Everyday Speaking Skills in English – Giving Opinions and Agreeing / Disagreeing

Level: B2  |  Functional Language for Speaking

Vocabulary

At B2 level, expressing opinions effectively means moving beyond simple agreement and disagreement towards more nuanced, diplomatic language. This lesson focuses on phrases for stating a position with appropriate confidence, conceding valid points gracefully, and signalling the structure of your argument as you speak.
Stating a position with nuance
Conceding and pushing back
Signalling structure and stance

Listening Practice

Listen to a panel discussion between James and Priya about the four-day working week. Notice how they concede points while still maintaining their own position. Some questions ask about attitude and how opinions shift during the conversation.

▶ Panel Discussion — The Four-Day Working Week
Host: Tonight we're discussing the four-day working week. James, you've trialled this at your company. What's your honest assessment?
James: If I'm honest, I think it's been one of the best decisions we've made. Productivity hasn't dropped, and staff morale is noticeably higher.
Host: Priya, you've been more sceptical. What's your concern?
Priya: I'd push back slightly on the idea that this works for every type of business. James runs a software company — output is relatively easy to measure. For client-facing industries, the maths is murkier.
James: That's not unreasonable, but I'd argue the same logic was used against remote work a decade ago, and most of those fears didn't materialise.
Priya: Fair point, although remote work and a shorter week aren't quite the same comparison. One changes where you work; the other changes how much you're available.
Host: Do you think the policy could ever work in your sector, Priya?
Priya: I'm in two minds about it, honestly. There are roles where it could work brilliantly. There are others — anything requiring constant client availability — where I genuinely don't see how it functions without hiring more people.
James: I take your point, but I'm not sure it holds up when you look at companies that have already made it work in client-heavy industries. It usually comes down to better prioritisation, not just luck.
Priya: That said, I'll admit the evidence is becoming harder to dismiss. My instinct was that this was a fad. I'm starting to think I was wrong about that.
Host: James, final thought?
James: Having said all that, I don't think it's a universal solution. To be fair to Priya's point, some industries will need a different model entirely. But I'm inclined to think most companies haven't even tried hard enough to make it work.
This lesson uses your browser’s built-in text-to-speech. The voice may vary depending on your device.

Answer the questions.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct phrase to complete each sentence. At this level, options are often close in meaning — read carefully.

Matching

Match each phrase to its function or meaning.

Gap Fill

Choose the correct phrase to complete each sentence.

Choose the Right Phrase

Each question gives you a sentence that is too blunt, too uncritical, too vague, or otherwise unsuitable for a professional context. Choose the most appropriate rewrite.

Error Identification

Each sentence contains one error, or no error at all. Click the word you think is wrong and select the reason. If the sentence is correct, select the reason without clicking a word.

Complete the Dialogue

Choose the correct phrase from each dropdown to complete the conversation between Noor and Theo about an outsourcing decision.

Your Scores

0 / 0

Total score across all exercises