely right about
that,” when your agree with someone “ I’m sorry, I don’t see it that way at all,” when you disagree with someone
To interrupt someone politely, you can say “ Sorry, do you mind if I say something here?” Keep a note of these
expressions and tick them every time you use them to build your confidence in discussions. In a discussion with
colleagues, it’s important to stay calm and be polite, even if you feel strongly about the topic. Try to use words
such as “please, thank you, I’d like to... May I...? Would you mind...? Could you...?” They help make you sound
polite and respectful.

It’s a good idea to have a pen and paper handy. You can jot down any useful or important words or ideas that
might come in handy later in the discussion – or afterwards. Practise your pronunciation and speak clearly and
confidently. If you need time to collect your thoughts, you could say something like “Hmmm... just let me have a
minute to think about this.” Or you could say “Could you just repeat that please?” to get some thinking time.

Discussions are about sharing ideas in a positive atmosphere. Relax and feel confident and make sure that you
are well prepared for the discussion with your notes in front of you. In this way, you can focus on the main ideas
that you’d like to talk about. Don’t worry about making grammar mistakes or using the wrong word, but be
prepared to listen to the other people in the discussion!

© The British Council, 2011

The United Kingdom’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.

You might also like