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Learning Objectives

2 minutes reading
✓
Propose solutions to decrease user activity drop using brainstorming language
✓
Express opinions with In my opinion... and I think... phrases
✓
Justify your opinions with because and reason structures
✓
Invite collaboration in team meetings with How about...? and What do you think...?
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Key for this lesson

Suggestions: We could / How about...? / Why don't we...? = very polite. How about...? = asking for opinion. What do you think...? = asking for opinion.

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Grammar Explanation

4 minutes reading
Suggestions

Proposing Ideas

We could + base verb / How about + -ing?

Soft: "We could try a different approach."

Collaborative: "How about scheduling a follow-up?"

Direct: "Why don't we start with the data?"

We could...How about...?Why don't we...?
Opinions

Sharing Your View

In my opinion / I think + clause + because...

Formal: "In my opinion, we should focus on quality."

Neutral: "I think we need more data because..."

Strong: "I believe this is the right approach."

In my opinion...I think...I believe...
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Inviting Others' Opinions

"What do you think?" / "How do you see it?" / "What's your view on this?" - Always include your colleagues!

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Context & Professional Usage

5 minutes reading

Making Suggestions

💡Brainstorm: "We could try A/B testing."
📅Planning: "How about moving the deadline?"
🔄Problem-solving: "Why don't we ask the client?"
👥Collaboration: "What if we worked together on this?"

Sharing Opinions

🎯Strategy: "In my opinion, we should prioritize..."
📊Analysis: "I think the data shows that..."
✅Decision: "I believe Option B is better because..."
❓Inviting: "What's your take on this?"
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Business English Examples

6 minutes reading
✓

Professional Suggestions & Opinions

✓
"We could launch a pilot project first."

Soft, collaborative suggestion

✓
"How about splitting the work between teams?"

Inviting discussion

✓
"In my opinion, we need more resources because the deadline is tight."

Opinion with justification

✓
"What do you think, Maria? Do you agree?"

Inviting others' views

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Common Mistakes

✗
"We must simplify onboarding."

Too strong. Use: "We could simplify onboarding." (softer suggestion)

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"How about launching a mobile app?"

Wrong preposition. Use: "What do you think about launching..." (with present participle)

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Professional Listening Exercise

6 minutes

Listen to a team brainstorming session:

🎵Audio: Team Brainstorm
Ready
0:00 / 0:00
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Speed:

Maria: "Hi Ben, thanks for meeting. The main goal today is to brainstorm solutions for the recent drop in user activity on our platform. We saw a 15% decrease last quarter, which is obviously a concern. I have some initial data, but I really want to hear your ideas."

Ben: "Of course. It's a worrying trend."

Maria: "Exactly. So, in my opinion, user interface is starting to look a bit dated. Our main competitor just launched a redesign, and it's very clean. We could consider a visual refresh for our dashboard. What do you think?"

Ben: "I agree, a refresh would be great. But I also think about onboarding process is too complicated for new users. It takes seven steps to get started. Why don't we simplify it to three or four steps? That could be a bigger issue than the visual design."

Maria: "That's an excellent point. A complicated onboarding is a huge barrier. How about creating a small task force to map out a simpler user journey?"

Ben: "I like that idea. And to be sure we're solving the right problem, we could also try sending a survey to inactive users to ask why they stopped using the platform. Their feedback would be incredibly valuable."

Maria: "Fantastic suggestion, Ben. Getting direct feedback is crucial. Okay, so we have three strong proposals: a visual refresh, a simplified onboarding, and a user survey. To start, why don't we prioritize the survey? It will give us data to support the other two ideas. How do you feel about that plan?"

Ben: "I think that's a perfect way to start."

Question 1: What is the main problem Maria and Ben are discussing?

💡 Hint: Listen for Maria mentioning "a 15% decrease" and "user activity drop" at the start.

Question 2: According to Ben, what could be a bigger issue than visual design?

💡 Hint: Listen for Ben mentioning "onboarding process" being "too complicated" and comparing issues.

Question 3: What method does Ben propose to get direct feedback from inactive users?

💡 Hint: Listen for Ben asking about "sending a survey to inactive users".

Question 4: Fill in the gap: Maria makes a final proposal, saying: "To start, ____________ a survey?"

💡 Hint: Listen for Maria saying "we have three strong proposals" and asking about prioritizing with "To start, why don't we...?"
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Quick Comprehension Quiz

4 minutes
1

Soft way to suggest trying a new approach:

AYou must try a new approach.
BWe could try a new approach.
CTry a new approach now.
2

Correct form: "How about _____ the meeting?"

Ato postpone
Bpostponing
Cpostpone
3

Best way to share your opinion with justification:

AI think yes.
BIn my opinion.
CI think we should focus on quality because...
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Professional Practice Exercises

7 minutes

Exercise A: Complete with suggestion/opinion phrases

1. We _______ start with a pilot project.

2. How _______ scheduling a follow-up meeting?

3. In my _______, we should prioritize customer feedback.

4. I _______ this approach will work because it's been tested.

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Speaking Preparation

4 minutes
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Preparation for Class

Practice making suggestions and sharing opinions with reasons.

💡 Task 1: Suggestions (1 min)

Practice: "We could... / How about... / Why don't we...?"

🗣️ Task 2: Opinions (2 min)

Share an opinion and justify it: "In my opinion... because..."

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Well Done!

Key structures: We could..., How about...?, In my opinion... because..., What do you think?
Next: Lesson 5.2 - Second Conditional

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