LISTENING – EXPRESSING OPINIONS

1 (Track 8) Listen and match each conversation (1 – 6) with a topic (a –f).

a    smoking   _______                        b   exams   _______

c   computer games   _______ d vegetarianism   _______

e   traffic   _______                             f obesity   _______


2 Listen to each conversation again. Do the people agree or disagree?

1  _  agree_____

2 ____________

3 ____________

4 ____________

5 ____________

6 ____________


3 Listen once more and write three expressions in each column.

Expressions to agree with someone

                                 Expressions to disagree with someone


That´s exactly what I think.










DEFENDING OPINIONS

Speaking strategy: Arguing your point

1 Match each statement (a – e) with a response (1 – 5).

a   I think politicians these days are all the same. _4__

b   I believe that marriage should be for life. ____

c   From my point of view, killing animals for sport is wrong. ____

d   It seems to me that the world is getting more dangerous. ____

e   In my opinion, working overtime is too stressful. ____


1   You may be right, but a lot of people enjoy hunting.

2   I may be wrong, but isn´t there less crime these days?

3   I agree to some extent, but the extra money is handy.

4   Yes, but it´s still important to vote.

5   I know what you mean, but isn´t divorce increasing?


To rehearse and prepare for your final speeches do the following exercises.

2 (Track 9) Listen to each statement in Exercise 1 (a – e) and speak each response.


3 Listen again to each statement and give different response. Begin each reply with one of the
expressions in bold.


4 (Track 10) Now listen and respond to five more statements. Begin each reply with one of the
expressions in bold.

Example: a

You hear: If you ask me, there are too many cars on the roads these days.

You say: I know what you mean, but everyone needs a car.





(Source: Real Listening and Speaking by Miles Craven. CUP, 2008.)