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!
In my previous job, I was a primary teacher. I thought of many new ideas that we can consider to make learning fun for pupils. However, I did not have the chance to share them all. Because I am fond of drawing especially Mandala art, the only idea that the school was ready to go for was adding a newly different kind of art to the Art subject. I manage to arrange a schedule for some of my best classes. I got to teach them how to draw different patterns and combine colors to get a creative result, we end up organizing a competition where pupils have to draw their mandala and exhibit the final result to their parents, while the parents have to vote for the best one. The students were madly obsessed with the process. In the end, everyone, the teachers, the parents, and I were so happy that they have learned something new and exciting that they will remember forever.
I have a lot of ideas on my mind, and maybe in the future can share them with my office partners.
Another important expressions and phrases I have learned just today!
No, I haven't, because I don't work, I'm a student, but in the future I'd like to try something new and unusual for making happier boring working days.
No, I haven't tried any new idea at work because, it's fawned on to introduce any new concept.
No, I keep quiet most of the time.
No , never , I don't work.
In my previous job, I had many different ideas to implement to improve processes inside the company where at first I have to convince my boss and the Team about the innovative ideas, and all of them were very challenging with good results another was not possible to achieve because it was so ambitious to implement.
Once in my work, I even suggested that everyone change their roles and, that way, everyone would be able to do anything: from cleaning and organizing the space to carrying out the most important functions, said to be strategic. The problem is that the system immobilizes people, placing strict rules based on the salary people receive. This prevents them from being more creative and accepting new challenges. Needless to say, my idea, although I liked it, didn't work for more than a day.
In my previous work, I was thinking about our staff comfortable environment, so I suggest to my boss If we could have schedule break time for everyone just for 10 minutes or something like this. She said I'm agree with you but I'm afraid they didn't commitment the schedule and this will affect us badly for both sides children and staff.