How to debate in English: Vocabulary and Phrases

Summary

In this week's ABBA English video, Marion introduces advanced language techniques for debates and discussions, suitable for upper intermediate to advanced students. She emphasizes organizing thoughts with bullet points and giving examples to support arguments. Marion also covers how to respond to opposing views diplomatically and summarizes the importance of using adverbs of degree to add intensity to arguments. The video is a practical guide for students and professionals looking to enhance their debating skills and language proficiency.

Takeaways

• 📝 Use bullet points to organize your thoughts during a debate by stating 'firstly', 'secondly', etc.
• 🔑 Emphasize the importance of points using words like 'primarily' to indicate priority.
• 🌰 Give examples to support arguments with phrases like 'for instance', 'in fact', and 'there are similar cases'.
• 🔍 Explain how examples relate to your argument after presenting them to clarify their relevance.
• 🔗 Summarize and link arguments by starting with 'so as you have seen' and concluding with 'therefore'.
• 🤔 Respond to disagreement diplomatically with phrases like 'I see your point but I think' or 'I understand but my opinion is that'.
• 🚫 Politely disagree by saying 'I'm afraid I can't quite agree with your point' or 'I think I've got your point, now let me respond to it'.
• 🏁 Conclude statements by summarizing the main points or stating 'let's sum up where we stand in this debate'.
• 📊 Use the phrase 'taking stock' to step back and analyze information, which originates from assessing inventory in a business context.
• 🗣️ Enhance arguments with adverbs of degree like 'slightly', 'significantly', 'particularly', 'far more', and 'far better' to indicate intensity or importance.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of this video by Marion?

The main purpose of this video is to introduce common phrases that can be used in debates to upper intermediate and advanced English students, helping them elevate their language in arguments or debates.

How can the language from this video be applied outside of debates?

The language from this video can be transferred into educational spaces like university seminars or high school, as well as used in the work environment.

What is the first point Marion suggests for organizing thoughts in a debate?

Marion suggests bullet pointing your ideas using numbers, such as 'first', 'second', 'third', etc., to organize thoughts in a debate.

How does one indicate the importance of a point in a debate according to the video?

One can indicate the importance of a point by using words like 'primarily' to emphasize its significance in a debate.

What are some ways to introduce examples in a debate as mentioned in the video?

Examples can be introduced by saying 'there are many examples of this', 'for instance', 'in fact', 'you can find many examples for this in real life', or 'there are similar cases such as'.

How should one explain the examples they provide in a debate?

After showing an example, one should explain how the example works in their argument, using phrases like 'this is an opportunity to explain how the example works in your argument'.

What phrases can be used to summarize and link an argument as suggested by Marion?

Phrases like 'so, as you have seen in my argument', 'therefore', and 'let's take stock of where we stand in this situation' can be used to summarize and link an argument.

How can one politely disagree with the other side in a debate?

One can politely disagree by saying 'I see your point but I think', 'Yes, I understand but my opinion is that', 'That's all very interesting but the problem with that is', or 'I'm afraid I can't quite agree with your point'.

What does the term 'taking stock' mean in the context of a debate?

In the context of a debate, 'taking stock' means to step back from the argument and analyze all the information that has been presented to understand the current state of the discussion.

What is Marion's advice for using adverbs of degree in a debate?

Marion advises making good use of adverbs of degree like 'slightly', 'significantly', 'particularly', 'far more', and 'far better' to indicate intensity or importance in a debate.

How can viewers let Marion know if they found the video helpful?

Viewers can let Marion know if they found the video helpful by leaving a comment and expressing their interest in more content of this type.