ESOL Sd/L1.2a Express views and opinions

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ESOL > Speaking > Engage in discussion > Sd/L1.2: make contributions relevant to the situation and the subject
Sd/L1.2a: Express views and opinions

Be able to use a range of ways of introducing an opinion and be able to express a range of ideas within an opinion, e.g.: obligation, possibility, hypothetical meaning
Using grammar suitable for the level
Be able to elaborate on and justify an opinion, with examples as appropriate
(see also Lr/l1.6c)

Examples of application and level

Express obligation, e.g.: I really feel that he ought to see a doctor.
Express possibility, e.g.: I do think that, if you ring him, he’ll be OK about it.
Express hypothetical meaning, e.g.: I honestly believe that, if they had enough money, they’d go.

Sample activities

In pairs, learners look at a problem page from a magazine and list the problems mentioned and solutions suggested, e.g.:
Problem: Feels very tired all the time. Suggested solution: Don’t do everything yourself.
In small groups, they discuss the suggested solutions and give their views and opinions about what the person should do in each case, e.g. I think she should see her doctor. She ought to get her husband to help with the housework.
Learners then comment on the possible consequences of each suggestion, e.g. If she sees her doctor, he’ll check there’s nothing wrong with her. If she asks her husband to help, he’ll be sympathetic. I don’t agree, I think he’d be angry.
Still working in small groups, the learners take it in turns to pick up a prompt card and describe the problem to the group. Each learner gives their view about the best way to tackle the problem. The group discuss the probable consequences of each suggestion.
As a possible extension, learners write their own problems and pass them to the next group to discuss.*

Related Adult Literacy curriculum elements: SLd/L2.4 Support opinions and arguments with evidence [Note this is Level 2- there is no mention of expressing opinions at L1 in this curriculum]
Related Functional Skills English links: FE L1.5 Express opinions and arguments and support them with evidence

Source: Adult ESOL Core Curriculum, DfES (2001): https://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/content/etf1194

A celebration of British Fruit - Medlars

Continuing with the theme “A celebration of British fruit”, this reading comprehension resource is about the delightful medlar fruit. At Levels 1 and 2 there are additional punctuation and grammar questions, spelling, and fact and opinion. There is also a speaking and listening group discussion/ presentation task. At Entry 3 there is a revised text with questions and discussion ideas. The final text is simplified for Entry 1 and 2 with some appropriate questions.

Editor's notes

Level

Entry Level 1

Entry Level 2

Entry Level 3

Level 1

Level 2

GCSE L1-5

English

FE E1.10 Understand a short piece of text on a simple subject

FE E2.8 Understand the main points in texts

FE E3.9 Identify, understand & extract main points & ideas in/from texts

FE L1.9 Identify & understand the main points, ideas & details

FE L1.11 Identify meanings in texts & distinguish between fact & opinion

FE L2.18 Follow an argument, identifying different points of view & distinguishing fact from opinion

FE E3.11 Use strategies to find meaning of words e.g. dictionary, context, word types

FE L1.17 Read & understand a range of specialist words in context

FE L1.13 Use reference materials & appropriate strategies for a range of purposes, inc. to find word meanings

FE E3.10 Identify different purposes of straightforward texts

FE E2.12 Use illustrations, images & captions to locate information

FE E2.13 Use basic punctuation correctly (e.g. full stops, question, exclamation marks)

FE E3.13 Use a range of punctuation correctly (e.g. full stops, question marks, exclamation marks, commas)

FE E3.6 Make relevant contributions to group discussions about straightforward topics

FE L1.6 Follow / understand discussions & make contributions relevant to situation & subject

FE L2.8 Make relevant and constructive contributions to move discussion forward

ESOL

ESOL Sd/E3.1b Take part in more formal interaction

ESOL Sd/L1.2a Express views and opinions

ESOL Sd/L2.2c Express views, opinions, feelings, wishes

ESOL Sd/L2.2d Persuade, warn, rebuke, etc

ESOL Sd/L2.4a Support opinions and arguments with evidence

ESOL Rt/E1.1a Follow a short narrative on a familiar topic or experience

ESOL Rt/E2.1a Use a range of strategies to trace & understand main events

ESOL Rt/E3.4a Extract the main points and ideas, and predict words from context.

ESOL Rt/L1.3a Understand how main points and specific detail are presented and linked

ESOL Rt/E3.2a Distinguish between different purposes of texts at this level

ESOL Ws/E2.3a Use correct punctuation, e.g. capital letters, full stops, question marks

ESOL Ws/E3.3a Use punctuation to aid clarity in relation to beginnings and ends of sentences

Context

Catering Food Nutrition

Hanley College L1-2 add-on tasks for 'Hobbies & free time'

Two add-on tasks for Susanne Jones's E3-L1 Hobbies and Free Time resource.

Plan and deliver a 3 minute presentation for a recruitment fair, encouraging attendees to sign up for a course at Hanley College.
Write an article about Hanley College for your local newspaper.

Editor's notes

Level

Level 1

Level 2

English

FS Eng L1.4 Communicate information / ideas / opinions clearly & accurately on range of topics

FS Eng L1.5 Express opinions and arguments and support them with evidence

FS Eng L2.5 Communicate information/ideas/opinions clearly/effectively with further detail/development if required

FS Eng L2.6 Express opinions and arguments and support them with relevant and persuasive evidence

FS Eng L2.7 Use language that is effective, accurate and appropriate to context and situation

FE L1.22 Communicate information, ideas & opinions clearly, coherently & accurately

FE L1.23 Write text of appropriate level of detail & length to meet needs of purpose & audience

FE L1.24 Use format, structure & language appropriate for audience & purpose

FE L1.25 Write consistently & accurately in complex sentences, using paragraphs where appropriate

FE L2.23 Communicate information, ideas and opinions clearly, coherently and effectively

FE L2.24 Write text of appropriate level of detail & length to meet needs of purpose & audience

FE L2.25 Organise writing for different purposes using appropriate format & structure e.g. standard templates, paragraphs, bullet points, tables

FE L2.27 Use language & register (e.g. persuasive techniques, supporting evidence, specialist words) to suit audience & purpose

FE L2.28 Construct complex sentences consistently & accurately, using paragraphs where appropriate

ESOL

ESOL Sc/L1.4a Present information and ideas in a logical sequence

ESOL Sd/L1.2a Express views and opinions

ESOL Sc/L2.5a Present information & ideas in a logical sequence and provide further detail and development to clarify or confirm understanding

ESOL Sd/L2.2c Express views, opinions, feelings, wishes

ESOL Sd/L2.4a Support opinions and arguments with evidence

ESOL Wt/L1.1a Apply genre-specific planning strategies as appropriate

ESOL Wt/L1.1b Make notes to aid planning

ESOL Wt/L1.2a Select how much to write and the level of detail to include

ESOL Wt/L1.3a Structure texts sequentially and coherently according to genre

ESOL Wt/L1.4a Choose language suitable for genre, purpose and audience

ESOL Wt/L1.5a Select format and appropriate structure for different purposes and genres

Speedo Mick

This lesson gives students the opportunity to discuss fundraising and practise reading skills (scanning and reading for detail). The reading text focuses on Mick Cullen, also known as ‘SpeedoMick’, and his long distance walks for charity. The lesson encourages students to try to empathise with Mick and better understand his background, character and motivations. Themes of mental health are also prominent and so it is advised you check with your learners first/use your own professional judgement before doing the optional video task.

Level

Level 1

Level 2

English

FE L1.9 Identify & understand the main points, ideas & details

FE L2.11 Identify when main points are sufficient & when specific details are important

FE L1.1 Identify relevant information & lines of argument in explanations & presentations

FE L2.1 Identify relevant information from extended explanations or presentations

FE L2.2 Follow narratives & lines of argument

FE L1.3 Respond effectively to detailed questions

FE L2.3 Respond effectively to detailed or extended questions & feedback

FE L1.6 Follow / understand discussions & make contributions relevant to situation & subject

FE L2.8 Make relevant and constructive contributions to move discussion forward

ESOL

ESOL Rt/L1.3a Understand how main points and specific detail are presented and linked

ESOL Rt/L1.5a Use skimming, scanning and detailed reading in different ways for different purposes

ESOL Rt/L2.3a Identify the main points and specific detail in different types of text of varying lengths & detail

ESOL Rt/L2.7a Use different reading strategies to find and obtain information, e.g. skimming, scanning, detailed reading

ESOL Lr/L1.1a Extract information from texts of varying genre, e.g. radio, TV

ESOL Lr/L1.5a Respond to questions on a range of topics

ESOL Lr/L2.1a Extract information from extended texts in a non-face-to-face context, e.g. radio

ESOL Lr/L2.3a Respond to detailed or extended questions on a range of topics

ESOL Sd/L1.2a Express views and opinions

ESOL Sd/L1.1c Express likes, dislikes, feelings, hopes, etc.

ESOL Sd/L2.2c Express views, opinions, feelings, wishes

Context

Voluntary, Charity and Community

Mental health, awareness & psychology

The Man Living in the Last House Standing

This lesson is based around the story of Birkenhead resident Charlie Wright, who famously refused to leave his house when the local council decided to demolish the estate around it. Students have the opportunity to discuss themes of community, identity and change. Students watch a short documentary about Charlie from the BBC archives and answer comprehension questions. Charlie's story provides a context for a role play task whereby learners have to decide how best to regenerate Charlie's lost neighbourhood.

Level

Level 1

Level 2

English

FE L1.1 Identify relevant information & lines of argument in explanations & presentations

FE L1.2 Make requests & ask relevant questions to obtain specific information

FS Eng L1.4 Communicate information / ideas / opinions clearly & accurately on range of topics

FE L1.13 Use reference materials & appropriate strategies for a range of purposes, inc. to find word meanings

FE L2.1 Identify relevant information from extended explanations or presentations

FE L2.2 Follow narratives & lines of argument

FE L2.3 Respond effectively to detailed or extended questions & feedback

FE L2.4 Make requests & ask detailed & pertinent questions to obtain specific information in a range of contexts

FS Eng L2.5 Communicate information/ideas/opinions clearly/effectively with further detail/development if required

ESOL

ESOL Sc/L1.2b Ask for information

ESOL Sc/L1.4a Present information and ideas in a logical sequence

ESOL Sd/L1.2a Express views and opinions

ESOL Lr/L1.1a Extract information from texts of varying genre, e.g. radio, TV

ESOL Lr/L1.1b extract relevant information from a narrative or explanation face-to-face or on the telephone, and respond

ESOL Rw/L1.2a Recognise & understand vocabulary associated with different types of text, using appropriate strategies to work out meaning

ESOL Sc/L2.3b Ask for information

ESOL Sc/L2.4a Express statements of fact

ESOL Sc/L2.5a Present information & ideas in a logical sequence and provide further detail and development to clarify or confirm understanding

ESOL Lr/L2.1a Extract information from extended texts in a non-face-to-face context, e.g. radio

ESOL Lr/L2.4a Follow and participate in a discussion or conversation

ESOL Sd/L2.2c Express views, opinions, feelings, wishes

Context

News, Politics & Government items

History, culture, museums, libraries

Mum's Day off, is it? L1-2 ESOL grammar, vocabulary, discussion

Based on a thought provoking Guardian article about same sex adoptive parenting, this Google Docs resource focuses on grammar (past perfect), working out vocabulary and discussion.

Reading text and related questions (Google docs) - best viewed in "print" mode.

Editor's note

Level

Level 1

ESOL

ESOL Sc/L1.3a Express statements of fact

ESOL Sd/L1.2a Express views and opinions

ESOL Rw/L1.1a Use reference material to find the meaning of unfamiliar words

ESOL Rw/L1.3a Recognise and understand an increasing range of vocabulary

ESOL Rs/L1.1a Use implicit & explicit grammatical knowledge to predict meaning & check for sense

ESOL Sd/L1.3a Involve other people in a discussion

Context

Health, Social care, Early years

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