Conversation Gambits - Eric Keller, Sylvia T Warner 1988
18. Personal Opinions
1. Opening Gambits
You have been stopped in the street by a lady conducting an opinion poll You think she is trying to sell you something but she works for a national newspaper and is trying to find out about modern attitudes
Work in pairs — one person asks the questions When all the pairs have finished change partners The people who asked the questions must now answer
Use the phrases in the list to introduce your opinions
1. Who should be the boss in a family — the man or the woman?
2. Who ought to do the cooking — the man or the woman?
3. Who ought to do the dishes?
4. Who ought to fix things when they are broken?
5. Who ought to wash the clothes?
6. Who ought to be the one earning the most money?
7. Who ought to look after the children when they are under five years old?
8. Who ought to buy the clothes for the children when they are under 10 years old?
9. Who ought to discipline the children when they're naughty?
10. Who ought to pay the bills and organise the family's finances?
Discussion
What about your own up-bringing How did your parents split the work in the home?
In some homes the wife earns more than the husband Should the husband give up work to look after the children and let the woman be the breadwinner?
Remember to practise the phrases1
In my 1opinion,
I personally believe ...
I personally think ...
I personally feel ...
Not everyone will agree with me, but ...
To 2my mind, ...
1. Stronger if you add personal
2. Stress my can sound rather dogmatic or opinionated