Saturday, 27 January 2018

Discussion Skills Three:Responding

In the last of our three discussion skills classes, we are going to look at ways to respond to others opinions.

If you agree with an opinion, you can use the phrases below:
  • Yes, I agree with you.
  • Yes, you are right.
  • I could not agree more.
  • I am completely with you on that.
If you agree partly or have a similar opinion, you can use the next phrases:
  • I see what you mean, but for me, it is more like...
  • That is good, but also...
  • I see where you are coming from, but... 
To politely disagree the next phrases are good:
  • I am sorry, I do not see it that way. For me...
  • I can understand your point of view, but for me...
  • I understand what you are saying, but...
If you would like to strongly disagree, you can use the next phrases:
  • With all due respect, I would say...
  • I am sorry, I do not think that is correct, for me...
  • I am sorry, that is completely wrong!
In class, we will talk about the different nuances of the above phrases and practise them. From week four to week ten of the term, we will be having real discussions in class, so please think of three topics you would like to discuss. I will collect everyone's ideas at the end of next class.

If you have not sent last weeks homework yet, please send it to:
rowan63japan@gmail.com


Saturday, 20 January 2018

Discussion Skills Two: Questions

Questions are very important in discussions, asking the right questions can create a fun and interesting conversation, but the wrong ones can kill it. Closed questions are not so good because they can be answered with just yes or no, for example:

Aさん: Do you like animals?
B:さん: Yes.

Open questions are better because the answer will have more information, for example:

Aさん: What kind of animals do you like?
Bさん:   I like many animals, for example, dogs and horses, but I especially like cats.

So with the open question, you learn more and have a lot of chances to ask more questions. This is also true when asking for opinions, for example:

Aさん: Do you think global warming is a bad thing?
Bさん: Yes.

This closed question only gets a one-word answer, but what answers would you give to the questions below?

  1. What do you think about global warming?
  2. How do you feel about the Tokyo Olympics?
  3. What is your opinion about North Korea?
Often my students try to give their opinion or experience before asking the question, but if it is too long, it makes the conversation's atmosphere to become bad. So one sentence is best, for example:

  1. It seems to me that the situation in North Korea is getting worse, what do you think about it?
  2. I think Kyoto needs a better bus system, how do you feel about it?
  3. From my experience private train lines are more reliable than JR lines, what is your opinion.

Now prepare six open opinion questions to ask in class:

  1. What do you think about...
  2. How do you feel about...
  3. What is your opinion about...
  4. It seems to me that...      what do you think about it?
  5. I think...   how do you feel about it?
  6. From my experience...    what is your opinion?


Saturday, 13 January 2018

Discussion Skills One: Opinions



Happy New Year. Before class prepare a short talk about your winter holiday to give to the class.

自分の意見を述べなければ、討論は出来ません。だから、このレッスンで意見を述べる練習をしましょう。たいてい日本人は、英語で意見を述べる時「I think...」と言いますが、
ネイティブスピーカーの場合いろんな言葉を使います。 
 
 1. 「For what it is worth I think... 」は謙虚な言葉です。自分の意見より相手の意見の方が価値があると思う時に使います。
2. 「It seems to me...」は丁寧な言葉です。自分の知っている事からの意見ですが、
相手は自分が知らない事をもっと知っていると思う時に使います。
3. 「I think...」はちょっと強くて、ニュアンスがありません。

4. 「In my opinion...」は強いけど、
他の人の意見を聞きたい時使います。
5. 「As far as I am concerned... 」はとても強くて、他の人の意見は聞く気がありません。 
 
宿題:What are your opinions?

  • ________________Kyoto is________________
  • ________________global warming is_____________
  • ________________Donald Trump is_________________
  • ________________tourists in Kyoto are_______________
  • ________________chocolate cakes are________________