Express opinions
By the end of the lesson, you will be able to express your opinions clearly and effectively in English, particularly in professional settings.
Part 1
Warm-up
Answer the questions
What did we discuss in the last lesson?
What part of your job do you like the most (for example, coding, testing, or managing projects) and why?
Do you prefer working in a team or independently? Why?
Part 2
Vocabulary
Read the word, its’ meaning, and the examples
Then make up your own sentences using the word.
Student can skip the words they already know.
Standards or guidelines or rules used to make a decision.
The criteria for selecting a programming language include performance and ease of use.
Our criteria for choosing a new software tool are cost, features, and support.
prioritize
/praɪˈɔːr.ə.taɪz/
to decide which of a group of things are the most important so that you can deal with them first
We should prioritize our tasks for today.
She always prioritizes her family over work.
feasibility
/ˌfiː.zəˈbɪl.ə.ti/
the possibility that something can be made, done, or achieved
We need to check the feasibility of this plan.
What is the feasibility of building a new school?
dependency
/dɪˈpen.dən.si/
The state of needing or being controlled by someone or something else
Their dependency on technology is growing.
She has a dependency on her parents for support.
Make up your own sentences using the words.
Part 3
Useful phrases
Teacher guides the student the useful phrases
Discuss the context in which each phrase can be used (teacher asks the student).
Encourage the student to create their own sentences using these phrases.
- In my opinion…
- I believe that…
- It seems to me that…
- I would argue that…
- The way I see it…
- One could say that…
Example:
“In my opinion, Agile methodology is more effective for our projects because it allows for better flexibility and faster feedback.”
Part 4
Dialogue Practice
Practice the conversation with teacher
Topic: How should we prioritize the new features requested by our client?
Alex: Project manager (PM)
Jordan: Team member, maybe QC, BA/PO or Dev
Alex
Hi, thanks for joining the meeting. Our client has sent over a list of new feature requests for our application. I wanted to discuss how we should prioritize these features. What are your thoughts?
Hi, thanks for having me. In my opinion, we should first consider the features that provide the most value to the client. We could start by analyzing the potential impact of each feature on the client’s business.
Jordan
Alex
That makes sense. I believe that features which improve user experience and efficiency should be high on our list. Do you agree, or do you think we should focus on other criteria first?
From my point of view, user experience is definitely important. However, I would argue that we should also look at the technical feasibility and the effort required to implement each feature. Some features might be highly valuable but could take a long time to develop.
Jordan
Alex
It mentions that the interface should be “easy to use and user-friendly,” but there aren’t any specific guidelines or examples. I’ve tried looking at similar projects, but I’ve tried different approaches, but I’m still facing issues.
That sounds like a good strategy. One could say that prioritizing quick wins will help maintain client satisfaction while we work on the more challenging features. We should also consider any dependencies between the features.
Jordan
Alex
Absolutely. The way I see it, we need to ensure that our development plan is both efficient and aligned with the client’s business goals. How about we create a matrix to score each feature based on value, effort, and dependencies?
I believe that would be a helpful tool. We can then use this matrix to present our prioritization plan to the client. It will also help us justify our decisions if the client has any questions.
Jordan
Alex
Great idea. Let’s draft the matrix and start scoring the features. We can then review our findings in our next meeting and finalize the prioritization. Thanks for your input; I think we’re on the right track.
Sounds good. I’ll get started on the matrix and share it with you for feedback. Looking forward to our next discussion.
Jordan
Part 5
Debate
Topic: Remote work is more productive than office work.
Start the discussion by stating teacher’s opinion.
Ask the student to respond with their opinion, providing reasons and examples.
Allow for back-and-forth discussion to practice conversational skills.
Suggestion points:
Points supporting remote work as more productive
- Flexibility and better work-life balance
- Fewer distractions at home
- Saving money for employees and
- employers
- Hiring people from anywhere
- Good use of online tools
Points supporting office work as more productive
- Better teamwork and collaboration
- More structured work environment
- Easy access to resources and IT help
- Stronger company culture
- Easier face-to-face communication
Balanced perspective
- Hybrid model with both remote and office work
- Different people have different preferences
- Some tasks are better for remote, some for office
Example
Remote work has gained popularity, and many argue it is more productive than office work. In my opinion, remote work offers several advantages.
Firstly, remote work provides more flexibility and a better work-life balance. Employees can create their own schedules and save commuting time, which can be used for work or rest.
Secondly, working from home often means fewer distractions. Home environments can be quieter and more controlled than busy office spaces, leading to better focus.
Thirdly, remote work can save money for both employees and employers. Employees save on commuting and dining costs, while employers save on office space and utilities, boosting overall motivation and productivity.
However, some believe office work is more productive. In my view, offices enable better teamwork and quick face-to-face meetings. The structured environment helps some people stay focused, and access to resources and IT support is easier.
A hybrid model combining remote and office work can offer the best of both worlds, providing flexibility and collaboration benefits.
In conclusion, both remote and office work have their strengths. A hybrid model may be the most productive solution, leveraging the advantages of each.
Part 6
Discussion
Let’s use the vocabulary you’ve learned during the lesson and talk about the following topics/questions freely!
Teacher helps student expand and correct the answers
How important is it for team members to express their opinions during project planning?
Ideas:
- Better decisions
- Engagement
- Creativity
- Collaboration
- …
What can we do to help team members feel comfortable sharing their thoughts?
Ideas:
- Clear expectations
- Friendly
- Safe environment
- One-on-one meeting
- …
How can remote work affect the expression of opinions in a software development team?
Ideas:
- Communication tools
- Documentations
- Structured meetings
What can we do to make sure every team member, even the quiet ones, feels their opinion is important?
Ideas:
- Encourage participation
- One-on-one meeting
- Anonymous feedback
- …
How can we solve problems when team members have different opinions?
Ideas:
- Clarify misunderstandings
- Vote
- Discussion
How can we give feedback in a way that helps improve our work without hurting anyone’s feelings?
Ideas:
- Positive first
- Be timely
- Private setting
- Focus on growth
Review
Let’s review the lesson with teacher
4 new words in this lesson
What new phrases did you learn today?
How can you use these phrases in your daily work?
See you next lesson
Homework
Do homework
Write an opinion essay on the importance of regular code reviews, checklists, test cases, or any other review practices in software development.
