Unit 32: What's your opinion?
- Asking for opinions about issues
- Politely giving opinions
Part 1
Vocabulary
Check the issues that you think your city should spend money on. Add two of your own ideas.
My city should…
__1. reduce crime. __ 5. repair city buildings
__ 2. increase the number of schools __ 6. increase the budget for parks
__ 3. repair potholes in the streets __7. control overcrowding
__ 4. improve the downtown area __8. provide cost-effective housing
Sample answer
✓ 1.
✓ 2.
✓ 3.
✓ 4.
_ 5.
_ 6.
_ 7.
_ 8.
Own idea: make more after-school programs
Own idea: make a festival that will bring visitors and money into the city
Share your answers from part A above. Give reasons for your answers for your teacher.
Sample Conversation
A: I think the city should repair the potholes. Some of them are big enough that a car could get stuck in them!
B: I agree. But I also think the city should make more after-school programs. That would give kids something to do so they don’t get involved in gangs.
Part 2
Conversation
Listen and answer 2 questions.
1. What does Citizen 1 want the city to spend money on?
2. What does Citizen 2 want the city to spend money on?
Transcript
News announcer: We’re here in front of City Hall today where citizens are waiting to join a town meeting about next year’s budget. Everyone here has an opinion about what the city should be spending money on. Some want more money for schools. Others want better roads.
[pause]
News announcer: Good evening. City officials are talking about spending more money on repairing the roads next year. What’s your opinion on that?
Citizen 1: The way I see it, the city should spend money on improving public transportation before fixing the potholes. I tend to think that people should drive less, and they can’t do that without good public transportation.
[pause]
News announcer: One of your fellow citizens believes that the city should spend more money on public transportation rather than on the roads next year. What are your thoughts on that issue?
Citizen 2: I wonder if we should spend any money on roads or transportation at all next year. It seems to me that the city’s biggest problem right now is crime.
Example answer
- Citizen 1 wants the city to spend money on improving public transportation.
- Citizen 2 wants the city to spend money on reducing crime.
Practice the conversation with teacher
Listen. Write the three extra sentences you hear in the conversation. Practice the new conversation.
News announcer: We’re here in front of City Hall today where citizens are waiting to join a town meeting about next year’s budget. Everyone here has an opinion about what the city should be spending money on. Some want more money for schools. Others want better roads. ___________________.
[pause]
News announcer: Good evening. City officials are talking about spending more money on repairing the roads next year. What’s your opinion on that?
Citizen 1: The way I see it, the city should spend money on improving public transportation before fixing the potholes. I tend to think that people should drive less, and they can’t do that without good public transportation. ___________________.
[pause]
News announcer: One of your fellow citizens believes that the city should spend more money on public transportation rather than on the roads next year. What are your thoughts on that issue? ___________________.
Citizen 2: I wonder if we should spend any money on roads or transportation at all next year. It seems to me that the city’s biggest problem right now is crime.
Answers
News announcer: We’re here in front of City Hall today where citizens are waiting to join a town meeting about next year’s budget. Everyone here has an opinion about what the city should be spending money on. Some want more money for schools. Others want better roads. Let's talk to some of them.
[pause]
News announcer: Good evening. City officials are talking about spending more money on repairing the roads next year. What’s your opinion on that?
Citizen 1: The way I see it, the city should spend money on improving public transportation before fixing the potholes. I tend to think that people should drive less, and they can’t do that without good public transportation. We need better trains and buses.
[pause]
News announcer: One of your fellow citizens believes that the city should spend more money on public transportation rather than on the roads next year. What are your thoughts on that issue? Do you agree?
Citizen 2: I wonder if we should spend any money on roads or transportation at all next year. It seems to me that the city’s biggest problem right now is crime.
Part 3
Language Booster
Notice the ways we ask for opinions about issues and politely give opinions.
Asking for opinions about issues
- What’s your opinion (on that)?
- What are your thoughts on that issue?
- How do you see the situation?
Politely giving opinions
| The way I see it |
the city should spend more money on education. |
| I wonder if | |
| As I see it | |
| I tend to think that | |
| It seems to me that |
Share your opinions about the issues in the Vocabulary section.
Example conversation
A: It seems to me that the city should try to reduce crime in the downtown area. I tend to think that the city should hire more police.
B: I tend to think that more police won’t solve the problem. I wonder if crime would go down if businesses downtown didn’t stay open late...
Part 4
Pronunciation: Stress in two-syllable verbs
Listen to the sentences. Notice that two-syllable verbs oftern receive stress on the second syllable.
We need to reduce crime in the city.
We have to increase the budget for public transportation.
The city should improve the school buildings.
Let’s repair the roads.
Discuss the issues in Vocabulary section. This time, pay attention to the stress on two-syllable verbs.
Sample answer
A: The way I see it, we have to increase the budget for repairing potholes.
B: I tend to think that the first thing the city should improve is city buildings.
C: It seems to me that we have to increase the number of schools.
B: There are a lot of things we need to do...
Part 5
Speak with confidence
Write down three world issues that are important to you.
Important issue 1: ____________________________________________________________.
Important issue 2: ____________________________________________________________.
Important issue 3: ____________________________________________________________.
Sample answer
Three important issues
Important issue 1: English education at younger ages
Important issue 2: Teaching other languages in junior and senior high school
Important issue 3: Global warming and climate changes
Questions & Answers
Teacher: What is one important issue you think needs more attention?
Student: I think English education at younger ages is very important.
Teacher: Why do you think that?
Student: Because learning English early helps children become more fluent when they grow up.
Teacher: That’s a good point! How can schools improve English education for young students?
Student: Schools can start English classes in elementary school and use fun activities like songs and games.
Teacher: That sounds like a great idea! What about other languages? Should students learn them too?
Student: Yes, I think teaching other languages in junior and senior high school is also important.
Teacher: Why is it important to learn other languages?
Student: Learning different languages helps students communicate with more people and understand other cultures.
Teacher: That’s true! Now, let’s talk about global warming. Why do you think it’s an important issue?
Student: Global warming affects the whole world. It causes extreme weather and climate change.
Teacher: What do you think we can do to help reduce global warming?
Student: We can save energy, plant more trees, and use less plastic to protect the environment.
Teacher: Those are great ideas! It’s important to take action now. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Student: You’re welcome!