Challenging someone's ideas
Do the preparation exercise first. Then watch the video and do the exercises to check your understanding and practise the language.
Transcript
Ana: Hi! I'm Ana. Welcome to What to Say!
Do you know what to say when you want to challenge someone's ideas? Listen out for useful language for challenging someone's ideas. Then, we'll practise saying the new phrases – after this.
Vanya: Guys! I've got it! I've figured it out!
Emir: Figured what out?
Paul: That it's polite to knock on the door before coming in?
Vanya: This idea is just too good, Paul! It's too good!
Paul: Go on, then.
Vanya: So! Cats!
Emir: I'm a bit lost. What are you talking about?
Vanya: Videos. Cat videos! For our social media account. Hundreds of them. Everyone loves cats!
Paul: I hate cats.
Vanya: Everyone except you, Paul.
Paul: Have you considered the fact that we're a branding agency, not a pet shop?
Vanya: I take your point, Paul, but, come on, be imaginative! Cat videos are some of the most searched videos on the internet.
Emir: I see where you're coming from, Vanya, but I think I agree with Paul here. How is this relevant for a branding agency?
Vanya: Look. Social media, it's a numbers game. If we share dozens of cat videos each day, then we get more followers.
Emir: That's true. So how exactly do you see this working? I mean, who's going to find all these videos?
Vanya: Erm, OK, I'm very aware of the challenges here, but I'm convinced this is going to work.
Paul: I'm not so sure.
Emir: Well, I guess you have to look at it from both sides. Why don't we try it for a couple of weeks and see if there's any impact?
Vanya: Great! We are going to get so many more followers. I'm absolutely positive!
Paul: Good luck with that! I hope it doesn't turn out to be a cat-astrophe ... What? ... It's a good joke.
Ana: Hello again! Well, I thought that was a good joke! So, did you notice the useful phrases used for challenging someone's ideas? Listen to me and then repeat.
I'm a bit lost. What are you talking about?
Have you considered the fact that we're a branding agency, not a pet shop?
I take your point, but be imaginative.
I see where you're coming from.
I think I agree with Paul here.
How exactly do you see this working?
I'm very aware of the challenges here, but I'm convinced this will work.
You have to look at it from both sides.
Ana: Try and use some of these phrases the next time you want to challenge someone's ideas in English. Bye for now!
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Yes, I have tried soome of unusuual ideas before. I considered the fact that I can work together with my cowoerkers, despite I disagree with some parts of the project.
I have ideas but I don't share it to the team. I'm not really sure they will like it.
I am lost?
I teach chemistry at undergraduate level. So, I have a specific plan of study to work with the students. But I always try to show them new developments of this science and their impact on the modern industry and society
Thanks a lot for this experience, it is my first one here, Im really glad to joint you.I found the first course very interesting.
in my collage days i experienced being a leader and pushing for difference ideas, but it was so hard to motivate the students to do anything interesting, they seemed completely disengaged from my ideas, they only did what i told them to do, nothing more. nobody tried to challenge my ideas, which made me feel like they were completely indifferent to my work. to be honest, after all this staff, after my huge dissapoitment i started to become an angry leader, sometimes i even shouted at them (i was a student too, not a teacher or something), i was so exited and ended up so disillusionment. so right now i’m trying to align myself with leadership positions that i’m dreaming of, but everyone who knows me says that i’m too serious and harsh. i don’t know what to do about that
Yes. Always
Yes, but I don't share it most of the time.