This document provides guidance on giving opinions and facilitating discussions in both informal and formal settings. It includes: 1) Suggested phrases like "May I come in here?" and "From my point of view..." to introduce opinions in a way that signals thinking time and level of feeling. 2) Phrases like "What about you, John?" and "Would you like to add anything, George?" to ask for other opinions and keep discussions moving in either informal discussions or formal meetings. 3) Instructions to work in pairs on an informal topic and in larger groups on a formal business topic to practice discussion techniques. 4) Questions to reflect on language differences between informal discussions and formal meetings.

1. Opinions
A) You don’t need any special phrases to give an opinion. However, using a few opening
words will:
 Show other people that you want to start speaking (useful in a formal meeting)
 Give you a few seconds of “thinking time” to decide what you are going to say
 Show how strongly you feel
May I come in here? Basically, … I feel … I wonder if I could say something?
Actually, … Well, from my point of view … Wait a minute, … Don’t you think that …?
B) After giving your own opinion, you need to ask other people for their opinions and keep the
discussion moving. Write the phrases in the box in the appropriate column below.
What about you, John? What’s your reaction to that, Joseph?
Walter? Would you like to add anything, George?
An Informal discussion A formal meeting
What do you think, Mika? How do you feel about that, Mr. Brown?

2. C) Do the following:
Work in pairs. Choose a general topic “General” list, and have an informal, direct discussion.
Then form a larger group, choose a topic from the “Business” list, and have a more formal,
careful meeting to discuss the topic.
General Business
Violence on television Doing business on the internet
Healthy Food Recruitment and selection techniques
Cars in cities The impact of globalization
Traveling abroad Management: the latest ideas
D) Discuss:
 Did you notice any language differences between the discussion and the meeting?
 What language did you need?