Presenting balanced opinions

Theme: Technology
Before we start, please make sure…

✓ your name on Zoom is clear (use Latin letters)

✓ your camera is on and mic is off (unmute when
needed)
✓ you are in a quiet area that helps you focus
✓ you have a notebook or a note app ready to take
notes

Ilka X@!

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Welcome to English Online

How does it work? Prepare before class

You need to complete all practise

three parts to get the Live class
most out of English +
After-class speaking session
Online. (optional)

Practise after class

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After-class speaking session

Stay back after class for 5 or 10 minutes to talk to your classmates from
around the world.
This extra speaking practice will help you…
• improve your conversation skills
• practise using language learnt in class
• support and help your fellow students
• practise using English in a natural context
• become a part of a global learning community

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Pre-lesson activities

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Lesson objectives

In this live part of the lesson, you will justify your opinions in a discussion
about television.
You will also review phrases for quantity that you learned before the lesson.

Highlighted skills:
Speaking (live class)
Language focus:
Vocabulary: phrases for quantity
Functional language: phrases to give opinions

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Lead-in
Discuss the following questions with a
partner.

1. Do you watch TV every day?

2. What do you like watching? What don’t you like?
3. Do you think TV is a good or bad thing for people? Why?

Feedback & useful language

I don’t like watching TV. (OR...I prefer to watch TV)
I prefer reading books. (OR... I prefer to read books)
Prepositions: ON the internet, AT night, listen TO the TV

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Language focus 1: Quantity

Let’s review useful words and phrases to express • everyone

quantity of people. Turn on your mics and practice. • almost everyone
• a lot of people
Now, let’s conduct a poll about our own television habits. Use
• the majority of us
the quantity vocabulary in the box to express results.
• some people
1. How many people watch TV every day? • only a few of us
2. How many people watch TV for more than two hours a day? • no one
3. How many people don’t have a TV?
4. How many people want to watch less TV? EXTRA:
5. How many people are happy with the amount of TV they watch? the minority of us
almost no one
only one of us! ☺

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Language focus 2: Phrases for giving opinions

In your task, you will use phrases for giving opinions.

Let’s prepare by practicing the phrases together. Chose two of
your favourites from each section to use later.

• In my opinion …
• I think …
• I (firmly) believe (that) ...
• I’m convinced (that) … /st/

• I don’t feel / believe that …

• I’m not sure (that)... / I’m unsure (that)...
• I’m not convinced (that...)
• I’m of two minds about … (I can’t make up my mind / I think that both may be
true)
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Practice: Giving opinions

Look at these views on TV. Do you agree or

• In my opinion …
disagree? Why?
• I think …
• I (firmly) believe …
1. Watching TV helps children develop new ideas.
I don’t believe that it’s good / ... watching TV helps... • I’m convinced. (that …)

2. Television damages teenagers’ ability to concentrate in

• I don’t feel / believe that …
school.
• I’m not sure (that)...
3. If young children watch too much TV every day, they won’t
• I’m unsure (that)...
learn how to talk.
• I’m not convinced (that...)
4. Children can learn a new language by watching TV.
• I’m of two minds about …
5. If you watch TV, you can experience cultures you may never
see in real life.

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 Task
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Task

You will do a role-play to pretend you are on a

SENTENCE STARTERS
television discussion programme about the effects of
• In my opinion …
screen time (watching TV, playing computer games,
• I think …
using smartphones).
• I (firmly) believe …
• I’m convinced (that) …
The teacher will give you a role card for a parent, student,
• I don’t feel / believe that …
teacher, or politician. Read the role card your teacher gives
• I’m not sure (that)...
you and make some notes before beginning your discussion.
• I’m unsure (that)...
• I’m not convinced (that...)
Choose some sentence starters for presenting your opinion. • I’m of two minds about …
Try to use some quantity vocabulary we studied today.

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Parent

You are a parent of three children aged 8, 13 & 15. You

are taking part in a television discussion programme
about screen time.

• You think your teenage son/daughter has too much screen

time.
• You strongly believe that they should be doing more worthwhile
activities with their time.
• Also you concerned that their schoolwork will be a problem.

Make some notes on why screen time is bad and why. Use
some of the sentence starters and quantity vocabulary we
studied today.
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Student

You are an 18-year-old student. You are taking part in

a television discussion programme about screen
time.

• You think a high level of screen time is perfectly normal. Like most
teenagers you enjoy the TV, computer games and using
smartphones.
• You don’t believe that is screen time is bad for development and
your friends are the same.
Make some notes on why you think screen time is good and why.
Use some of the sentence starters and quantity vocabulary we
studied today.

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Teacher

You are a teacher at a secondary school. You are

taking part in a television discussion programme
about screen time.

• You have a class of teenagers and you think there is a big difference
between teenagers in this, and previous generations.
• You think that there is a negative impact of screen time in class but
can see the benefits out of class.

Make some notes on the positives and negatives of screen

time. Use some of the sentence starters and quantity
vocabulary we studied today.

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Politician

You are a politician. You are taking part in a television

discussion programme about screen time.

• You understand the problems that too much screen time can have
on society.
• You also believe that technology is important for future generations.

Make some notes on the positives and negatives of screen

time. Use some of the sentence starters and quantity
vocabulary we studied today.

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Feedback

What went well

Excellent work doing a role-play and presenting various opinions about screen
time. Fantastic work using the sentence starters to present opinions, e.g., “In my
opinion...” Excellent work with quantity words like “the majority of...” “just a few
of...”

Interesting new language: “I’m confident that...” “It depends on...”

Practice
Keep using the sentence starters to express your opinions and thoughts. They
sound great.
I’m convinced... /st/
Prepositions: ON the internet

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Review

In this live part of the lesson, justified your opinions in a discussion about
television.
You also reviewed phrases for quantity that you learned before the lesson.

Highlighted skills:
Speaking (live class)
Language focus:
Vocabulary: phrases for quantity
Functional language: phrases to give opinions

English Online | www.britishcouncil.org

Lesson materials

Make sure you:

• save the Zoom Chat
• download the *.pdf with this
presentation after class

English Online | www.britishcouncil.org

How can you make more progress?
Complete the Practise after class activities online.

Review the language rule we have practised today.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/how-to-express-your-
opinions-in-english/4755937.html

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What’s next?
Book your next class in the theme.

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After-class speaking session Dos
✓ Treat everyone with respect
You can talk about any topic that interests you! ✓ Keep your camera on and
Use these questions as a guide, if needed. participate
✓ Let others share ideas too
➢ Has the way people watch TV changed in your country in
✓ Listen to everyone
the past 10 years? How?
✓ Click ‘Leave’ if you cannot stay
➢ What is your favourite TV show? back

➢ Which type of shows on TV do you not enjoy? Don’ts

➢ Is TV the most popular way of getting news updates?
➢ How can watching TV help improve your English?
 Don’t take pictures or record
 Don’t share personal details
 Don’t let your children be visible
onscreen

For help, contact:

support.englishonline@britishcouncil.org
English Online | www.britishcouncil.org