Need Analysis- Discussion Questions

Needs analysis discussion questions and opinions phrases

Take turns asking each other questions from here, commenting on what the other person says if you like before you switch roles.

• How important is English to your future?
• Do you feel positive or negative about studying English? Why do you feel that way?
• What have been the good and bad points of previous English courses you have taken?
• What do you think about using the internet or computer games as a way of improving your English?
• Do you think studying for an English language test helps or hinders your progress?
• How important is understanding other non-native English speakers? What can you do to help with that?
• Which are the most difficulties nationalities to understand when they speak in English? Why do you think that is?
• Have you ever tried any self-study books or apps for learning English? Were they useful or not? Why?
• What do you think about English-language TV programmes and radio programmes in your country as a way of learning a language? Why do you have that opinion?
• What’s more important, accuracy or fluency?
• At your level, is it better to read and listen to simplified English, or things that were made for native speakers (so-called authentic materials)?
• How useful is “free conversation” for improving your English?
• What do you think about recording yourself speaking English?
• Does learning about cultural differences really help with communication?

Tell the class some things that you agreed on and see if they also felt the same way.

What language did you use and could you use for giving opinions? Write as many phrases as you can in each box here:

Softening a strongly held or controversial opinion	Warning people that a strong or controversial opinion is coming	Other language for giving a strongly held opinion
An opinion which isn’t strongly held or isn’t strongly stated	Mentioning your experience	Other language for giving opinions

Use these suggestions to add more things above, then brainstorm more if you can.

• To be frank,
• Frankly,
• In my honest opinion,

• Not everyone will agree with me, but I think that
• This might be a bit controversial but I would say that

• This is just my opinion, but I think that
• In my personal opinion,
• Personally, I think that

• I would imagine that
• With some reservations, I’d say that
• I would guess that
• As far as I know,

• In my experience,
• From personal experience, I would say that
• I have found that
• Experience has shown me that

• If you want my opinion, I’d say that
• If you ask me,
• The way I see it,
• I would say that
• As far as I’m concerned,

• I strongly believe that
• I really think that
• I strongly approve of the idea of/ that…
• I’m convinced that
• I’m absolutely certain that
• I’m positive that
• Without a doubt,

 

Suggested answers

Many other phrases are possible, so please check if you wrote something different.

Softening a strongly held or controversial opinion

• Not everyone will agree with me, but I think that
• This might be a bit controversial but I would say that
• In my humble opinion,
• This is just my opinion, but I think that
• In my personal opinion,
• Personally, I think that

Warning people that a strong or controversial opinion is coming

• To be frank,
• Frankly,
• In my honest opinion,

Other language for giving a strongly held opinion

• I strongly believe that
• I really think that
• I strongly approve of the idea of/ that…
• I’m convinced that
• I’m absolutely certain that
• I’m positive that
• Without a doubt,

An opinion which isn’t strongly held or strongly stated

• I would imagine that
• With some reservations, I’d say that
• I would guess that
• As far as I know,

Mentioning your experience

• In my experience,
• From personal experience, I would say that
• I have found that
• Experience has shown me that

Other language for giving opinions

• If you want my opinion, I’d say that
• If you ask me,
• The way I see it,
• I would say that
• As far as I’m concerned,