Group Discussions
BasicDiscussions.
- Give opinions: In my opinion… · I suggest… · I believe…
- Partly agree: I agree that…, but… — accept first, then add
- Interrupt politely: May I interrupt for a moment?
文體小知識：Agree, disagree, but always politely.
§Text Passage
1Amy: Good morning, everyone. Let's begin our discussion about the class outing. Ken, what is your opinion?
Ken: In my opinion, we should go hiking on Dragon's Back because it costs nothing.
Wendy: I agree that hiking is cheap, but some classmates may find it tiring.
Kelly: May I interrupt for a moment? I suggest Ocean Park instead.
Amy: Good point, Kelly. What about the price?
Kelly: We can apply for a student discount, I believe.
2Amy: Let's hear more opinions. Wendy, do you agree with Kelly?
Wendy: I partly disagree. Ocean Park is popular, but we went there last year.
Ken: Kelly, how much is the discount?
Kelly: If we have thirty students, the ticket is about one hundred dollars each.
Ken: That is reasonable. I change my mind and agree with Kelly.
Amy: Good turn-taking, everyone. Any other suggestions?
Wendy: I suggest we compare the costs of both plans before we vote.
3Amy: We are almost out of time, so let's summarise. Kelly, please give us the main points.
Kelly: To sum up, most of us prefer Ocean Park, but we need to check the price by Friday.
Ken: I will ask Miss Chan about the group discount tomorrow.
Amy: Wonderful. Then we will vote next Monday. Thank you for your opinions, everyone.
Ken: Thank you, Amy. That was a useful discussion.
§Sentence-by-sentence translation Sentence-by-sentence translation
Amy: Good morning, everyone.
Amy：各位早晨。
Let's begin our discussion about the class outing.
我們開始討論班級旅行的目的地吧。
Ken, what is your opinion?
Ken，你的意見如何？
Ken: In my opinion, we should go hiking on Dragon's Back because it costs nothing.
Ken：我認為我們應該去龍脊遠足，因為不用花錢。
Wendy: I agree that hiking is cheap, but some classmates may find it tiring.
Wendy：我同意遠足便宜，但有些同學可能會覺得太累。
Kelly: May I interrupt for a moment?
Kelly：我可以插一句嗎？
I suggest Ocean Park instead.
我建議改去海洋公園。
Amy: Good point, Kelly.
Amy：好主意，Kelly。
What about the price?
價錢方面怎樣？
Kelly: We can apply for a student discount, I believe.
Kelly：我想我們可以申請學生優惠。
Amy: Let's hear more opinions.
Amy：讓我們聽聽更多意見。
Wendy, do you agree with Kelly?
Wendy，你同意 Kelly 嗎？
Wendy: I partly disagree.
Wendy：我部分不同意。
Ocean Park is popular, but we went there last year.
海洋公園很受歡迎，但我們去年已經去過了。
Ken: Kelly, how much is the discount?
Ken：Kelly，折扣是多少？
Kelly: If we have thirty students, the ticket is about one hundred dollars each.
Kelly：如果我們有三十人，每張票大約一百元。
Ken: That is reasonable.
Ken：那很合理。
I change my mind and agree with Kelly.
我改變主意，同意 Kelly。
Amy: Good turn-taking, everyone.
Amy：大家輪流發言得很好。
Any other suggestions?
還有其他建議嗎？
Wendy: I suggest we compare the costs of both plans before we vote.
Wendy：我建議投票前先比較兩個計劃的費用。
Amy: We are almost out of time, so let's summarise.
Amy：時間差不多了，我們來總結吧。
Kelly, please give us the main points.
Kelly，請說出要點。
Kelly: To sum up, most of us prefer Ocean Park, but we need to check the price by Friday.
Kelly：總結來說，多數人傾向海洋公園，但我們要在星期五前查清價錢。
Ken: I will ask Miss Chan about the group discount tomorrow.
Ken：我明天會問陳老師團體優惠的事。
Amy: Wonderful.
Amy：太好了。
Then we will vote next Monday.
那我們下星期一投票。
Thank you for your opinions, everyone.
謝謝大家的意見。
Ken: Thank you, Amy.
Ken：謝謝你，Amy。
That was a useful discussion.
這是一次很有用的討論。
1Summary 重點摘要
Discussions.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Talk in group.
I agree.
I disagree.
I suggest.
My view.
Cut in.
Speak in turn.
Wrap up.
3Step by step Steps
- OpenGive your view: In my opinion, we should go hiking on Dragon's Back because it costs nothing.
- DiscussAgree and disagree: I agree that hiking is cheap, but some classmates may find it tiring. I partly disagree. Ocean Park is popular, but we went there last year.
- SummariseWe are almost out of time, so let's summarise. To sum up, most of us prefer Ocean Park, but we need to check the price by Friday.
- ChairingAmy's opener: Good morning, everyone. Let's begin our discussion about the class outing. Ken, what is your opinion? — name the topic, then invite.
- Partial agreementAgree first, then add: I agree that…, but… — this frame disagrees without hurting.
- Polite interruptionMay I interrupt for a moment? I suggest Ocean Park instead — ask permission before cutting in.
- Probing detailsPush for facts: Kelly, how much is the discount? — If we have thirty students, the ticket is about one hundred dollars each.
- Changing your mindIt is fine to move — just say so: That is reasonable. I change my mind and agree with Kelly.
5Worked example Example
Model a polite group discussion based on the passage — topic: where should the class outing be?
- Step 1: Give your opinion — In my opinion, we should go hiking on Dragon's Back because it costs nothing.
- Step 2: Agree in part, disagree in part — I agree that hiking is cheap, but some classmates may find it tiring.
- Step 3: Interrupt politely — May I interrupt for a moment? I suggest Ocean Park instead.
- Step 4: Persuade with data — If we have thirty students, the ticket is about one hundred dollars each.
- Step 5: Summarise — To sum up, most of us prefer Ocean Park, but we need to check the price by Friday.
- Answer: 'In my opinion, we should go hiking because it costs nothing.' 'I agree that hiking is cheap, but some classmates may find it tiring.' 'May I interrupt for a moment? I suggest Ocean Park instead — with thirty students we can get a group discount of about one hundred dollars each.' 'That is reasonable. I change my mind and agree with Kelly.' 'To sum up, most of us prefer Ocean Park, but we need to compare the costs and check the price by Friday before we vote.'
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1What is agree?
Q2What is disagree?
Q3What is interrupt?
Q4What is turn-taking?
Q5What is summarise?
8Recap Recap
- Give opinions: In my opinion… · I suggest… · I believe…
- Partly agree: I agree that…, but… — accept first, then add
- Interrupt politely: May I interrupt for a moment?
- Changing your mind is fine: I change my mind and agree with Kelly.
- Summarising: To sum up, most of us prefer… but we need to… by Friday.