Speaking Class - A better way to brainstorm

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ESL Brains
A better way to 
brainstorm
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Let’s get started
with a warm-up 
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Discuss the questions.
● What do these pictures have in 
common?
● Do you prefer to solve 
problems alone or in a team? 
Why?
● Do you ever brainstorm ideas 
with your team? How do you 
do it? 
● What are the problems with 
brainstorming in a group? 
ESL Brains
In a moment, you’ll watch a video titled:
A better way to brainstorm
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Watch the first part of the video (to 00:25) and see if your answers to the last 
question (What are the problems with brainstorming in a group?) were similar to 
those given in the video. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLpZ6RZHyoM
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Let’s check the answers.
● Brainstorming leads to groupthink. Everyone thinks about one idea only.
● Quieter people can’t share their ideas.
● A group comes to a solution too quickly.
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Discuss the questions.
● Have you ever had the problems mentioned in the video at meetings? 
● How might people avoid these problems? 
● Is it OK to criticize your colleagues’ ideas during brainstorming?
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Watch the second part of the video (from 00:25) and put the steps of the 
brainstorming method in the order they are presented in the video. 
A. A member of another group joins and 
adds fresh ideas from their group. 
B. Brainstorm alone. 
C. Meet in a group and suggest personal 
ideas. Do not comment on or criticize 
what others suggest. 
D. The group meets again. They add ideas, 
analyze what they have and build one 
clear concept. 
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLpZ6RZHyoM&t=25
ESL Brains
Let’s check the answers.
A. A member of another group joins and 
adds fresh ideas from their group. 
B. Brainstorm alone. 
C. Meet in a group and suggest personal 
ideas. Do not comment on or criticize 
what others suggest. 
D. The group meets again. They add ideas, 
analyze what they have and build one 
clear concept. 
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3
1
2
4
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Let’s talk!
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Discuss the questions.
● What do you like/dislike about the brainstorming method shown in 
the video? 
● Would it be a good idea to introduce this brainstorming method to 
your company?
● How might you organize a meeting where everyone takes part?
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Let’s learn some functional language!
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A. Change the colour of the background. 
What about changing the colour of the background?
B. I think we should avoid this slogan. 
Don’t let him use this slogan.
C. Why don’t we change our approach to the problem? 
Change your approach to the problem.
D. Give him a discount.
What if we give him a discount?
E. Talk to the client and ask what’s wrong. 
We could always talk to the client and ask what’s wrong. 
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Look at the pairs and compare them by answering the questions on the right. 
● Which phrase in each of the 
pairs sounds more polite? 
● What makes them sound more 
polite? 
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● Which phrase in each of the 
pairs sounds more polite? 
● What makes them sound more 
polite? 
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Let’s check the answers.
The sentence beginnings like 
‘What about…?’, 
‘I think we should…’, ‘Why don’t 
we…?’, ‘What if we…?’, ‘We could 
always…’. 
A. Change the colour of the background. 
What about changing the colour of the background?
B. I think we should avoid this slogan. 
Don’t let him use this slogan.
C. Why don’t we change our approach to the problem? 
Change your approach to the problem.
D. Give him a discount.
What if we give him a discount?
E. Talk to the client and ask what’s wrong. 
We could always talk to the client and ask what’s wrong. 
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Read the problems and give ideas about how to solve them. Use the sentence 
beginnings provided.
A. I am too tired today. I can’t focus anymore. (What if) 
B. Our team is not going to meet our deadline this month. 
(I think we should) 
C. Many of our employees work from home. I’m afraid they 
don’t feel they are a part of the team. (Why don’t we) 
D. Some of our clients aren’t happy about the speed of our 
work. (What about) 
E. Our employees don’t have the skills to work on this 
project. (We could always) 
EXAMPLE Problem: Our workers say they’ve had too much work recently. (What if)
Idea: What if we schedule a meeting next week and discuss this problem 
with the management? 
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Let’s see some possible answers.
EXAMPLE Problem: Our workers say they’ve had too much work recently. (What if)
Idea: What if we schedule a meeting next week and discuss this problem 
with the management? 
What if you take a break and go for a walk?
I think we should ask to change the date of the 
deadline. 
Why don’t we organize a team building event?
What about hiring one more employee?
We could always arrange a 6-month training 
programme for them. 
A. I am too tired today. I can’t focus anymore. (What if) 
B. Our team is not going to meet our deadline this month. 
(I think we should) 
C. Many of our employees work from home. I’m afraid they 
don’t feel they are a part of the team. (Why don’t we) 
D. Some of our clients aren’t happy about the speed of our 
work. (What about) 
E. Our employees don’t have the skills to work on this 
project. (We could always) 
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Let’s learn some vocabulary!
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You’re one of three co-owners of a graphic design company. One day you meet 
with Lina, who is a co-owner too. Read the dialogue between you and Lina. 
Lina: Look, we’ve got a problem with one of
our clients and I don’t know how to
deal with it. 
You: What is it about? Can I help? 
Lina: Yes, I think we should arrange a 
meeting: you, me, another co-owner 
and some of our managers. We need to 
put our heads together and think 
about what to do with the client. 
You: What’s the goal of the meeting? 
Lina: We need to come up with some ideas 
of ways to solve the problem. Then, 
we’ll decide on the best plan.
You: Got it. Why can’t you define the 
problem now? I need some details 
about why the client is unhappy. If I 
don't know the details, I can’t suggest 
any ideas. 
Lina: Of course, but I’m in a hurry now. I’ll 
send you an email. 
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ESL Brains
Match the meanings to the phrases in bold.
Lina: Look, we’ve got a problem with one of
our clients and I don’t know how to
deal with it. 
You: What is it about? Can I help? 
Lina: Yes, I think we should arrange a 
meeting: you, me, another co-owner 
and some of our managers. We need to 
put our heads together and think 
about what to do with the client. 
You: What’s the goal of the meeting? 
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part 1/2
A. choose one thing out of many 
others
B. decide what to do about 
something, solve it
C. describe and explain something 
in detail
D. offer a plan or something to think 
about
E. produce, create, think of 
something
F. think together about how to fix a 
problem or a difficult task
ESL Brains
Match the meanings to the phrases in bold.
Lina: We need to come up with some ideas 
of ways to solve the problem. Then, 
we’ll decide on the best plan.
You: Got it. Why can’t you define the 
problem now? I need some details 
about why the client is unhappy. If I 
don't know the details, I can’t suggest 
any ideas. 
Lina: Of course, but I’m in a hurry now. I’ll 
send you an email. 
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part 2/2
A. choose one thing out of many 
others
B. decide what to do about 
something, solve it
C. describe and explain something 
in detail
D. offer a plan or something to think 
about
E. produce, create, think of 
something
F. think together about how to fix a 
problem or a difficult task
ESL Brains
Let’s check the answers.
Lina: Look, we’ve got a problem with one of
our clients and I don’t know how to
deal with it. 
You: What is it about? Can I help? 
Lina: Yes, I think we should arrange a 
meeting: you, me, another co-owner 
and some of our managers. We need to 
put our heads together and think 
about what to do with the client. 
You: What’sthe goal of the meeting? 
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part 1/2
A. choose one thing out of many 
others
B. decide what to do about 
something, solve it
C. describe and explain something 
in detail
D. offer a plan or something to think 
about
E. produce, create, think of 
something
F. think together about how to fix a 
problem or a difficult task
ESL Brains
Let’s check the answers.
Lina: We need to come up with some ideas 
of ways to solve the problem. Then, 
we’ll decide on the best plan.
You: Got it. Why can’t you define the 
problem now? I need some details 
about why the client is unhappy. If I 
don't know the details, I can’t suggest 
any ideas. 
Lina: Of course, but I’m in a hurry now. I’ll 
send you an email. 
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part 2/2
A. choose one thing out of many 
others
B. decide what to do about 
something, solve it
C. describe and explain something 
in detail
D. offer a plan or something to think 
about
E. produce, create, think of 
something
F. think together about how to fix a 
problem or a difficult task
ESL Brains
Answer the questions about the dialogue with Lina. Use the words in the box 
where possible. 
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come up with
deal with
decide on
define
put our heads together
suggest 
A. What kind of help does Lina ask for? 
B. What is the final goal of the meeting? 
C. What is Lina going to send you soon? 
D. What kind of company do you and Lina 
co-own? 
E. What problems can such companies 
have with their clients? 
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1a6VLLI_6-h3nrM4ZlW0DC6sG4amD53v58Gf-wGkN6D0/edit?usp=sharing
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Let’s see some possible answers.
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She asks to arrange a meeting for company owners and 
managers. There, we’ll put our heads together and suggest 
ideas about how to deal with the client’s problem.
To come up with some ideas about how to solve the 
problem, and then decide on the best one. 
She is going to send an email where she will define the 
problem. 
A graphic design company.
Clients can refuse to pay on time; they can ask to make too 
many changes; they can suggest adding something that 
looks awful into the design, etc. 
A. What kind of help does Lina ask for? 
B. What is the final goal of the meeting? 
C. What is Lina going to send you soon? 
D. What kind of company do you and Lina 
co-own? 
E. What problems can such companies 
have with their clients? 
ESL Brains
Let’s brainstorm!
ESL Brains
Read Lina’s email defining the problem.
Subject: Details of the problem with our client
Hi again!
The client ordered a website design for his art school. We invested a lot of resources in this 
project and created a very unusual design. I think you remember this one! It’s almost crazy, but 
it’s what you need if you work in the creative business, right? The client liked the design a lot. 
The problem is that then users started commenting on the website style saying that it was 
terrible. Now the client is demanding that we change the design. 
At the moment we don’t have a lot of resources: all our employees are busy with other projects 
and our budget is small. This means that we have to make a smart decision. 
Best, 
Lina
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Brainstorm ideas for solving the problem described in the email. Follow the 
steps below. 
A. Define the problem. 
B. Brainstorm ideas alone.
C. Share ideas with your group – don't criticize. Use 
the phrases for polite suggestion in the box. 
D. (A member of another group joins and adds fresh 
ideas from their group.) 
E. Put your heads together and decide on the best 
solution(s). Give reasons for why it’s the best 
solution. 
What about…?
I think we should…
Why don’t we…?
What if we…?
We could always… 
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1nfucjNmI4p6-PtRPYb-LMskSiEb6jQheZySku7Ka_9Q/edit?usp=sharing
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Let’s revise!
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Find and correct mistakes in the sentences. 
A. After these two weeks full of hard work, I can't come on with 
any creative ideas. 
B. When I am in a group, I feel too shy to suggest with my ideas.
C. I can't decide in the answer about my promotion: should I 
accept it and work more or reject it and focus on my personal 
life?
D. When our team puts our hands together, we create many ideas 
but never reach one final decision. 
E. My boss gave me too many tasks this week. I have no idea 
about how to deal to all of them.
F. Our manager says there are many problems with this project 
but she doesn’t decide them. I don’t know what we should 
change. 
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Let’s check the answers.
A. After these two weeks full of hard work, I can't come on with 
any creative ideas. 
B. When I am in a group, I feel too shy to suggest with my ideas.
C. I can't decide in the answer about my promotion: should I 
accept it and work more or reject it and focus on my personal 
life?
D. When our team puts our hands together, we create many ideas 
but never reach one final decision. 
E. My boss gave me too many tasks this week. I have no idea 
about how to deal to all of them.
F. Our manager says there are many problems with this project 
but she doesn’t decide them. I don’t know what we should 
change. 
up
on
heads
with
define
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THANKS!