Intermediate English B1: Everyday Communication

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Engaging in Discussions

Capítulo 5

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Engaging in Discussions

Engaging in discussions is a vital skill that helps you communicate effectively in English. At the B1 level, you should be able to express your opinions, agree or disagree with others, and maintain a conversation on familiar topics. Here are some useful tips and phrases to help you navigate everyday discussions.

Starting a Discussion

To begin a discussion, you might want to introduce a topic or ask for someone’s opinion. Here are some phrases you can use:

Introducing a topic: "I’d like to talk about..." or "Have you heard about...?"
Asking for opinions: "What do you think about...?" or "How do you feel about...?"

Expressing Your Opinion

Once the discussion is underway, you will need to express your thoughts clearly. Here are some ways to do that:

Stating your opinion: "In my opinion..." or "I believe that..."
Sharing your thoughts: "I think that..." or "From my point of view..."

Agreeing and Disagreeing

Agreeing and disagreeing respectfully is crucial in any discussion. Here are some phrases to help you:

Agreeing: "I agree with you." or "That’s a good point."
Disagreeing: "I see it differently." or "I’m not sure I agree with that."

Asking for Clarification

If you don’t understand something during a discussion, it’s important to ask for clarification. Here’s how you can do it:

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Clarifying: "Could you explain that again?" or "What do you mean by...?"
Rephrasing: "So, you’re saying that...?" or "In other words, you mean...?"

Keeping the Conversation Going

To keep a discussion lively, you can ask follow-up questions and show interest in what others are saying. Try these techniques:

Asking follow-up questions: "Can you tell me more about that?" or "Why do you think that?"
Showing interest: "That’s interesting!" or "I’d love to hear more about your experience."

Concluding a Discussion

When it’s time to wrap up a discussion, summarizing the main points can be helpful. Here are some ways to conclude:

Summarizing: "To sum up..." or "In conclusion..."
Ending the discussion: "It was great talking about this." or "Thanks for sharing your thoughts."

By using these strategies and phrases, you can engage more effectively in discussions and improve your conversational skills in English.

Now answer the exercise about the content:

What is an effective way to ask for someone's opinion in a discussion?

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To ask for someone's opinion in a discussion, you can use the phrase What do you think about...?. This question shows that you are interested in the other person's viewpoint. The other options provided are used for expressing one’s own opinion or for disagreeing.