Group Discussion
BasicI think... because...
- Opinion formula: 'I think... because...' — a stance without a reason earns little.
- Add value when agreeing: 'I agree, and I would add...' with a new point.
- Disagree politely: 'I am afraid I have to disagree', then give reasons and an alternative.
文體小知識：Talk with peers.
§Text Passage
1Chairperson: Good morning, everyone. Thank you for coming to this short meeting. Today we need to choose a theme for the S4 English Week and decide on the date. Let's begin, and please speak one at a time.
2Amy: In my opinion, a film festival would be the best choice because students love watching movies, and English films feel like fun rather than homework. Kevin: I agree with Amy, and I would add that English films improve our listening skills as well. Hearing natural speed and accents is something textbooks cannot give us.
3Marco: I am afraid I have to disagree. A film festival is expensive, and we only have a small budget; the licence fees alone could empty our account. Amy: That's a fair point, Marco. Which theme would you suggest instead? Marco: How about a story-writing competition? It costs very little, and the winning entries can be posted on the school website for everyone to enjoy. Kevin: I like that idea, and we could encourage more students to join by offering book coupons as prizes.
4Amy: May I turn the discussion to the schedule for a moment? We need to confirm the date before we plan anything else. Marco: The last week of March looks free, and we can hold the final event on the Friday afternoon. Chairperson: Thank you all for your polite and useful ideas. Let me summarise our points before we vote: a film festival would be engaging but costly, while a story-writing competition is cheap and creative. I suggest we take a quick vote now, and remember that the majority decides.
§Sentence-by-sentence translation Sentence-by-sentence translation
Chairperson: Good morning, everyone.
主席：各位，早上好。
Thank you for coming to this short meeting.
謝謝大家出席這個簡短會議。
Today we need to choose a theme for the S4 English Week and decide on the date.
今天我們要為中四英文週選一個主題，還要決定日期。
Let's begin, and please speak one at a time.
我們開始，請大家輪流發言。
Amy: In my opinion, a film festival would be the best choice because students love watching movies, and English films feel like fun rather than homework.
Amy：我認為電影節會是最佳選擇，因為同學都喜歡看電影，而英文電影感覺是娛樂，不像做功課。
Kevin: I agree with Amy, and I would add that English films improve our listening skills as well.
Kevin：我同意 Amy，還想補充，英文電影都可以提升我們的聆聽能力。
Hearing natural speed and accents is something textbooks cannot give us.
聽到自然的語速與口音，是教科書給不了的東西。
Marco: I am afraid I have to disagree.
Marco：恐怕我要反對。
A film festival is expensive, and we only have a small budget; the licence fees alone could empty our account.
電影節很貴，而我們的預算很少；單是播放版權費都可能清空我們的戶口。
Amy: That's a fair point, Marco.
Amy：Marco，你說得有道理。
Which theme would you suggest instead?
那麼你會建議用什麼主題？
Marco: How about a story-writing competition?
Marco：不如辦故事創作比賽？
It costs very little, and the winning entries can be posted on the school website for everyone to enjoy.
它成本很低，得獎作品還可以放上學校網站，讓大家都可以欣賞。
Kevin: I like that idea, and we could encourage more students to join by offering book coupons as prizes.
Kevin：我喜歡這個主意，我們可以用書券做獎品，鼓勵更多同學參加。
Amy: May I turn the discussion to the schedule for a moment?
Amy：可不可以容許我將討論轉到時間安排上？
We need to confirm the date before we plan anything else.
我們要確認日期，才可以計劃其他東西。
Marco: The last week of March looks free, and we can hold the final event on the Friday afternoon.
Marco：三月最後一個星期好像有空，我們可以在那個星期五下午舉行決賽活動。
Chairperson: Thank you all for your polite and useful ideas.
主席：謝謝大家提出這些有禮貌又實用的意見。
Let me summarise our points before we vote: a film festival would be engaging but costly, while a story-writing competition is cheap and creative.
表決之前，讓我總結一下大家的觀點：電影節吸引但是昂貴，故事創作比賽則便宜又有創意。
I suggest we take a quick vote now, and remember that the majority decides.
我建議我們現在快速投票，記住，少數服從多數。
1Summary 重點摘要
I think... because...
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Group talk.
View.
Yes.
No.
Suggest.
Encourage.
Polite.
輪到。
3Step by step Steps
- OpinionState opinions with the formula I think… because…. Example: Amy says In my opinion, a film festival would be the best choice because students love watching movies — a stance without a reason earns little.
- AgreeAgree with added value, never a bare I agree. Example: Kevin says I agree with Amy, and I would add that English films improve our listening skills — agreement plus a fresh point.
- DisagreeDisagree politely. Example: Marco says I am afraid I have to disagree. A film festival is expensive… the licence fees alone could empty our account — objection + reason + an alternative (a story-writing competition).
- PolitePoliteness rules: speak one at a time and never interrupt. Example: when Marco objects, Amy answers That's a fair point — accepting disagreement is the heart of discussion etiquette.
- RedirectEven redirecting has polite forms. Example: Amy says May I turn the discussion to the schedule for a moment? — a question form that steers the topic without stepping on anyone.
- SummariseSummarise in contrasts, as the chairperson does: Let me summarise our points before we vote: a film festival would be engaging but costly, while a story-writing competition is cheap and creative.
- Interaction winsDSE discussion rewards interaction: responding, redirecting and summarising count as much as speaking. Example: Kevin adds book coupons as prizes — teamwork, not talk time, is the core.
5Worked example Example
In this discussion about the English Week theme, whose performance is the strongest, and which sentences show the techniques that earn top marks?
- Step 1: Amy opens with opinion plus reason: 'In my opinion... because students love watching movies' — a clear stance.
- Step 2: Kevin models high-value agreement: 'I agree with Amy, and I would add that...' — adding a fresh point about listening skills.
- Step 3: Marco models polite disagreement: 'I am afraid I have to disagree', with a reason (licence fees versus a small budget) and an alternative.
- Step 4: Amy accepts the objection — 'That's a fair point' — and moves the discussion on by asking for Marco's suggestion.
- Step 5: Marco completes his proposal (a writing competition, entries online) and Kevin adds a practical detail (book coupons) — teamwork, not competition, is the core.
- Answer: Group discussion marks come from interaction, not from talking the most. Marco is the strongest performer: he disagrees politely ('I am afraid I have to disagree'), justifies it with facts (expensive licence fees, a small budget), and offers a cheaper alternative — a story-writing competition — later enriched with details such as posting entries online and offering book coupons. Kevin shows high-quality agreement: 'I agree, and I would add' extends the point to listening practice. Amy manages the flow: she concedes with 'That's a fair point', invites Marco's idea, and later redirects the group to fix the date. All three combine stance, reason and response — exactly the formula examiners reward.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1Start?
Q2Agree?
Q3Disagree?
Q4Polite?
Q5Time?
Q6Tip?
8Recap Recap
- Opinion formula: 'I think... because...' — a stance without a reason earns little.
- Add value when agreeing: 'I agree, and I would add...' with a new point.
- Disagree politely: 'I am afraid I have to disagree', then give reasons and an alternative.
- When challenged, concede with 'That's a fair point' and steer the talk forward.
- Discussions reward interaction: responding, redirecting and summarising count as much as speaking.