1. Skills
  2. Speaking
  3. B2 speaking
  4. Challenging someone's ideas

Challenging someone's ideas

In this video, Vanya tells Paul and Emir about her latest idea. Listen to the language they use for challenging someone's ideas 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: Challenging someone's ideas – preparation

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! 

Task 1

Speaking B2: Challenging someone's ideas – 1

Task 2

Speaking B2: Challenging someone's ideas – 2

Task 3

Speaking B2: Challenging someone's ideas – 3

Discussion

Have you ever tried any unusual ideas at work?

Download
Worksheet117.83 KB

Language level

B2 Upper intermediate
Average: 4.8 (95 votes)
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Submitted by abudo93 on Mon, 26/10/2020 - 18:29

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Yes, I'm tried, but most of time they weren't convinced.

Submitted by fahri on Sat, 24/10/2020 - 02:06

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Dear team. From the lesson above. Paul: Good luck with that! I hope it doesn't turn out to be a cat-astrophe ... What? ... It's a good joke.  the questions: 1. What's that mean 'astrophe' ?? ( The word is not in the dictionary). 2. What's kind of joke ??? I didn't find anything funny in this video. Thank you very much for your answer.

Hello fahri,

I'd suggest you look up the word 'catastrophe'. Paul is referring to 'cats', which is not really etymologically related to the word 'catastrophe'. Does that make sense?

All the best,

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

Yes it does. Make sense and funny. Thank you sir
Hi, In spanish the joke makes sense.. cat = gato astrophe = sounds similar catastrofe

Submitted by TadyEriel on Wed, 14/10/2020 - 14:04

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Have you ever tried any unusual ideas at work? Well,I'm not sure if it was unusual, but once i suggested to pay some money as a penalty, because, at my work we used a two way radio for comunication, and most of the time we didn't answer, therefore, they said "Have you considered the fact that the signal has interference?"and I said yeah, "I take your point, but be imaginative, we can use that money in many ways, specially at parties. Furthermore, "I'm convinced this will help us to be alert". At the end i had to pay too. And, I guess, we spent the money in alchohol.

Submitted by Sulagna Das on Thu, 08/10/2020 - 17:43

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I have tried to bring together my colleagues to teach the underprivileged children on weekends. Many were interested but we couldn't take it forward due to covid situation.
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Submitted by danisep on Tue, 29/09/2020 - 22:45

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Never, but I think that crazy ideas sometimes change things to the best, sometimes we cannot see beyond and people with innovative ideas show us interesting and challenging concepts.

Submitted by Benaz on Wed, 23/09/2020 - 22:14

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Yes I have. It was not convincing initially because it was different from my usual methods and I didn't think it would work. However, it did eventually and that happened because I was open to something new.