Discussing advantages and disadvantages

In this video, Noelia and Yuna talk about how to encourage creativity in the office. Listen to the language they use to discuss advantages and disadvantages and practise saying the useful phrases.

Do the preparation exercise first. Then watch the video and do the exercises to check your understanding and practise the language.

Preparation

Speaking B2: Discussing advantages and disadvantages – preparation

Transcript

Ana: Hi! I'm Ana. Welcome to What to Say!

Do you know what to say when you discuss advantages and disadvantages? Listen out for useful language for discussing advantages and disadvantages. Then, we'll practise saying the new phrases – after this.

Noelia: So, table tennis, bean bags, board games, video games! Hey, how about a trampoline?

Yuna: Stop right there. I love your ideas, Noelia, but a trampoline? Really?

Noelia: Absolutely. When do you have your best ideas?

Yuna: I don't know. Usually when I'm cooking, I suppose.

Noelia: Exactly. We often have our best ideas when we are away from our desks. The other day I was on a trampoline and the vision for the creativity room came to me.

Yuna: Why were you on a trampo…? Never mind. Look, on the one hand it's a lovely idea and it fits with our brand, but on the other hand it could be noisy and chaotic and maybe too much fun!

Noelia: But having fun helps you be creative, and being creative is vital to our business!

Yuna: I see what you mean, but I'm just not sure if a trampoline is necessary. Also, there could be an issue with the clients arriving at the office and seeing us all jumping around.

Noelia: I see where you're coming from, but I think our clients will love it! And there are lots of advantages to trampolining. It's good for the body and the mind.

Yuna: Maybe, but I can also see the disadvantages. What if someone hurts themselves?

Noelia: But we're all adults. And we can get extra insurance. Come on! It's a great idea!

Yuna: OK, I'll think about it.

Noelia: Perfect. I'll email you some links!

Yuna: I haven't said yes! Oh, Noelia!

Ana: Hello again! A trampoline in the office? Well, there's an idea! So, did you notice the useful phrases used for discussing advantages and disadvantages? Listen to me and then repeat.

On the one hand …, but on the other hand …

I see what you mean, but I'm just not sure.

There could be an issue with that.

I see where you're coming from, but I think they'll love it.

There are lots of advantages.

Maybe, but I can also see the disadvantages.

Ana: Try and use some of these phrases the next time you discuss advantages and disadvantages in English. Bye for now!

Discussion

When and where do you have your best ideas?

Download

Worksheet87.11 KB

Language level

Upper intermediate: B2

I have my best ideas at night when I am almost sleeping; it's like I sleep on things before I feel asleep.

Nice

Hello. Is there any difference between saying '...But having fun helps you be creative' instead '...But having fun helps you to be creative' I would say the second if i was the person speaking. Would it make my language incorrect ?

Hello guitardude,

Both forms are correct. You can say 'having fun helps you be creative' and also 'having fun helps you to be creative' and they mean the same thing.

All the best,

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

Nice

I have my best ideas when I´m reading and I'm relaxing maybe drinking a coffee or a beer.

I have my best ideas when I am lying in my bed or walking in the park. It helps a lot to relax and start brainstorming. Also, when I watch some movies, I come up with ideas and I can write something.

My best ideas come when I am traveling, and I love it!

I like to think about what to do during long walking around my district or in the park. I like to walk alone listening to music and make decisions. I need to find some quiet place to not be disturbed while I'm thinking. Another good time for thinking is when I wash the dishes. I don't know why but I like to wash plates, cups and pans (well, pans less). I turn on my player, washing-up and thinking at the same time. Maybe the noise of the water or monotony of the washing-up helps to my brainstorming. Anyway, I obviously, can make a decision in different circumstances but I, deffinetely, preffer do it in silence ))

last year when i deside i go to travel was bet decision because it was a good journey.

I usually have my best and bright ideas in the morning when I just wake up. And sometimes after a lot of thinking I might sleep on it and have a light bulb moment on the other day!

My best ideas come when I'm walking on the street. That's why I often take a paper and a pen to write down the ideas I have in order not to forget.

The best ideas or thoughts come to me when I am washing the dishes because I free my mind...

I hate dishwashing but my husband is also like you. My best ideas come when I run.

To me best ideas come when I'm relaxing listening music laying on my bed or when I'm taking a shower, sometimes I think that it's like a rollercoaster you start to work a little unfocuse and in the middle you're totally focus and later when you have a lot time working your start to get stuck and then you need to change for a while the activity that let you take a breath and relax.

when i am playing or watching movies

I think that also I have the best ideas when I’m doing something that it’s different from the ambit related to the idea that I have. For example, often I had good ideas simply walking from one place to another or driving. I had good ideas also making sport.

I usually have my best ideas not in my place of work, but in other location, as in my home (especially in my kitchen), or when I'm doing some things totally unrelated to my job.

Hi, I just winderin what does " I see where you're coming from" mean? Thanks..☺

Hello Asina9,

It means 'I see your point' or 'I understand your opinion/point of view'.

All the best,

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

Great Thanks for explanation..

I'm just wondering why people say pros and cons instead of advantages and disadvantages. ;)

Hello Rafaela1,

'pro' is a common prefix (from Latin, which provided a lot of vocabulary for English over the centuries) that means 'in favour of'. 'con' is another common prefix, but in this case, as far as I know, it's an abbreviated form of 'contra', which is basically the opposite of 'pro'. So 'pro' means 'advantages' and 'cons' means 'disadvantages'.

All the best,

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

Thank you Kirk, you're such an intellectual person! ;)

Usually, I have my best ideas when I lie down, close my eyes and relax or just before sleep, sometimes even in the middle of the night. One day, I was working on an Android application, that was part of a project at university and at a certain point, I felt like my mind was stuck and I couldn't move forward. While I was sleeping, I began to dream about the code and the issues I had with it, I suddenly woke up at about 2 or 3 a.m., and it was unbelievable how I got a clue to work them out at that time and was finally able to advance the project.

I guess this lesson should be under upper intermediate level. sorry if I am wrong.

I think this lesson less than the upper intermediate level.

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Discussing advantages and disadvantages

Preparation

Transcript

Task 1

Task 2

Task 3

Discussion

Language level