5)
Repeat the activity where one student explains something technical from his/her own
area of expertise (e.g. a hobby, a complicated procedure). The listeners have to interrupt
regularly to ask for clarification.
ROLE-PLAY
Role-play the two situations in groups of four or five. Ideally, you should work in mixed
groups (i.e. perfectionists with risk-takers).
In the first role-play, the risk-takers try to dominate the meeting, the perfectionists try to
interrupt, using the strategies from the lesson.
In the second role-play aim for all participants to contribute equally.
Role-play 1
Your company wants to organise a
Work–Life Balance day
. The aim of the event is to
get employees to see colleagues as people with real lives outside the workplace, and
therefore to be more supportive, understanding and friendly towards each other. There is
a very limited budget, and the event will take place on a normal working day, without
dramatically reducing employees’ productivity during that day. You and some other
junior members of staff have been asked to plan the events for the day. Hold a
brainstorming meeting to plan the event.
Role-play 2
Your company wants to hold a
Staff Integration event
, to enable employees from
different teams and work locations to get to know each other and build relationships. You
and other senior managers meet to plan a budget for this event (in terms of cost per
employee) and to brainstorm ideas for the event.
14.BRAINSTORMING AND EVALUATING
WARM-UP
Discuss the questions in pairs and then share their ideas with the class.
1)
Have you ever taken part in a brainstorming meeting?
2)
How does brainstorming work? What are the rules?
3)
When is brainstorming most effective? When would it be the wrong technique to
use?
4)
Are there any problems with brainstorming as a technique?
VOCABULARY
prevent sb from doing sth│challenge sth, an assumption│work in practice│bother to do
sth│
selfish│praise│demotivating│
sensible│encourage
sth│contribute│judge
sth│avoid doing sth│judgement│facial expression│slight│ express an idea│get
distracted│meet objectives│ random│ concrete criteria│assess sth
READING
1)
Look at the following phrases. Four of them are the rules of successful
brainstorming and six of them are important criticisms. With a partner, discuss which
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