A better way to

brainstorm

ESL
Let’s get started
with a warm-up

ESL Brains
Discuss the questions.

● What do these pictures have in

common?
● Do you prefer to solve
problems alone or in a team?
Why?
● Do you ever brainstorm ideas
with your team? How do you
do it?
● What are the problems with
brainstorming in a group?

ESL 3
In a moment, you’ll watch a video titled:

A better way to brainstorm

ESL Brains
Watch the first part of the video (to 00:25) and see if your answers to the last
question (What are the problems with brainstorming in a group?) were similar to
those given in the video.

ESL
ESLBrains
Let’s check the answers.

● Brainstorming leads to groupthink. Everyone thinks about one idea only.

● Quieter people can’t share their ideas.
● A group comes to a solution too quickly.

ESL 6
Discuss the questions.

● Have you ever had the problems mentioned in the video at meetings?
● How might people avoid these problems?
● Is it OK to criticize your colleagues’ ideas during brainstorming?

ESL 7
Watch the second part of the video (from 00:25) and put the steps of the
brainstorming method in the order they are presented in the video.

A. A member of another group joins and

adds fresh ideas from their group.

B. Brainstorm alone.

C. Meet in a group and suggest personal

ideas. Do not comment on or criticize
what others suggest.

D. The group meets again. They add ideas,

analyze what they have and build one
clear concept.

ESL 8
Let’s check the answers.

A. A member of another group joins and 3

adds fresh ideas from their group.

B. Brainstorm alone. 1

C. Meet in a group and suggest personal 2

ideas. Do not comment on or criticize
what others suggest.

D. The group meets again. They add ideas,

4
analyze what they have and build one
clear concept.

ESL 9
Let’s talk!

ESL Brains
Discuss the questions.

● What do you like/dislike about the brainstorming method shown in

the video?
● Would it be a good idea to introduce this brainstorming method to
your company?
● How might you organize a meeting where everyone takes part?

ESL 11
Let’s learn some functional language!

ESL Brains
Look at the pairs and compare them by answering the questions on the right.

A. Change the colour of the background.

● Which phrase in each of the pairs
What about changing the colour of the background?
sounds more polite?
B. I think we should avoid this slogan.
● What makes them sound more
Don’t let him use this slogan.
polite?
C. Why don’t we change our approach to the problem?
Change your approach to the problem.

D. Give him a discount.

What if we give him a discount?

E. Talk to the client and ask what’s wrong.

We could always talk to the client and ask what’s wrong.

ESL 13
Let’s check the answers.

A. Change the colour of the background.

● Which phrase in each of the pairs
What about changing the colour of the background?
sounds more polite?
B. I think we should avoid this slogan.
● What makes them sound more
Don’t let him use this slogan.
polite?
C. Why don’t we change our approach to the problem?
The sentence beginnings like
Change your approach to the problem.
‘What about…?’,
D. Give him a discount. ‘I think we should…’, ‘Why don’t
What if we give him a discount? we…?’, ‘What if we…?’, ‘We
could always…’.
E. Talk to the client and ask what’s wrong.
We could always talk to the client and ask what’s wrong.

ESL 14
Read the problems and give ideas about how to solve them. Use the sentence
beginnings provided.
EXAMPL
Problem: Our workers say they’ve had too much work recently. (What if)
E
Idea: What if we schedule a meeting next week and discuss this problem
with the management?

A. I am too tired today. I can’t focus anymore. (What if)

B. Our team is not going to meet our deadline this month.

(I think we should)

C. Many of our employees work from home. I’m afraid they

don’t feel they are a part of the team. (Why don’t we)

D. Some of our clients aren’t happy about the speed of our

work. (What about)

E. Our employees don’t have the skills to work on this

project. (We could always)
ESL 15
Let’s see some possible answers.

EXAMPL
Problem: Our workers say they’ve had too much work recently. (What if)
E
Idea: What if we schedule a meeting next week and discuss this problem with
the management?

A. I am too tired today. I can’t focus anymore. (What if) What if you take a break and go for a walk?

B. Our team is not going to meet our deadline this month. I think we should ask to change the date of the
(I think we should) deadline.

C. Many of our employees work from home. I’m afraid they Why don’t we organize a team building event?
don’t feel they are a part of the team. (Why don’t we)

D. Some of our clients aren’t happy about the speed of our What about hiring one more employee?
work. (What about)

E. Our employees don’t have the skills to work on this We could always arrange a 6-month training
project. (We could always) programme for them.
ESL 16
Let’s learn some vocabulary!

ESL Brains
You’re one of three co-owners of a graphic design company. One day you meet
with Lina, who is a co-owner too. Read the dialogue between you and Lina.

Lina: Look, we’ve got a problem with
one of
our clients and I don’t know how to
deal with it.
You: What is it about? Can I help?
Lina: Yes, I think we should arrange a
meeting: you, me, another co-owner
and some of our managers. We need to
put our heads together and think about
what to do with the client.
You: What’s the goal of the meeting?
ESL
Lina: We need to come up with some
ideas
of ways to solve the problem. Then,
we’ll decide on the best plan.
You: Got it. Why can’t you define the
problem now? I need some details
about why the client is unhappy. If I
don't know the details, I can’t suggest
any ideas.
Lina: Of course, but I’m in a hurry
now. I’ll
send you an email. 18
part 1/2

Match the meanings to the phrases in bold.

A. choose one thing out of many

Lina: Look, we’ve got a problem with others

one of B. decide what to do about

our clients and I don’t know how to something, solve it

deal with it. C. describe and explain something in

detail
You: What is it about? Can I help?
Lina: Yes, I think we should arrange a D. offer a plan or something to think
about
meeting: you, me, another co-owner
and some of our managers. We need to E. produce, create, think of
something
put our heads together and think about
F. think together about how to fix a
what to do with the client.
problem or a difficult task
You: What’s the goal of the meeting?
ESL 19
part 2/2

Match the meanings to the phrases in bold.

A. choose one thing out of many

Lina: We need to come up with some others

ideas B. decide what to do about

of ways to solve the problem. Then, something, solve it

we’ll decide on the best plan. C. describe and explain something in

detail
You: Got it. Why can’t you define the
problem now? I need some details about D. offer a plan or something to think
about
why the client is unhappy. If I don't
know the details, I can’t suggest any E. produce, create, think of
something
ideas.
F. think together about how to fix a
Lina: Of course, but I’m in a hurry now.
problem or a difficult task
I’ll
ESL send you an email. 20
part 1/2

Let’s check the answers.

A. choose one thing out of many

Lina: Look, we’ve got a problem with others

one of B. decide what to do about

our clients and I don’t know how to something, solve it

deal with it. C. describe and explain something in

detail
You: What is it about? Can I help?
Lina: Yes, I think we should arrange a D. offer a plan or something to think
about
meeting: you, me, another co-owner
and some of our managers. We need to E. produce, create, think of
something
put our heads together and think about
F. think together about how to fix a
what to do with the client.
problem or a difficult task
You: What’s the goal of the meeting?
ESL 21
part 2/2

Let’s check the answers.

A. choose one thing out of many

Lina: We need to come up with some others

ideas B. decide what to do about

of ways to solve the problem. Then, something, solve it

we’ll decide on the best plan. C. describe and explain something in

detail
You: Got it. Why can’t you define the
problem now? I need some details about D. offer a plan or something to think
about
why the client is unhappy. If I don't
know the details, I can’t suggest any E. produce, create, think of
something
ideas.
F. think together about how to fix a
Lina: Of course, but I’m in a hurry now.
problem or a difficult task
I’ll
ESL send you an email. 22
Answer the questions about the dialogue with Lina. Use the words in the box
where possible.

A. What kind of help does Lina ask for?

come up with
B. What is the final goal of the meeting?
deal with
decide on
C. What is Lina going to send you soon?
define
put our heads together
D. What kind of company do you and Lina
co-own? suggest

E. What problems can such companies have

with their clients?

ESL 23
Let’s see some possible answers.
A. What kind of help does Lina ask for?
B. What is the final goal of the meeting?
C. What is Lina going to send you soon?
D. What kind of company do you and Lina
co-own?
E. What problems can such companies have
with their clients?
ESL
She asks to arrange a meeting for company owners and
managers. There, we’ll put our heads together and suggest
ideas about how to deal with the client’s problem.
To come up with some ideas about how to solve the problem,
and then decide on the best one.
She is going to send an email where she will define the
problem.
A graphic design company.
Clients can refuse to pay on time; they can ask to make too
many changes; they can suggest adding something that looks
awful into the design, etc.
24
Let’s brainstorm!

ESL Brains
Read Lina’s email defining the problem.

Subject: Details of the problem with our client

Hi again!

The client ordered a website design for his art school. We invested a lot of resources in this project
and created a very unusual design. I think you remember this one! It’s almost crazy, but it’s what
you need if you work in the creative business, right? The client liked the design a lot.

The problem is that then users started commenting on the website style saying that it was terrible.
Now the client is demanding that we change the design.

At the moment we don’t have a lot of resources: all our employees are busy with other projects and
our budget is small. This means that we have to make a smart decision.

Best,

Lina
ESL 26
Brainstorm ideas for solving the problem described in the email. Follow the
steps below.

A. Define the problem.

B. Brainstorm ideas alone. What about…?

C. Share ideas with your group – don't criticize. Use the I think we should…
phrases for polite suggestion in the box. Why don’t we…?

D. (A member of another group joins and adds fresh What if we…?

ideas from their group.) We could always…
E. Put your heads together and decide on the best
solution(s). Give reasons for why it’s the best solution.

ESL 27
THANKS!

ESL Brains