SPEAKING DISCUSSION PRACTICE

Work together in your respective groups and complete the following blanks with suitable
phrases. Situation
Your brother has been given the opportunity to study in England on a government
scholarship. You and your family are very proud of him. Decide on a special gift for him to
prepare for his trip abroad.

Task: Discuss which of the following would be most useful.

i. Cash
ii. A computer
iii. Some suitable clothing
iv. Some Malaysian foodstuff

CANDIDATE A: Good morning once again to everyone. We are here to focus on the
issue at hand which is we are deciding on a special gift for our brother who will be
studying abroad. There are four suggestions, which are cash, a computer, some suitable
clothing or some Malaysian foodstuff. I would like to invite any of you to kickstart this
discussion by giving us your point of view.

CANDIDATE B: Allow me to begin. First of all, I’m happy that our brother has won the
scholarship to study in England. Therefore, we must decide what would be the most
useful gift for him. In my opinion, I strongly believe that when our brother was away from
home, the most important thing he needed was money. This is because I think he can
use the money that we give for cover all of his expenses. For example, to pay for all his
transport, lodging, and, of course, visiting all of the new and fascinating locations he will
want to see in his new nation.

CANDIDATE C: I see your point but how about getting him a computer. In this way, he
can use it to complete all of his coursework. Indeed, computers are excellent productivity
tools since they allow him to write letters, take notes in class, communicate in groups,
deliver presentations, and much more.

CANDIDATE D: I don’t quite agree with you because our brother already owns a
computer. He can use the old computer to live overseas since it is still functional. I think it
would be more useful if we bought some suitable clothing for him. Does anyone agree
with me?

CANDIDATE A: Yes, I agree with you. To add to your point, I feel that the weather in
other countries differs from that in our own. This is so he'll put the clothes on more
routinely. The weather is a little cooler in England than here. Our brother is going to
university and wants clothing that is appropriate for the temperature there.

CANDIDATE C: I’m afraid I don’t see eye to eye with both of you. Buying that as a
present for him is not the most useful gift because the weather in England is similarly
hot to ours. As a result, the brother doesn't wear the clothes we bought nearly as often
as we would want. Moreover, if our brother needs it later, he can purchase it there.
Can you all understand what I’m trying to say?

CANDIDATE B: Indeed, I do see your point of view but I still feel that the most useful
gift is cash because it can support him in surviving his study abroad programme.
Another reason is his scholarship will not pay all of his expenses there because the
award only covers educational fees. For instance, he will have to pay for the daily
commute if he chooses an apartment that is further away from his university. However,
there is a hidden cost that he should consider.

CANDIDATE D: That’s an interesting perspective and I agree with you that money is the
most useful gift for a brother. However, I think we should consider other points. We
should also think about buying him some suitable clothing and some Malaysian
foodstuff. If he gets this as a present, he has the capability to save the money we
provide him and some Malaysian meals can satisfy his craving for Malaysian cuisine. As
a result, when the brother is hungry in the middle of the night, he does not have to go out
of his way to find halal food at England. Wouldn’t you agree?

CANDIDATE A: I’m not sure I understand what you are saying. Can you explain it again,
please.

CANDIDATE D: What I mean is we should buy him some Malaysian foodstuff because it
will be more useful for him when he is studying in England. This is because the bulk of
citizens in England are not Muslim. As a nutshell, the food we gave him as a present can
be eaten by the brother when he doesn't feel like going outside to seek for food.

CANDIDATE A: Aaah… I see. Yes, I think it would be a very useful gift too. This way,
he can save money and be reassured that the product is halal.
CANDIDATE C: That’s a good point, but don’t you think if we gave him a computer, it
would be the most useful for him as a student. I still believe that this is the most useful
because our brother's education required the use of a computer. Next, professors typically
submit assignments online or transmit course materials to students using email. This
computer can be given as a token of appreciation for Abang's achievements, as he has
been awarded a government scholarship to further his studies abroad. Remember, we
need to think of the best and most useful choice.

CANDIDATE B: I agree with you, Candidate C. In addition, he can use this gift to access
a ton of new study options. He can quickly discover journal papers and online books,
making it easier to finish his projects. Online tutorials, professional blogs, and study
websites can assist him in overcoming his difficulties by presenting knowledge in a basic
and straightforward manner. So, candidates A & D, what do you guys think?

CANDIDATE D: Now that you’ve explained it like that, I also agree that it will be the most
useful. In fact, he could also use it to obtain knowledge through other sources, such as
going to the library, visiting a professor's office hours, or calling a friend. Driving to a
resource or a meeting takes significantly longer than using a computer. The readily
available information and tools on the internet can assist him in working more swiftly and
making the learning process less stressful.

CANDIDATE A: As for me, I feel that it is also the most useful. When he arrives at his
university in England, he will be able to engage in a video call with us.

CANDIDATE C: That’s right. Well, after listening to all the points on the four choices we
have, I think it is time to make a conclusion.

CANDIDATE D: Yes, I think so too. Does everyone agree that we should give our
brother a computer as a special going away present?

ALL CANDIDATES : Yes, I agree.