How to discuss a topic in a group

To improve your English, subscribe to each of the teachers who appear in this lesson:

TRANSCRIPT:
Hi! My name is Rebecca, and in today's lesson you'll learn how to participate effectively in a discussion in English, something you may need to do in your personal, professional, or academic life, okay? Now, the topic we'll use as our sample is this one: Is it better to study online or in a regular classroom? Okay? You'll have a chance to hear a discussion by native English speakers on this topic. What I'd like you to do is listen for any special expressions and phrases that they use during the discussion. Afterwards, I'll review the expressions and phrases with you, okay? Now, today I have some special friends who have agreed to help me with this lesson, and they're waiting in the classroom next door, so let's go and say hello to them.
-- Hello!
-- Hello!
-- Hi!
-- Hi!
-- Well, look who's here. It's --
-- Ronnie.
-- Alex.
-- James.
-- Adam.
-- Thank you for joining me, and thanks for helping with this lesson, guys.
-- No problem.
-- No problem.
-- So you know we're talking about discussions, and the topic is: Is it better to study online or in a regular classroom? Okay, who wants to go first?
-- Okay, so I'll start, and I think that it's actually very good to study online because it's very convenient because you can study whenever you want and at your own pace. For example, someone like me, I like to study at nighttime. So for me, online works better because it's quiet at night, no one disturbs me, and I can do what I need to do.
-- Okay, that's true, but if you're going to study online --
-- Sorry, but --
-- Please let me finish. Let me finish. As I was saying, that's true, but if you're studying online you do need to motivate yourself, so I think it's better to be in a classroom where you have other students and a teacher who can motivate you.
-- That's true, but some people can't afford to go to a classroom and don't have enough money or resources to actually go to a big school. So studying online, you can actually do it for free.
-- Me? Well, I would like to add -- May I say something?
-- Sure.
-- Soft skills. That's not usually talked about in schools, but when we talk about "soft skills", it's actual interaction, utilizing your English when you're with other people, and that's hard to get online because you're watching a screen and not actually interacting with other people.
-- You make a very good point but I would also like to add that sometimes having classmates takes you away from your focus because you have to maybe review things many times for other people to catch up, or you have to do topics that are interesting to other people, not to yourself. So it's a little distracting sometimes, too.
-- However, focus is a good thing. I mean, it's not a bad thing to repeat something because sometimes people don't catch the material the first time. So that way, you go over the material, and they -- you know, you get depth. So you get to learn more, and people who don't understand get the opportunity to ask questions and learn from it again.
-- Yeah, but sometimes the resources that you get in a classroom are boring, and online you can just look up whatever you need on the Internet, and you've got it right there. You don't have to rely on a textbook. Sometimes it can be a bad textbook.

[kalyanettela]

who is having a group discussion tommorow?

I Wish u perform better

[Jaccobtw]

English is actually one of the easiest languages to learn. Even if you make mistakes, the meaning can usually still be understood. So I encourage you all to continue to learn it!

[bhargaviks]

Sentence starters :
I think
I believe that
Continuing with the point:
As i was saying
Agreeing:
I agree with that
You make a very good point but I'd also like add that
Politely interrupting:
I agree with that but
However
Yeah but
Go ahead with interupption:
Please let me finish
Don't get me wrong
Disagree:
That's true but
Sorry, but I say something?
Conclusion:
In a conclusion
In a nutshell
Can we sum up?

[mohamedfarah]

She's one of the greatest teachers! Don't miss her lessons.

[leandroleite]

All this teachers in the same video! Great job

[Asuka]

Yes! It's a great idea. I really wanted to learn these expressions by native speakers at a normal speed.
Can't wait for the same version of this kind of lessons!
Thank you, Rebecca. I love you all guys on engVid!

[alexcorreia]

Wow, nice to see 5 of the top star English teachers doing a great lesson together! You guys rock. Thank you all to bring for the global community a better education with your lessons.

[TheSymphonica]

EngVid is the best channel for me. They always teach something useful and practical. This video is amazing.

[ekaterinazhiltsova]

This video is so cool! It's so nice to have a lot of EngVid teachers together in one classroom. It's like meeting old friends! Thanks for this video and you guys should do more videos together!

[giovannitovar]

I LOVE TO SEE ALL MY FAVORITE TEACHERS IN JUST ONE

[tukta]

I like this video, because I can see all my teachers talking together. Thank you Rebecca.

[PriscilaUliam]

I was needing this lesson right now! And It's so good to see the teachers together in the same video! I really enjoy it!

[BalletAtlizintla]

When I saw all the teachers together, I felt that was like an especial episode XD. So please, you have to make another same. Greetings.

[tanza]

At first I would like to say "thank you very much" this video can help me very much because I will have a group discussion next week and I have no idea for this.When I found your video it can answer all of my questions.

[kauancorte]

GOSH, THESE FIVE TEACHERS ALL TOGETHER. Picture yourself with them <3

[abdullahbineid]

The greatest five teachers EVER in one video !!

[SaltySeaDawg]

"Would you let me finish please?" Haha

[alperduzenli]

it's so nice to see all of the engvid teachers in a class. I think you should do this more often

[javiercastrofranco]

I got surprised when I saw my favourite online teachers altogether, congrats guys. great job. I liked all the points you came up. keep it up
best wishes

[SonuKumar-wvlx]

She is able to motivate most of the students get great idea through her lesson her positive attitude the way of teaching make wonderful atmosphere around listeners her views looks inspirational