1C Develop your spoken mediation skills

Teacher’s notes
3a Ask students to read the Focus box. Elicit an explanation
Output | a discussion of options of the phrase ‘build on the contributions of others’, i.e. the
Goal | agree on a business decision importance of linking what you say to what other people say.
b Put Ss in pairs and ask them to do the exercise. In feedback,
Focus | inviting and giving reactions
write the phrases on the board and ask students to identify
words that are stressed in each phrase. Underline the stressed
Timing | 35–40 minutes words on the board and ask the Ss to say them aloud, assisting
with modelled intonation.
CEFR mediation descriptor
Can present his/her ideas in a group and pose questions Answers: 1 point 2 thoughts 3 reckon 4 pick 5 sure
that invite reactions from other group members’ 6 based
perspectives (B2, GSE 59–66).
c Ask Ss to identify the purpose of each phrase in Exercise 3b,
and label them accordingly on the board. Now ask Ss to
Introduction brainstorm further useful phrases for these purposes and add
The goal of this activity is for Ss to conduct a group discussion them on the board.
of options with reference to a descriptive text. To help them
Answers: 1 b 2a 3a 4c 5b 6c
achieve this, Ss will focus on using useful phrases for inviting/
giving reactions and building on the contributions of others.
We suggest doing this activity after doing ‘1C Develop your Mediate
reading’ on pages 96–97 of Roadmap B2 Students’ Book.
4 Put students in groups of three or four, separating where
possible the original student pairs, and ask them to roleplay
Warm-up the meeting. They must discuss all four locations and focus
1 Put Ss in pairs to discuss the questions. Monitor and help on giving all members of the group an opportunity to share
with vocabulary. When they finish, elicit some answers and their ideas. Ask them to take turns in presenting their initial
opinions from the whole class. recommendation with reasons.

Prepare 5 When Ss have completed individual turns in their groups,

ask them to discuss the options further and reach an
2a Ask Ss to read the Scenario. Elicit why Yolanda needs a agreement looking at the questions in Exercise 5. As an option
company meeting to be set up. Ask Ss to explain their answers. to add a language focus to this phase you can ask Ss to tick a
useful phrase from Exercise 3b each time they use it, and feed
Answer: They need to discuss which country to base their
back at the end how much they were able to make use of them.
new company in.
Remember to give students a time limit to make a final decision.
Monitor and assist as necessary.
b Put headings on the board for each location and ask Ss
why these could be nice places to live and work, noting down 6 Reorganise students in pairs from different groups and
any advantages students suggest. Ask Ss to read the text ask them to roleplay the conversation with Yolanda. Student B
and note further advantages under the same headings. In must pretend to be Yolanda receiving a report of the meeting.
feedback, elicit a possible disadvantage of each location as a Student A should summarise the main ideas discussed by the
place to work, noting the students’ suggestions on the board group and make a recommendation, justifying it with reference
(employing cultural sensitivity). to advantages and disadvantages. Then Ss swap roles and
Extension option: Ask learners to research further repeat the roleplay. Monitor and assist as necessary.
advantages and disadvantages of each location online, if they
have individual internet access. Discussion and follow-up
Ask Ss to discuss with a partner whether they would like to
Answers:
live and work in another country. Would they choose one of
Example advantages found in the text:
the four locations discussed or a different one? Why? Ask Ss
Bahrain: friendly and welcoming, family oriented, locals
to brainstorm the advantages and disadvantages of living
speak good English, work-life balance, quality education
and working as an ex-patriate, and write a discursive essay
Costa Rica: carefree/laid-back lifestyle, friendly, spectacular
balancing the points they have noted.
scenery, low cost of living, environmentally friendly
Mexico: friendly, low cost of living, culture of respect and
kindness, calm approach to resolving disputes
Portugal: excellent quality of life, good climate, leisure
opportunities, beautiful beaches/landscape, safety,
friendliness, popular for tech start-ups

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 1C

EVALUATION
The key mediation criteria to evaluate this activity are:
• presents some advantages and disadvantages of the options with reference to the text content.
• plays a collaborative role by acknowledging the comments/reactions of others.
• seeks agreement on a final choice, recapitulating where necessary the main points discussed.
The main points of discussion in group and follow-up pairwork are:
• the unique advantages and disadvantages of each location for a software company head office.
• the possible needs and expectations of employees working there.
• the reasons for the final choice made by the group.
The following examples show the kind of student output that can be expected. Marks awarded are based on the key mediation
criteria above. These could also be used in peer evaluation, if desired. You can apply evaluation criteria for speaking if you
choose. See page 45 for suggested criteria.

Examples of student output

Discussion A Discussion B

A: So, there’s four locations to choose from for our A: Who’s going to start?
head office. I think Mexico might be a really B: I think we should choose Costa Rica. It’s an eco-
exciting place – it’s friendly and easy to settle in. friendly country. Young professionals care about
What do you reckon? the environment.
B: Yes, that’s a good point, but U.S. employees might C: I preferred Portugal. I think if people need to live
want to be somewhere more unusual to them. and work somewhere, they want to be safe.
How about Portugal or Bahrain? B: But it sounds less interesting to me.
C: I’m not so sure. Bahrain is really hot! I liked your A: There’s Mexico and Bahrain as well. They can
suggestion of Portugal with its great beaches and both be really hot, but I think Bahrain has a better
cultural options. lifestyle than Mexico.
A: To pick up on what you said before, recruits will B: Mexico’s size could mean there’s lots of things to
want an adventure and to settle in easily. Portugal do, but could also mean there’s lots of pollution.
is popular for tech start-ups too. A: Let’s choose Costa Rica then.
C: Yes, exactly. What about Costa Rica? That’s an
adventure too.
B: It is, but I think they all are. Shall we choose
Portugal? Lisbon seems to have everything: safety,
leisure, nice landscape and friendly people!

Teacher’s Teacher’s
comments comments

This is a very effective discussion at this level. This attempt is not as effective for this level. There
Everyone is given a chance to voice their opinion and is little reference to the text. Participants give a
there is a clear development of ideas. Participants series of unconnected short contributions, with
highlight points in the text and respond clearly to artificial turn taking. Ideas are not developed, and
what others say. the first choice is returned to by elimination.

Marks: 5/5 Marks: 2/5

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1C Develop your spoken mediation skills

Mediate
Output | a discussion of options
4 Work in small groups to conduct the meeting. Take
Goal | agree on a business decision turns to present to the group which location you
Focus | inviting and giving reactions think would be best for Yolanda’s software company.
Explain why you recommend that location with
reference to advantages in the text. Explain any
Warm-up possible disadvantages of the other locations.
1 Work in pairs to discuss the questions. 5 Collaborate to answer the following questions.
1 What are the advantages and disadvantages of Try to invite reactions from others and build on each
having your own company, compared to working for other’s contributions.
someone else? 1 Which location does the group recommend?
2 What do you think are the most important decisions to 2 What advice can the group give Yolanda about starting
make when starting a new company? a company there?
3 Which location would be the group’s second choice
Prepare and why?
2 a In pairs, read the Scenario. Why does Yolanda need 6 Work with a partner from another group.
you to set up a company meeting? Student A: You are reporting to Yolanda for the group.
b Now look at the shortlist of locations for the new Summarise the main points of your discussion, and the
company on page 10. Make notes of the advantages reasons for the group’s final choice.
of each location. Can you think of any disadvantages? Student B: You are Yolanda. Ask questions about what
3 a Read the Focus box to prepare for the meeting, then the group decided, and why.
complete Exercises 3b and 3c. 7 Swap roles to discuss the outcomes of Student B’s
b Match the words in the box to the gaps in the useful group.
phrases below.
SCENARIO
thoughts sure point pick based reckon
You and some friends have founded a software company
to develop a new form of social media for young
1 Yes, that’s a good .
professionals. You receive the following email from the
2 What are your on this? Director, Yolanda:
3 What do you ? Hi, team! How’s it going? I’ve got some fantastic
4 To up on what you said before, … news – I’ve found investors for our product! Now
we can finally start recruiting technicians for the
5 I’m not so about that.
programming. However, we need to choose where
6 So, on what you’re saying, … to base the company as it would be difficult in this
country. We want to attract talented programmers to
c Match the phrases in 3b to their purpose (a, b or c).
live and work somewhere that has the right lifestyle.
Can you think of further useful phrases for a, b and c? After discussing this with the investors, I’ve identified a
a inviting shortlist of countries that were rated highly as attractive
for employees (see attachment). Can you urgently set
b reacting
up a meeting together, assess the options and make a
c building on others’ contributions recommendation?
1 b   2   3   4   5   6 Many thanks!
Best wishes,
Yolanda
Inviting and giving reactions
Before entering into a collaborative discussion, it can be
helpful to make notes of any information you will present
to the group. Think about how you will invite the reactions
of others.
The aim of a collaborative discussion is to reach a
conclusion together, so it is important to build on the
contributions of others. In this way you can help to
‘mediate’ new concepts proposed by the group.

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 1C

Dream work destinations

Imagine you had to move abroad for work. Where would you go? Every year Penhaligon
Magazine publishes a list of the best places to move to, as voted for by the people who
actually moved there – the immigrants. So which places came top this year and why?

1 Bahrain 3 Mexico
With a population of around one and a half million, this country, This is the
comprising 30 islands, got a high score. People who move here most populous
say that it is a friendly and welcoming place, where people destination on
make time for their families. It’s also worth noting that the local our list and it has
population speaks good English and as a consequence it’s easy consistently been
for outsiders to settle in. Many foreign workers say they earn in the top five
more than they would at home and this, coupled with other of Penhaligon’s
factors, means that there has been a big growth in the number of rankings since
people moving here to work. Currently they make up more than the survey began.
half the population! It scores high
partly thanks
Many people who move here praise the attitude to work-life
to its culture of
balance and family. You are not usually expected to work long
friendliness, which explains why it’s so easy to settle in. The
hours and the quality of education for children is considered very
cost of living is also lower than in many places.
high. Overall, it’s easy to see why this destination is so popular.
It’s such an easy place to move to partly due to the culture
of respect and kindness. Everyone places a high value on
remaining calm and disputes are resolved by conversation
and negotiation. Even in the capital, which is the second
most populous city in Latin America, it is considered very bad
manners to lose your temper in public.
4 Portugal
With a population
of just over ten
2 Costa Rica million, this is the
first European
With a population of around five million people, this country destination to
in Central America has a pura vida (pure life) culture, which appear in the top
emphasises a carefree, laid-back way of living. It’s also an ten owing to its
exceptionally friendly place and as a result it comes top in terms excellent quality
of making friends. It has beaches, spectacular scenery and a low of life. With high
cost of living and consequently it is popular with retired people. marks for climate
The local population takes an active interest in the environment and leisure and plenty of coastline and nature to enjoy, you
and around a quarter of the land area is protected jungle, while are unlikely to waste time wondering what to do with your
almost all of the country’s electricity is generated from renewable free time. The country is also highly rated for personal safety
resources. Perhaps and friendliness and most people who move here say that it is
it’s no surprise easy to make
then that so friends locally.
many people This destination has a growing number of tech start-ups,
say that they particularly in the capital, Lisbon, and these draw many
see themselves foreign workers to the city. The country also has a strong
staying forever. tourism sector on account of the climate and scenery.
Have you moved abroad? Do you want to speak your mind?
Voice your opinion here.

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