opinions 3
DESCRIPTION
3rd part to a very topical lesson plan series. This lesson will put your grammar skills to the test!TRANSCRIPT
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O p i n i o n s
3Lesson Plan
Expression The third in th is ser ies of conversation lesson plans. Learn key phrase and stress points used to provide an opinion.
Voice tonesLearn the differences between provok ing an a rgument o r altercation and siding opinion but p r e s e n t i n g t h e a n o t h e r perspective.
ObjectivesKey objectives of this class is to develop confidence, apply voice tones, expand vocabulary and express an opinion.
www.one2oneacademy.com
By: Sanj Saigal
SkypeLearn in your own time and at your own pace, a flexible learning system for students who are limited on time. All classes are recorded so that you can practice outside of the class environment.
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OPINIONThe following statements will demonstrate alternative ways in which you can express your perspective.
Voice tones
A sentence can change it’s meaning by the use of a voice tones. Usually we have a stress point and this will be shown in a highlighted colour bellow. Remember that this voice tone cannot be over or understated but reflective of exactly how you feel about a topic.
Learning how to use stress points and controlling voice tones can be extremely useful in the context of Business English. Here we use this skill at briefings, meetings and general opinion to a given process.
You do not need to learn every phrase but you should be aware of them as everyone expresses their opinion in a different way.
The following statements are used in a sentence construction to express your opinion.
• “I think that.......”• “ I feel that........”• “ From my perspective...”• “ As far as I an concerned...”• “ From my point of view.....”• “The way that I see it is.....”• “My personal opinion is that....”
Voice tone can be used to demonstrate how strong your opinion is. Stressing and use of a slightly longer tones can be used in this way.
The objective here is to be understood not to over emphsise the stress point.
PracticeThe questions featured in this class are designed to practice these structures and for an audience to understand how strongly you feel about something.
Lexical approach
PHRASES
“Express yourself”
CONVERSATION
“ There are two elements to a good conversation, listening and speaking”.
Type to enter text
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Opinions 3 Lesson Plan
STRONGER OPINIONThere are occasions where a stronger opinion is needed particularly in relation to Business English. Here we can use the following structure. The rules on voice tone still apply so practice will
make perfect. Some of the statements featured in this class will require a stronger opinion, remember there are no rules as some people feel more strongly on certain topics than others.
PASSIONATEAn example of this can be demonstrated with these topics: Politics, Religion, Law, Education.
Expr
essi
on
Strong Opinion
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Opinions 3 Lesson Plan
STRONG OPINION• “ I’m absolutely convinced
that....”• “ I’m sure that......”• “I strongly believe that....”• “I have no doubt that....”
• “There is no doubt in my mind that....”
• “I am very passionate about this topic so......”
• “I am certain that......”
A slightly modified voice tone is used here to show how strongly you feel.
Expr
essi
on
Examples
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REQUESTING OPINIONIt is very important to be able to generate questions. It helps to prolong and interact in the context of a conversation.
Here are a few examples of finding out what the opinion is on a topic from another persons perspective.
• “What do you think?”• “What do you think about it/ this?”• “Could I / may I ask for your opinion?”• “What’s your opinion?”• “What’s your view?”• “How do you see the situation?”
Whenever a request is made for an opinion we raise the intonation in our voice to provoke a response. This again must not be stressed too much or the sentence will sound strange to the audience.
You should begin to get into the habit of asking questions it’s a very good way to prolong a conversation.
If you are able to extend the length of a conversation then you will increase your ability to sell, socialise and interact at work. It’s also a great way to get the audience to talk whilst you listen, which is the other skill you will need to perfect when you are studying.
Finally a question should have some empathetic value. This value can be a softer voice tone to show your audience that you care and would like to have the answer to a question and not just for conversation purposes.
VOICE TONES“ say it like you mean it, not just because you have to. Show your audience that you care not that you can’t be bothered and if you know that your sound is too monotone make an effort to alter your voice tone”.
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YOUR BELIEFSVocabulary for expressing an opinion which effects you directly or personally.
Sometimes we are asked to supply an opinion which demonstrates the importance of something to you on a personal level. these situations can arise in either a formal environment or an informal environment.
These sentence constructions are easy to remember if you regard them as a point of view which will not change no matter what anyone else says or does to try and influence the way that you feel.
Often these types of sentence constructions are commonly used at interviews.
The following constructions highlights the stress point in the sentence but you will still need to find the correct voice tone to use depending on the situation that you are in.
• “I believe in .....”• “I am a firm believer in......”• “I am convinced that......”• “I am passionate about....”• “I don’t think that........”• “Personally, I believe that......”
You should know that there are occasions where you cannot use these types of constructions. Sometimes you will be asked for a general opinion not your own. This will demonstrate arrogance and misunderstanding.
BELIEFS“sometimes we need to express a personal opinion not a belief, you need to understand the difference s between them or it could make you sound arrogant.”
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EXIT STATEMENTSSometimes there are occasions where we do not want to provide an opinion. These constructions are as important as providing an opinion.
Sometimes silence can be as important or relevant as an opinion. There occasions where we want to end a conversation or we don’t feel that it’s right or appropriate to provide an opinion. On these occasions we can use the following statements, however you have to use different types of voice tones to represent how you feel. We can demonstrate anger or unwillingness to entertain a conversation.
• “I would prefer to talk about this later”.• “I don’t think it’s the right time to discuss this”.• “I think that we should talk about it later”.• “I can’t discuss this now”.• “Let’s talk later”.
Stop a conversation!
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The following questions have been designed to challenge your ability to offer an opinion. This part of the class will be recorded so that you can practice your voice tones o u t s i d e o f t h e c l a s s environment.
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Opinions 3 Lesson Plan
Opi
nion
“What do you think?”
Science“ It does more harm than good!, it’s such a threat to humanity.”
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Opinion 3 Lesson Plan
Your
Opi
nion
“What do you think?”
VotingThe process of voting should be made compulsory, people don’t vote and then complain, protest and demonstrate once a government has been appointed.
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Opinion 3 Lesson PlanW
hat
Do
You
Thin
k?
Prison
Reform“If you were an employer, would you give a job to a reformed criminal?”.
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Opinion 3 Lesson Plan
CIGARETTES “ Cigarette vending machines should be banned!”W
hat D
o Yo
u Th
ink?
Smoking
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Opinion 3 Lesson Plan
ECONOMY“ The Olympics provides a great economical boost to a country or it can bankrupt it?”
Wha
t do
you
thin
k?
Olympics
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Opinion 3 Lesson Plan
MODIFIED“Do you think that genetically modified food could be the solution for cheaper food and a better resource?” Why?W
hat d
o yo
u th
ink?
Food
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Opinion 3 Lesson Plan
Opi
nion
Royalty
“ Royalty is essential for modern day society, or is it no longer needed and costly to maintain?”.
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Opinions 3 Lesson Plan
Wha
t Do
You
Thin
k?
Newspapers
“Newspapers are a thing of the past, within 5 years they won’t exist!”.
Type to enter text
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Opinions 3 Lesson Plan
Your
Opi
nion
?
Shopping
“Men always spend more than women or do Women spend more than men?”.
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Opinions 3 Lesson Plan
Wha
t do
you
Thin
k?
Mobile Phones
“Children should take their mobile phones to school, it provides secu r i t y and t he ab i l i t y t o communicate with a parent.”
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Opinions 3 Lesson PlanW
hat d
o yo
u th
ink?
Portable Device
“All children’s books should be on a portable device, carrying heavy bags and the cost of books have no place in modern society!”.
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Opinions 3 Lesson Plan
Wha
t is
your
opi
nion
?
Movies
“Can you learn more from a movie than reading a book?”.
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Opinions 3 Lesson PlanW
hat d
o yo
u th
ink?
Working Hours
“ Modern working hours are based on tradition and no longer reflect the needs of modern society”.
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Opinions 3 Lesson Plan
Wha
t do
you
thin
k?
Mistakes
Type to enter text
“Do people really learn from their mistakes or do they just continue to make them?”.
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Opinions 3 Lesson PlanW
hat d
o yo
u th
ink?
Working Alone
“Teamwork is just a fashionable word used by businesses, in reality it’s more productive working on your own!”.
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Opinions 3 Lesson Plan
Wha
t do
you
thin
k?
Computers
“Is there an argument to suggest that a Mac is a far more superior machine compared to a PC?”.
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Opinions 3 Lesson Plan
Wha
t’s y
our o
pini
on?
Wages
“ W a g e s h a v e b e c o m e d i s p r o p o r t i o n a l b e t w e e n professions and not in line with inflation”.
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Opinions 3 Lesson Plan
Wha
t’s y
our o
pini
on?
Jobs
“ A r e c e s s i o n c r e a t e s opportunities, it’s just a case of finding them”.
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Opinions 3 lesson Plan
Wha
t do
you
thin
k?
House
“It doesn’t matter how much your house is worth because you live in it”.
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Opinions 3 Lesson Plan
Wha
t do
you
thin
k?
Portable Devices
“Technology is going the other way, devices are getting bigger not smaller”.
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Opinions 3 Lesson Plan
Did
you
enj
oy th
is le
sson
plan
?
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