Discussion skills (adapted from http://www2.elc.polyu.edu.hk/Cil

Wouldn't it be sensible for us to…?

• asking for details

• giving suggestions

• stop repetition

• inviting feedback

I feel certain that…

• clarifying yourself

• emphasizing a point

• summing up

• challenging others

I agree with you, but…

• agreeing

• disagreeing strongly

• agreeing strongly

• disagreeing

Well, actually/as a matter of fact, …

• correcting peers mistakes

• inviting feedback

• giving suggestions

• disagreeing

Can you elaborate your idea further?

• avoid awkward silence

• prevent digression

• asking for clarification

• interrupt

What I mean is…

• summing up

• clarifying

• interrupting peers

• making generalisations

In other words, …

• rephrase ideas

• summing up

• giving an idea

• return to point after interruption

Our discussion is going off track, let's return to…

• move onto next topic

• prevent digression

• defend against interruption

• inviting feedback

I think we've covered that point already.

• prevent digression

• adding a point to what others said

• indirect disagreement

• cease repetition of topic

As I was saying…

• return to point after interruption

• refrain from arguing

• emphasizing a point

• defend against interruption