Discussion Strategies Overview

An overview of different discussion strategies with example phrases.

  • ASKING 5-WS-AND-AN-H QUESTIONS (Basic question starters for asking questions and especially follow-up questions.)
    • Who…? What…? Where…? When…? Why…? and How…?
  • AGREEING OR DISAGREEING
    • Agree= I agree. I think so too. That’s right! That’s what I think. Definitely! Uh-huh.
    • Disagree=I don’t agree. I don’t think so. I’m not sure. That’s not right! No way! Un-un.
  • ASKING FOR AN OPINION(To help develop our own opinions, it is useful to hear other people’s opinions.
    • What do you think? How do you feel about…? In your opinion… From your point of view… For you… In your experience…
  • ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION
    • Did you say, “something?” I thought you said, “something?” You did what? You went where? You said, “something?” That’s “something,” right? Did you mean…
  • ASKING FOR EXAMPLES
    • Could you give me an example? For example? Like what?
  • ASKING FOR MEANING
    • What does “something” mean? What does that mean? What do you mean? What’s that?
  • ASKING FOR MORE INFORMATION
    • Could you tell me more about that? Could you say more? And then…? And so…? And…? I’d like to know… I’d be interested to know…
  • ASKING FOR REPETITION
    • Could you say that again? Could you repeat that? Could you say that one more time? What was that? What did you say? What? Huh? One more time, please. Once more, please. Could you write that down please?
  • ASKING YOUR PARTNER THE SAME QUESTION
    • How about you? And you? What do you think? Do you have any idea?
  • AVOIDING SOMETHING TOO DIFFICULT
    • Never mind. Forget about it. It’s not a big deal. Oh, well. Whatever. Anyway…
  • CHANGING THE TOPIC
    • Can I change the topic? Can I change the subject? So, <change the topic>. Well, <change the topic>.
  • CORRECTING YOURSELF
    •  No. Wait. Oops. I mean…
  • EXPRESSING CERTAINTY
    • I am sure…, I am positive…, Maybe…, Perhaps…, I think that…, I have no idea…
  • GETTING TIME TO THINK(
    • Just a moment. Hang on a second. Wait a sec. Let me think. Uh… Um… Well… Hmm…
  • GIVING AN OPINION(
    • I think… I believe… I feel… In my opinion… It seems to me… From my point of view… For me… In my experience…
  • GIVING EXAMPLES OR EXPLANATION
    • For example… For instance…  Let me explain…
  • GIVING MORE INFORMATION
    • Also,… In addition,…
  • INTERJECTING
    • Uh-huh. I see. Yeah. Really? Oh? Wow. That’s great. Wonderful. Cool. Interesting. That’s too bad. Oh, no! I can’t believe it. You’re kidding. Amazing. Brilliant.
  • INVOLVING YOUR PARTNER
    •  What do you think? How about you? Don’t you agree? How do you feel? What about you? Do you have any ideas? Do you know what I mean?
  • OFFERING A CORRECTION
    • Did you say, <mistake>? You said <mistake>, but I think it’s <say the correction>. Is it <correction>? Are you sure that’s right? I think you mean <correction>? Don’t you mean <correction>?
  • SHOWING INTEREST
    • Uh-huh. Yeah. I know what you mean. Great. That’s interesting. Unbelievable. You’re kidding!
  • SHOWING YOU UNDERSTAND
    • I understand. I see what you mean. I see. I got it. <look like you understand>
  • SUMMARIZING
    • In other words… You mean… It sounds like… So, you think…