Discussion skills

In a discussion, you should aim to interact and respond to what other people are saying. Talk
with confidence and let others speak. Remember that listening is as important as speaking.

You can show you are listening by:

 making eye contact with the speaker and responding to what they say
 using body language to show co-operation and understanding, for example
shrugs and nods.
 building on what other people say
 challenging points made by others.
 A good discussion has a flow to it with people agreeing and disagreeing, giving
explanations for their viewpoints. Each person needs to be allowed time to speak
and to share their opinion before the next person adds their point.

Things to avoid in a group discussion include:

 interruption – except maybe to show agreement, e.g. “Yes, I see”

 cutting people off mid-sentence
 talking over people
 breaking off into mini discussions within a big group
 If you find taking part in discussions difficult, try planning your ideas in advance
so you know you have something to share. If you don’t feel strongly about a
topic, build on someone else’s point or ask a question to another member of the
group.
 A useful technique is to use open questions. These are questions that cannot be
answered with a single word such as 'yes' or 'no'. Instead, the answer must give
more detail. They can lead to a friendly and useful discussion. ‘What do you
think about the character?’ is a more open question than ‘Did you like him?’
Closed questions like this can be useful sometimes – when summarising a
discussion and making sure everyone has had their say, for example. They can
also make people commit to an opinion one way or another. But on the whole
discussions require open questions – and when you are asked one, you should try
to give a full answer.

 Make sure everyone has a chance to speak by inviting opinions. Use formal
language and stay calm, especially when a topic is important to you.
Preparing to discuss

 The topic you discuss will always have different viewpoints. Think about as many
points of view on your topic as you can, then aim to cover the most likely in your
discussion.
 Try to cover only the key issues in detail. If you have time, try to do some
research beforehand. Facts, statistics and examples can be powerful convincers
in a discussion.

When taking part in a group discussion try to use spoken Standard English

 Think about your voice, eye-contact and body language. You can agree and
disagree without turning your discussion into a confrontation.
 Show that you’re listening and keep the discussion flowing by asking thoughtful
questions.

Aim to be:

 polite – respect other people's right to their opinions

 positive – help the conversation develop by being co-operative.
 balanced – listen to both sides of the discussion and respond to each other.

Listen carefully when other people are speaking. For example, if someone is delivering a
speech or making a point in a group discussion or debate, you need to pay close attention to
the points they are making.
It can help to take notes as you listen - write a few words or images down to trigger your
memory when it’s your own turn to talk.
You can show that you have been listening by building on people’s arguments. Mention a
point someone has made and then add your own experience or ideas. Here are some sentence
starters to help you with this:

I agree with your point about…. however, …

I’d like to add to what you said…
When you talked about… it made me think…
In addition to your comments about…
Remember, you don’t have to agree with everything a speaker says but conversation of any
kind is a co-operative activity, and it starts to fall when it becomes confrontational or
competitive.
The purpose of a discussion is to open an issue and invite a range of opinions and
interpretations. In this case you can challenge a speaker. The following sentence starters
should be useful:
I understand what you said about… but I think…
I disagree with your point about…
I don’t think what you said about… is valid. I would suggest…
When you said… I wonder whether you had considered…
Listening is as important as speaking, so avoid dominating a discussion, even if you have lots
to say, and encourage others to share their views too.