4.4 Discussion and Debate

Role of Discussion and Debate at B2 Level

At B2 level you move from simply exchanging information to actively shaping conversations. Discussion and debate become tools to:

• Present a position clearly.
• React quickly to other viewpoints.
• Stay polite and structured even when you disagree.
• Use more complex grammar and vocabulary to sound precise and convincing.

In this chapter we focus on practical language for participating in discussions and debates, without yet going deeply into Subjunctive II, which is covered in the child chapter.

Typical Contexts for Discussion and Debate

You will meet discussion and debate tasks in many situations:

• In language exams, for example presenting a short argument and reacting to a partner.
• In study and work, for example meetings, project planning, or seminars.
• In everyday life, for example talking about news, politics, or social questions.

It is important to recognize what kind of situation you are in. Discussions among friends can be more informal and emotional, while debates in professional or academic contexts must be more neutral and structured.

Structuring Your Contribution

A clear structure helps other people follow your ideas, especially when opinions differ. At B2 level you should be able to organize short contributions and longer turns.

Simple structure for short contributions

A short contribution can follow three steps:

1. Signal that you want to speak.
2. State your main idea in one sentence.
3. Support it with one short reason or example.

For example:

"From my point of view, we should invest more in public transport, because it reduces traffic and pollution."

You can enter a discussion politely with phrases like:

• "I would like to add something here."
• "Can I respond to that?"
• "If I may say something about this point."

Basic structure for a longer statement

For a short speech or a longer turn, a simple structure is:

1. Introduction
   Present the topic and your position.
2. Main arguments
   Present 2 or 3 arguments, each with an explanation or example.
3. Short conclusion
   Repeat your main idea briefly.

Example of a clear mini structure:

"First, I would like to explain why online learning is useful. Then I will talk about its disadvantages. Finally, I will say what I personally prefer."

Language to Express and Emphasize Opinions

At B2 level you should vary how you express your opinion, instead of always using "I think". You also need language to show how strong or weak your opinion is.

Neutral opinion phrases

These phrases sound reasonably objective and can be used in most contexts:

• "In my opinion, …"
• "From my point of view, …"
• "I am of the opinion that …"
• "I would say that …"
• "As far as I am concerned, …"

Strong opinions

Use stronger phrases only when you really want to emphasize your position:

• "I am convinced that …"
• "It is obvious to me that …"
• "There is no doubt that …"
• "For me, it is absolutely clear that …"

Softening your opinion

To sound polite and open, especially with sensitive topics, soften your opinion:

• "Personally, I tend to think that …"
• "It seems to me that …"
• "I am not sure, but I think that …"
• "On the whole, I would say that …"

Softening is useful when you:

• Discuss with people you do not know well.
• Talk about complex or emotional topics.
• Want to invite others to respond.

Agreeing and Disagreeing Politely

In debates, the way you agree or disagree is as important as what you say. At B2 level you should avoid very direct forms like "You are wrong" and use more diplomatic language.

Agreeing

You can agree fully or partly.

Full agreement:

• "I completely agree with you (on that point)."
• "You are absolutely right."
• "That is exactly what I think too."

Partial agreement:

• "I agree with you to some extent, but …"
• "You are right about that, however …"
• "I can understand your point, although …"

Partial agreement is very useful in debate. It shows you have listened, and then you introduce another side.

Disagreeing

Disagreement should be clear, but not rude.

Polite disagreement:

• "I am afraid I cannot agree with that."
• "I see it a bit differently."
• "I am not sure that is correct."
• "To be honest, I have a different opinion."

Stronger disagreement, still polite:

• "I really cannot share this view."
• "For me, this argument is not very convincing."
• "I doubt that this is the best solution."

Responding to Other Speakers

A good debate is interactive. You do not only repeat your own ideas, you respond to others, build on their thoughts, or challenge them.

Showing that you listened

Short reactions help the discussion flow:

• "I understand what you mean, but …"
• "That is an interesting point."
• "I had not seen it from that perspective."

These phrases are especially useful when you want to disagree, because they sound respectful.

Asking for clarification

When you do not understand or when something is unclear, ask:

• "What exactly do you mean by that?"
• "Could you explain that in more detail?"
• "If I understand you correctly, you mean that … Is that right?"

Using "If I understand you correctly" shows that you are trying to represent the other person’s idea fairly.

Referring to earlier points

To keep a discussion coherent, refer back to what was said:

• "I would like to return to what you said about …"
• "Regarding your earlier point about …"
• "As was mentioned before, …"

These phrases help you connect arguments and avoid random topic changes.

Presenting Arguments and Examples

Arguments become more convincing if you signal them clearly and support them with examples or reasons.

Introducing arguments

Use clear phrases at the start of an argument:

• "The main reason is that …"
• "Another important point is that …"
• "One strong argument in favor is that …"
• "On the other hand, one argument against is that …"

You can order your arguments like this:

• "Firstly, … Secondly, … Finally, …"

Giving reasons and consequences

You should have several ways to express cause and effect in spoken discussion. For example:

• "This is because …"
• "Therefore, …"
• "As a result, …"
• "That means that …"

Example:

"Public transport tickets should be cheaper. This is because many people cannot afford them. As a result, they use the car more often."

Giving examples

Examples make abstract ideas easier to understand and harder to ignore.

Useful phrases:

• "For example, …"
• "For instance, …"
• "Let me give you an example."
• "A good example of this is …"

Try to choose short, concrete examples from daily life, news, or your own experience.

Balancing Pros and Cons

Discussions and debates often require you to show both sides of an issue, even if you personally prefer one side.

Introducing advantages and disadvantages

You can introduce pros and cons like this:

• "On the one hand, … on the other hand, …"
• "There are several advantages, but also some disadvantages."
• "A clear advantage is that … A clear disadvantage is that …"

Weighing arguments

To show that you have considered different aspects, you can say:

• "Although there are some disadvantages, in my opinion the advantages are stronger."
• "In the end, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages."
• "Overall, I think the positive effects are more important."

This weighing of pros and cons is central in B2 level debates and exam tasks.

Keeping the Discussion Polite and Productive

Topics like politics, culture, or personal values can easily become emotional. At B2 level you are expected to control the tone and keep the conversation respectful.

Polite strategies

You can protect the relationship while staying honest:

• "I hope you do not mind if I disagree."
• "I see that this topic is important to you."
• "I respect your opinion, but I see it differently."

When a discussion becomes tense, you can calm it:

• "Maybe we should focus on the facts again."
• "Let us try to find a compromise."
• "Perhaps we can agree that …"

Avoiding misunderstandings

To reduce conflict, check understanding and use neutral language:

• "Just to be clear, I did not mean that …"
• "I am only saying that …"
• "I am talking about the policy, not about individuals."

Such phrases help you correct possible misunderstandings without sounding aggressive.

Managing Turn-Taking

In a dynamic debate, it is important to enter the conversation and also to give space to others.

Taking the floor

To start speaking without interrupting rudely, you can say:

• "May I add something here?"
• "Could I just respond to that quickly?"
• "If no one else wants to speak, I would like to say something."

Interrupting carefully

Interruptions are sometimes necessary, but they should be polite:

• "Sorry to interrupt, but I think this point is important."
• "Could I just finish this thought?"
• "Just a moment, let me clarify that."

The phrase "Could I just finish this thought?" is useful when someone interrupts you and you want to keep your turn.

Handing over to others

To involve other people, you can:

• "What do you think about this?"
• "Maybe someone else has another perspective?"
• "I would be interested to hear your opinion."

This shows that you are not only focused on your own ideas, but on a shared conversation.

Summarizing and Concluding

At the end of a discussion or a longer speech, you should be able to summarize the main points and present a short conclusion.

Summarizing

Summaries should be short and neutral:

• "To sum up, we have discussed …"
• "In summary, the main points are …"
• "Let me briefly repeat the most important arguments."

A simple structure is:

1. Mention the topic again.
2. Name 2 or 3 central points.
3. Then give your final sentence.

Example:

"To sum up, we talked about the advantages and disadvantages of home office. On the one hand, it gives more flexibility and saves time. On the other hand, it can create problems with communication and motivation. Personally, I think a mixed model is the best solution."

Giving a final opinion

To close your contribution:

• "In conclusion, I believe that …"
• "All in all, I am in favor of …"
• "Overall, I am against this idea, because …"

This clear closing makes your position easy to remember.

Vocabulary List