British English · C1 · Unit 12
Public debate
Public debate
By the end you can
- Take part in a debate and respond on the spot
- Write a well-built opinion piece
- Understand a long debate
Words and phrases
| British English | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| let me finish | don't interrupt me | Please, let me finish. |
| the fact of the matter is | the truth is | The fact of the matter is that the bypass will destroy the woods. |
| you're missing the point | you don't understand the main issue | With respect, you're missing the point. |
| a gross oversimplification | something made far too simple | That's a gross oversimplification of the issue. |
| I'd like to pick up on | I want to come back to (something someone said) | I'd like to pick up on what Councillor Ahmed said. |
| to be fair | to be honest and balanced | To be fair, the council did consult residents. |
| the vast majority | almost all | The vast majority of residents are against it. |
| a straw man | a weaker, false version of someone's argument | That's a straw man. Nobody's saying that. |
| on balance | after considering everything | On balance, I think the bypass is worth it. |
| dodge the question | avoid answering | Please don't dodge the question. |
Then talk it through
A live TV debate about a local issue. In the app you have this conversation out loud or typed, with the unit's goals to tick off and corrections at the end.