Speaking: Functional Language C1
Debating Complex Issues Persuasively
Listen to the scenario audio here.
Scenario: A C1-Level Debate 💬
At the C1 level, a debate is not about winning an argument; it's about exploring an issue. Notice how Vanna and Dara use advanced language to build, challenge, and refine their positions on AI's role in the job market.
Your Persuasion Toolkit 🛠️ (Click 🔊)
A C1 debate requires more than just opinion phrases. You need a toolkit for structuring, conceding, and countering.
Define the problem from your perspective.
- The core issue is...
- What this really boils down to is...
- What I'm getting at is...
Agree with a small part of your partner's argument to show you are reasonable.
- While I grant you that...
- It's true that..., however...
- I concede that... but...
Politely but firmly challenge the other person's main point or assumption.
- That being said, I believe...
- I take issue with the idea that...
- Your argument rests on the assumption that...
Fluency Tip
🗣️ Emphatic Stress for Persuasion
In a debate, *how* you stress words can change your entire meaning. C1 speakers use stress to highlight the exact part of an argument they agree or disagree with.
- "It's not just about the money... [pause] ...it's about the principle."
- "I agree that it's difficult... [pause] ...but it's not impossible."
Practice stressing the italicized and bolded words to show contrast and strengthen your point.
Practice Your Debate Skills 🎯
Practice Quiz: Identify the Function
Read the mini-dialogues and identify the function of the second speaker's phrase. Click "Check Answers" when done.
1. Speaker A: "We must ban all social media for children under 16."
Speaker B: "I take issue with the word 'ban.' 'Banning' is too extreme. Shouldn't we focus on education instead?"
What is Speaker B's function?
2. Speaker A: "Building a new highway will destroy the forest and is terrible for the environment."
Speaker B: "It's true that there's an environmental cost. However, we must also consider the economic benefit for thousands of people."
What is Speaker B's primary function?
3. Speaker A: "I think we should spend more money on marketing."
Speaker B: "Before we discuss how much to spend, the core issue is who we are targeting. Our current audience data is completely outdated."
What is Speaker B's function?
Key Vocabulary (Click 🔊)
- Persuasively In a way that convinces someone to do or believe something.
- Rebuttal A counter-argument; a response that disproves the other side.
- Concession The act of admitting that another person's point is true or valid.
- Adaptability The ability to change to fit new conditions.
- Unprecedented Never having happened or existed in the past.
- Assumption A thing that is accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof.
Your Mission: The 1-Minute Debate ⭐
Your mission is to prepare a 1-minute persuasive argument on a complex topic. Choose one side of one of the topics below.
Topics:
1. "Social media does more harm than good." (Agree or Disagree)
2. "Governments should ban all cars from city centers." (Agree or Disagree)
3. "Working from home is better than working in an office." (Agree or Disagree)
Your 1-minute speech **must** include:
- At least one Structuring phrase (e.g., "The core issue is...").
- At least one Concession (e.g., "While it's true that...").
- At least one Rebuttal / Counter-point (e.g., "That being said...").
Example (Topic 3): "The core issue isn't about the *place*, but about *productivity*. While I grant you that working from home offers flexibility, I take issue with the idea that it's always better. Your argument rests on the assumption that everyone has a quiet home, but in reality, many people need the office to focus..."