Warm-up
Brainstorming & Creative Problem-Solving
Brainstorming & Creative Problem-Solving
After this lesson you'll be able to...
- Use key vocabulary for brainstorming and creativity
- Make suggestions with Why don’t we, What about, We could and I suggest
- Agree and disagree politely
- Choose the best idea and explain why
Get to know each other (3 minutes)
- When do you get your best ideas?
- Do you prefer to think alone or in a group?
- What was the most creative idea you have ever had at work?
- Is there a bad idea in a brainstorm?
Say it out loud
Make a suggestion. → Why don’t we ask our customers what they think?
Fact worth knowing
Vocabulary
Key vocabulary
Useful phrases
| Why don’t we ask our customers? | Чому б нам не запитати наших клієнтів? |
| What about making a short video? | А що, як зробити коротке відео? |
| We could offer a free trial. | Ми могли б запропонувати безкоштовний пробний період. |
| I suggest that we meet again next week. | Пропоную зустрітися знову наступного тижня. |
| That’s a great idea. Let me build on it. | Чудова ідея. Дозвольте її розвинути. |
| I see your point, but I am not sure it is feasible. | Я розумію вашу думку, але не впевнений, що це здійсненно. |
| One advantage is the low cost. | Одна перевага — низька вартість. |
| Let’s prioritise the three best ideas. | Давайте розставимо пріоритети для трьох найкращих ідей. |
Try out the new words
Say one sentence with a new word. → …
Say one phrase from the list about your work. → …
Which word is it?
Fill in the missing word
Choose the correct word
Translate the phrase
Write each phrase in English.
Grammar
Suggestions, agreeing and disagreeing
| Why don’t we + verb? | Why don’t we ask our customers? A friendly suggestion. Also: Let’s ask our customers. How about asking our customers? |
| What about / How about + -ing | What about making a short video? How about offering a discount? After about we use the -ing form or a noun. |
| We could + verb | We could offer a free trial. A possibility, softer than We should. |
| I suggest (that) we + verb | I suggest that we meet again next week. I suggest meeting again. After suggest never use to + verb. |
| Agreeing and disagreeing politely | Agree: That’s a good idea. I totally agree. Disagree: I see your point, but … / I am not sure that … / That is interesting, but it may be difficult. |
Which sentence is correct?
Complete with the correct word
Rewrite it
Make a suggestion. Several answers are possible.
Correcting mistakes
Each sentence has one mistake. Write the correct sentence.
Put the words in order
Put the words in the right order and write the full sentence.
Say it about your own work
Make one suggestion for improving your work. → Why don’t we …?
Reading
Read: a brainstorming meeting
Brainstorm: how to get more customers for our café
Anna: Let’s start. Remember, there are no bad ideas. Why don’t we begin with a list?
Tom: What about offering a free coffee for new customers?
Mia: I like that. Let me build on it: we could give a coupon for the second coffee on the same day.
Ben: I see your point, but I am not sure it is feasible. It could cost a lot.
Anna: One advantage is that people would return. How about trying it for one month?
Tom: I suggest that we also make a short video for social media.
Anna: Good. Let’s prioritise: 1. the coupon, 2. the video. Mia will prepare the coupon, and Tom will make the video.
True or false?
The team wants more customers for their café.
Ben thinks the coupon is a perfect idea.
Mia builds on Tom’s idea.
Anna suggests trying the coupon for one year.
Tom will make the video.
Answer the questions
What is the topic of the brainstorm?
What does Tom suggest first?
What is Ben’s worry?
Who will prepare the coupon?
Find the key language
Write the word (or phrase) from the text.
Fill in from the text
Why is this a good text?
Your own opinion
- Which idea would you choose? Why?
- What other idea would you suggest for the café?
- Is Ben right to worry about the cost?
Practice
Picture the situation
Generate → Build on → Evaluate → Prioritise. In a brainstorm, first collect many ideas, and only later judge them.
Match the phrase to its function
Put the words in order
Put the words in the right order and write the full sentence.
Fill in the missing phrase
Say it in your own words
Write one sentence. Several answers are possible.
Translate into English
Write each sentence in English. Several answers are possible.
A useful tip
Speaking
How to use this section
Your tutor plays a colleague in a brainstorming meeting. Share ideas, build on them and decide together. Use Why don’t we …? / What about …ing? / We could … / I suggest that we … / I see your point, but …
Opening a brainstorm
Task: start the meeting and say the rules.
Starter: "Let’s start. There are no bad ideas, so please say everything you think. Why don’t we begin with a list?"
Making a suggestion
Task: suggest something to attract customers.
Starter: "What about offering a free coffee for new customers? We could also give a coupon."
Building on an idea
Task: develop a colleague’s idea.
Starter: "That is a good idea. Let me build on it: we could give a coupon for the second coffee on the same day."
Disagreeing politely
Task: you have doubts about an idea.
Starter: "I see your point, but I am not sure it is feasible. It could cost too much."
Weighing the options
Task: talk about an advantage and a drawback.
Starter: "One advantage is that people would return. The main drawback is the cost."
Choosing
Task: choose the best ideas and explain why.
Starter: "Let’s prioritise. I suggest that we start with the coupon, because it is practical and cheap."
Closing
Task: close the meeting and give tasks.
Starter: "To sum up, Mia will prepare the coupon, and Tom will make the video. Thank you, everyone. Great ideas!"
Full conversation — no stops
With your tutor, run a short brainstorm: state a problem, suggest ideas, build on one, disagree politely and choose the best — entirely in English.
Let's talk — reflection
- Are you a person who has many ideas or who judges ideas?
- What helps you to be creative?
- What is a good way to disagree without hurting anybody?
Cool down
Now I can...
- Use key vocabulary for brainstorming and creativity
- Make suggestions with Why don’t we, What about, We could and I suggest
- Agree and disagree politely
- Choose the best idea and explain why
Quick self-check
What follows “What about”?
What follows “I suggest that we”?
How do we disagree politely?
One more thing before you go
Tell your tutor one idea for your company. → Why don’t we …?
Homework
Words to remember
| an idea | ідея |
| a brainstorm | мозковий штурм |
| a suggestion | пропозиція, порада |
| an option | варіант |
| an approach | підхід |
| a drawback | недолік |
| an advantage | перевага |
| a breakthrough | прорив |
Fill in the missing word
Choose the correct form
Open the brackets
Correct the mistake
Each sentence has one mistake. Write the correct sentence.
Translate the phrase
Write each phrase in English. Several answers are possible.
Write it yourself
Write a short dialogue (8 lines) of a brainstorm with two or three people. Include at least four suggestions, one polite disagreement and one decision.
Practise out loud
Say all the parts of your dialogue aloud, changing your voice.
Read aloud
Read the text “a brainstorming meeting” aloud twice before the next lesson.
- 8.7 I did the writing task
- 8.8 I practised out loud
- 8.9 I read the text aloud twice