How to give advice in English

Summary

In this engaging dialogue, Noelia seeks advice from Bob on how to handle a persistent client, Susan, who keeps sending irrelevant emails. Bob suggests responding only to work-related messages, drawing a parallel to handling a snake — staying still to avoid provoking it. Noelia follows this advice, and the emails stop. The script highlights useful phrases for giving advice in English, like 'What do you think I should do?' and 'If I were you, I'd...', offering viewers practical language tips for everyday conversations and professional settings.

Takeaways

• 😀 The script focuses on giving advice in English, with examples of useful phrases.
• 😀 The phrase 'What do you think I should do?' is commonly used when seeking advice.
• 😀 A suggestion for giving advice is: 'If I were you, I'd ...' to offer a solution.
• 😀 Sometimes, it's important to express uncertainty when giving advice, e.g., 'I'm not sure that's a good idea.'
• 😀 Offering alternative suggestions, like 'Perhaps you could try ...' or 'Why don't you try ...?' is a useful strategy.
• 😀 The advice in the script includes the idea of 'doing nothing' as a potential solution, especially in tricky situations.
• 😀 Giving advice can involve referencing personal experiences, like when Bob shares his past situation with Mark.
• 😀 The effectiveness of 'doing nothing' as advice is demonstrated by the success Noelia experiences when she stops replying to irrelevant emails.
• 😀 The phrase 'I'm not too sure about that.' can be used to express hesitation or doubt when providing advice.
• 😀 The conversation highlights how the appropriate advice can lead to positive outcomes, like the cessation of unwanted emails.
• 😀 The video script encourages practicing the new phrases in real-life situations when giving advice in English.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The video focuses on giving advice, particularly how to handle situations where you need to suggest solutions to problems in a professional context.

What advice does Bob give Noelia about dealing with Susan's emails?

Bob advises Noelia to stop responding to Susan's irrelevant emails, only replying to those that are work-related.

Why is Noelia hesitant to take Bob's advice at first?

Noelia is unsure about following Bob's advice because Susan is an important client, and she doesn't want to offend her.

What solution does Bob eventually suggest that Noelia tries?

Bob suggests that Noelia try 'doing nothing'—not responding to Susan's emails unless they are work-related.

What is the metaphor Bob uses to explain his advice?

Bob compares the situation to being faced with a dangerous snake: if you move quickly, it might bite, but if you stay still and do nothing, it will eventually move away.

How did Noelia's situation with Susan improve after she followed Bob's advice?

After following Bob's advice, Noelia stopped responding to Susan's irrelevant emails, and Susan eventually only sent work-related emails.

What are some of the useful phrases for giving advice mentioned in the video?

Some useful phrases include 'What do you think I should do?', 'If I were you, I'd...', 'I'm not sure that's a good idea', 'Perhaps you could try...', and 'Why don't you try...'.

What does Noelia thank Bob for in the video?

Noelia thanks Bob for the advice that helped her deal with Susan's emails, which led to a positive outcome.

Why does Bob suggest 'doing nothing' as a solution?

Bob suggests 'doing nothing' because he believes that by not reacting to Susan's irrelevant emails, she would stop sending them, just like how an unthreatened snake might leave you alone.

What is the purpose of the phrases demonstrated in the video?

The purpose of the phrases is to help viewers learn how to offer advice effectively in English, particularly in a professional setting.