Practise a short spoken recommendation rather than memorising an essay. Your fictional language club must choose between meeting online and meeting in a classroom. Recommend an option, acknowledge one drawback and respond when a partner challenges your idea. This is an independent practice task, not an official examination paper or scoring rubric.
Use the information you have
| Online meeting | Members can join without travelling. Two members have unreliable internet connections. |
| Classroom meeting | A room is available on Thursdays. Three members work late on Thursdays. |
The brief gives no prices, travel times or member preferences. Do not invent those facts to make your recommendation easier. You can propose a trial and describe what you would need to check.
Read one possible opening
Κατά τη γνώμη μου, αξίζει να δοκιμάσουμε τις διαδικτυακές συναντήσεις. Ένα πλεονέκτημα είναι ότι δεν χρειάζεται να μετακινούμαστε. Από την άλλη, δύο μέλη δεν έχουν σταθερή σύνδεση. Γι’ αυτό θα πρότεινα να κάνουμε πρώτα μια δοκιμαστική συνάντηση.
In my view, it is worth trying online meetings. One advantage is that we do not need to travel. On the other hand, two members do not have a stable connection. For that reason, I would suggest first holding a trial meeting. This is one defensible proposal, not the only correct answer.
Respond to a real objection
Συμφωνώ ότι γλιτώνουμε τη μετακίνηση, αλλά τι θα γίνει αν κάποιος δεν μπορεί να συνδεθεί;
I agree that we avoid travelling, but what will happen if someone cannot connect? Answer this concern instead of repeating your opening. Acknowledge the problem, propose a concrete next step and say what would make you reconsider.
Έχεις δίκιο. Πριν αποφασίσουμε, πρέπει να ελέγξουμε αν μπορούν να συμμετέχουν όλοι. Αν όχι, θα χρειαστεί να βρούμε άλλη λύση.
You are right. Before deciding, we need to check whether everyone can participate. If not, we will need to find another solution. This reply does not promise that a connection test will solve every problem.
Check the argument
- Which advantage in the opening comes directly from the brief?
- What drawback does the speaker acknowledge?
- Does the brief say online meetings are cheaper?
- Does the reply address the connection problem or simply repeat the recommendation?
Answers
1. No travel is needed. 2. Two members have unreliable connections. 3. No; no price is given. 4. It addresses participation by proposing a check before the decision and allowing another solution.
Speak from cues, then switch sides
Write only four cues: recommendation, reason, drawback, next step. Give your opening without reading the model. Ask a partner to raise the connection problem, or read the objection yourself, pause and answer aloud. Then recommend the classroom instead. Deal honestly with the Thursday scheduling problem; do not pretend the late-working members are free.
Review your response
If you record yourself, listen for whether the listener can identify your recommendation and whether your answer actually responds to the objection. Mark one unsupported claim and one sentence you would simplify. Repeat the task with that change. A fluent memorised opening is not enough if the follow-up question changes.
Continue with writing and conversation
Develop a written opinion in Greek · Ask for repetition or clarification