Vocabulary
To express opinion:
In my view/opinion
It seems to me that
I consider (that)
I (strongly) believe (that)
(informal) I reckon
I think/feel (that)
(informal) I reckon
Personally/personally speaking
When you’re not completely certain:
I suppose
I guess
I expect
I imagine
I assume
As far as I’m aware
To agree:
I (completely, entirely) agree with you
I go along with your view
I couldn’t agree more
I feel the same
That’s a really good point
You’ve made an interesting point
To disagree politely:
In some ways, it’s the case, but…
I’m inclined to agree, believe, think, etc.
I beg to differ
That’s not always the case, because…
Settling an argument:
Ok, we’ll have to agree to differ
After accidentally interrupting someone:
Sorry, go ahead.
If your partner gets off the subject:
Excuse me. That could be an interesting conversation, but… (e.g. let’s get back to the point)
To interrupt politely:
Can I throw my two cents in?
Sorry to interrupt, but…
To conclude:
Taking everything into account/consideration,
All things considered,
To summarise,
In summary,
In brief,
Briefly,
Mind map, Teamwork Strategies
(Mind map – a diagram which consists of 1 question and 5 points to discuss)
Strategy1
Candidate1: Starts with some point, (asks the 2nd candidate’s opinion).
Candidate2 Expresses his or her opinion, starts talking about another point, (asks the 1nd candidate’s opinion) and so forth.
Strategy2
Candidate1: Starts with some point, (asks the 2nd candidate’s opinion).
Candidate2 Expresses his or her opinion.
Candidate1: Says something, additionally, starts talking about another point, (asks the 2nd candidate’s opinion) and so forth.
How you can act
1) Use only Strategy1
2) Use only Strategy2
3) Mix the two strategies
Example
Interlocutor: Now, I’d like you to talk about something together for about 2 minutes.Here are some things that people consider when choosing a job and a question for you to discuss. First, you have some time to look at the task. (10 seconds)
Interlocutor: Now, talk to each other about how important these reasons are when people are choosing what kind of work to do.
(Enjoyment)
Vlad: Personally speaking, being content with your job is extremely important, since you can reach excellence in your field and provide service of high quality only if you are passionate about what you’re doing. Don’t you agree?
(Future Prospects)
Sasha: Well, in some ways yeah, but wouldn’t it be nice, if your job had some room for growth either? I mean, however much you adore your job, you will hardly realise your full potential and consequently contribute hugely to society if there aren’t any future prospects at the place you work at.
(Natural Talent)
Vlad: Well, that’s an interesting point. I haven’t thought about that before. And what would you say about natural talent? To what extent is it critical?
Sasha: Oh, that’s a very good question. Well, surely, it’s a good thing if you’re naturally gifted, but that’s not a big problem if you are not. I mean anyone is able to master their skills in any field as long as they are willing to. There might be some obstacles on the way, but, essentially, it’s the person who is responsible for their dreams, not external circumstances or anything.
Vlad: Yeah, I feel the same. I just couldn’t agree more. Also, I’m reminded of what Thomas Edison said about talent. He said, quote, ‘Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration’, unquote.
(Expectations of Family and Friends)
Sasha: Yeah, most definitely. In terms of family and friends, do you think we should take them into account when choosing a dream career?
Vlad: That’s a quite confusing question. Although you should be tolerant towards your friends and family members and try to get along well with them, you will never please everyone, especially as their expectations may be completely different.
Sasha: Yeah, I agree with you in a sense, but, you know, sometimes people, especially closest ones, can give you good advice or feedback, which may prove useful in the end. Don’t you think?
Vlad: You’re right. Their opinion may be helpful. We shouldn’t completely dismiss it, but at the same time, there may be some negative consequences if you rely on other people’s point of view too much.
Interlocutor: Thank you. Now you have about a minute to decide which reason is least important for people to consider when taking a new job.
Vlad: Obviously, people tend to place a high value on things, like money, status and meeting other people’s expectations, rather than the fact how much the job is aligned with their interests, values and beliefs. In other words, pleasure and a job is not something, which goes together well for the majority of people. What’s your opinion about that?
Sasha: Well, I do go along with your view, but I wouldn’t say that it’s universally true. Hardly anyone will take a job, which they completely hate. I strongly believe that people aren’t bothered too much about how long it will take to master new skills. To be honest, I’ve never heard people complaining about that sort of thing as opposed to the other points. Have you?
Vlad: Certainly. I complained about that… I’m just kidding. Yeah, you’re right. It doesn’t seem to be taken notice of.
Interlocutor: Thank you.