1.1.4 SHARING YOUR VIEWS
SHARING YOUR VIEWS
1.Warm-Up: Express Your View
2A. Introducing Opinions
- What are the main challenges journalists face today?
- How has journalism changed in the digital age?
- What qualities make a good journalist?
- Do you think journalists have an important role in society? Why or why not?
2B. Have you ever heard the expression “have an axe to grind”? What do you think it means?
Click on the plus sign to find the definition.
2C. Look at these other words and expressions from the listening in Ex. 2D.
2D. Listen to a debate.
2E. Listen again.
Click on the plus signs to get each box to drop down.
3A. Expressions for giving opinions Practice I
3B. Expressions for giving opinions Practice II
3C. Expressions for giving opinions Practice III
3D. Opinion question
Do you agree with the opinions in sentences 1-6? Why / Why not?
4A. Read about 3 real cases of untrustworthy behaviour at work. If you were the boss in these cases, what would you do? What would it depend on? Think of some ideas and make notes.
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4B. What do you think the bosses really did? Do you think they did the right thing?
4C. Read the texts below to find out what really happened. (Click on each tab to read each case) Do you think the bosses did the right thing?
The boss organised a day of training in the new management system for all assistants. The event was held in a smart hotel, with a gourmet dinner and free drink afterwards. The CEO explained to all assistants the importance of the new system and how it would make everyone’s lives easier eventually.
The boss collected all of the negative comments online and printed them out. Then she had a meeting with the employee, inviting him to air his complaints and suggest solutions. The man was so embarrassed and surprised that his boss had taken his complaints seriously and really listened (she even made a procedural change suggested by him) that he stopped posting criticism and abandoned his blog.
The boss wrote a memo to all employees, saying exactly what was and was not allowed to be charged as expenses. Without naming the woman, he included many of the items that she had been charging the company for (clothes, tickets to the theatre etc.) He knew the employee would recognise that she had been caught. The boss also explained that any corporate entertaining needed to be cleared with him before it happened.
5A.🎤 Speaking Activity Express Your View – Online Discussion Role-Play
Language focus:
- Opinion phrases: I think, I believe, It seems to me that, I feel that, I would say, It appears that, I reckon
- Polite disagreement: I see your point, but… / That’s a good point, however… / I’m not sure I agree with that…
Working from home
Using technology in education
Four-day work weeks
AI in the workplace
Online vs. face-to-face learning
Each student writes a short “online comment” expressing their opinion on the topic (3–4 sentences), using at least two of the expressions for giving opinions in 3A, 3B and 3C.
In small groups:
- Each person reads their comment aloud.
- The group discusses the topic, reacting to each other’s views using:
- I agree because…
- I see what you mean, but…
- It seems to me that…
- That’s interesting. I would say…
6.Speaking Practice: Mini Debates
Choose one of the following topics
People should reduce screen time to improve their quality of life.
Social media does more harm than good.
People rely too much on technology in daily life.
Electric cars are the only future for transportation.
The objective is to prepare and share views politely. Try to use the expressions from this lesson to defend your opinions.
7A. Pronunciation /i:/, /ɪ/, /eɪ/ and /aɪ/
7B. [P4.01] Listen and check. Then listen again and repeat.
7C. Work in pairs. Take turns to point to words in Ex. 7A, and say sentences containing the words.