Speaking Boost · C1 · Lesson 9 of 50
Speaking Boost C1 · Block 2: Power and Persuasion

Why do we follow the crowd?

Most of us copy others more than we admit. Learn to discuss conformity and peer pressure, and to concede a point before you argue your case with much as, however, granted and be that as it may.

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

Conformity and the crowd

Answer each question with 2–3 sentences.

  1. Do you usually do what most people around you do?
  2. Have you ever bought something because everyone else had it?
  3. Is it easy for you to disagree in a group?
  4. Do you check reviews before you choose a restaurant?
  5. Who influences your opinions most?
  6. Have you ever regretted following the crowd?
2

Words and phrases

12 min
2.1

New words

Read each word and the example. Then say a sentence about following the crowd.

2.2

Which word?

Choose the word that fits.

  1. Behaving like everyone else in a group is called .
  2. Most employees with the new rules because they fear trouble.
  3. In some countries, open is punished.
  4. The of voters supported the plan, though a few opposed it.
  5. In some offices, working late is the , so nobody leaves on time.
  6. It takes courage to the pressure to agree with everyone.
  7. Teenagers often seek the of their friends.
  8. The jury's decision was : all twelve members agreed.
2.3

Opposites and pairs

Choose the right answer, then press Check answers.

  1. conformity = behaving like
  2. dissent = open
  3. a norm is a standard of
  4. to sway = to
  5. unanimous = agreed by
  6. to blend in = to look like
2.4

Useful phrases

Use these phrases to concede a point and then argue your case.

  • Much as I..., I...Хоч як я..., я...Much as I respect the majority, I disagree.
  • However hard it is,...Хоч як важко,...However hard it is, we should think for ourselves.
  • Granted,...Припустімо,...Granted, the experiment was small.
  • Admittedly,...Щоправда,...Admittedly, group pressure can be useful.
  • Be that as it may,...Хай там як,...Be that as it may, we are responsible for our choices.
  • Strange as it may seem,...Хоч як дивно,...Strange as it may seem, people copy strangers.
  • Whatever the majority thinks,...Що б не думала більшість,...Whatever the majority thinks, I will say what I believe.
  • It's tempting to..., but...Спокусливо..., але...It's tempting to follow the crowd, but it's risky.
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

Conformity and the crowd

Read the text. Hover over the dotted words for help.

Why do we follow the crowd?

Why do we follow the crowd? Most of us like to think that we make our own choices. Yet psychologists have shown again and again that the opinions of others pull us strongly. Strange as it may seem, people will sometimes deny what they see with their own eyes.

In the 1950s, the psychologist Solomon Asch asked volunteers to compare the length of lines. The task was easy, but the other "participants" in the room were actors who deliberately gave the wrong answer. According to the usual account, about three quarters of the volunteers conformed at least once, and in about a third of the critical trials people gave the wrong answer. Much as they trusted their eyes, many still chose to go along with the group. Admittedly, when even one actor gave the right answer, conformity fell sharply.

A later study, published in 2008, looked at hotel towels. Cards in the rooms asked guests to reuse towels. The message "most guests in this hotel reuse their towels" worked better than a message about the environment. This is social proof at work: if the norm seems to be to reuse, we are more likely to comply.

Is conformity always bad? Granted, it can lead to a herd mentality, in which people copy each other without thinking. However, it also helps societies work: we drive on the same side of the road and respect queues. Be that as it may, the danger lies in a group where dissent is silenced. However hard it is to be the only person who disagrees, a single honest voice can change the result.

So, should we ever follow the crowd? Perhaps the best answer is: sometimes, but only when we have thought about why.

When did you last disagree with a group?

3.2

True or false?

  1. Asch asked volunteers to compare the length of lines.
  2. In Asch's study, nobody ever gave the wrong answer.
  3. In the hotel study, the message about most guests worked better than one about the environment.
  4. The text says conformity is always harmful.
  5. The text says one honest voice can change the result.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. Why is it so hard to disagree in a group?
  2. Is it ever right to follow the crowd?
  3. Which groups influence you most?
  4. How can schools help students resist pressure?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Grammar for speaking

Concession with much as, however and similar forms

Use Adjective / Noun + as + subject + verb, or Much as + clause, to concede a point before you argue the opposite. Use However + adjective / adverb + subject + verb, and Whatever + clause. Do not use but in the same sentence.

Much as I respect the majority, I disagree. Strange as it may seem, people copy strangers. Young as he was, he refused. However hard it is, we should speak. Whatever the majority thinks, I will say what I believe.

Concession markers

Use Granted,... and Admittedly,... to accept a point, and Be that as it may,... to move to your own view. They usually start a sentence and are followed by a comma.

Granted, the study was small. Admittedly, group pressure can be useful. Be that as it may, we are responsible for our choices.

Block 2 review

Use the grammar from this block.

inversion after negative adverbials (L6) · emphatic do / did, so… that, such… that (L7) · inversion in conditionals (L8)

Common mistakes: Much as / Strange as it may seem / Young as he was take a clause without but. With however put the adjective or adverb first: However hard it is. ✗ Much I admire her → Much as I admire her. ✗ However is it hard → However hard it is. ✗ Young although he was → Young as he was. ✗ Be that how it may → Be that as it may.

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. I admire her, I disagree.
  2. we try, some pressure remains.
  3. , people often copy strangers.
  4. the study was small, but the result was clear.
  5. we should still think for ourselves.
  6. However
    , we should resist.
  7. he was, he refused to comply.
  8. the majority thinks, I will say what I believe.
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

  1. Much I admire her, I disagree. →
  2. However hard is it, we should try. →
  3. Strange it may seem, people copy strangers. →
  4. Young although he was, he refused to comply. →
  5. Be that how it may, we must think for ourselves. →
  6. Whatever does the majority think, I will speak. →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer in detail. Use concession and the grammar of Block 2.

  1. Much as we like to think we are independent, are we really?
  2. Granted, conformity can be useful. When is it useful?
  3. However hard it is to disagree, when should we do it?
  4. Admittedly, you can learn from the crowd. What can you learn?
  5. Whatever other people think, what is one view you would defend?
  6. Strange as it may seem, people copy others. Can you give an example?
5

Three views and a short talk

8 min
5.1

Three views on following the crowd

Three people discuss conformity. Compare them. Who trusts the crowd most? Who resists it most? Whose view is closest to yours?

Person 1

Elena, 34

  • Is a teacher
  • Says peer pressure is strong in teenagers
  • Teaches pupils to say no
  • Admits that she follows trends herself
Person 2

Tom, 47

  • Is an investor
  • Warns about a herd mentality
  • Says crowds often make prices too high
  • Prefers to go against the majority
Person 3

Aisha, 25

  • Works in a team of ten
  • Says it is hard to disagree
  • Fears being an outsider
  • Believes honest dissent helps
5.2

Mini-talk: me and the crowd

Your teacher will time you.

  1. Plan for one minute, then speak for one or two minutes.
  2. Part 1: describe a time you followed or resisted a group.
  3. Part 2: say whether conformity is helpful or harmful (use at least one concession form such as much as or however).
  4. Part 3: say how you decide when to follow the crowd.
2:00
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. Do you follow trends?
  2. Do you read reviews before you buy?
  3. Is it hard for you to say no to friends?
  4. Have you ever changed your opinion because of a group?
  5. Do you prefer to blend in or to stand out?
  6. Do you feel pressure on social media?
  7. Which groups influence you most?
  8. Would you speak up if you disagreed with your boss?
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. Who in your family is most independent?
  2. Who influenced your opinions when you were younger?
  3. Who in your life is not afraid of dissent?
  4. Who follows trends most in your circle?
  5. Who has been an outsider in your group?
  6. Who would you listen to even if everyone else disagreed?
6.3

Part III: A bit deeper

  1. Is conformity a weakness?
  2. Should schools teach students to disagree?
  3. Is social media making conformity stronger?
  4. Is it better to be liked or to be honest?
  5. Can a minority ever be right?
7

Roleplay

12 min
7.1

Discussing conformity

You

Speaker

You are in a discussion group (your teacher):
  • say how much people follow the crowd
  • give an example
  • concede one point
  • give your own view
Speak for at least 2 minutes in total. Use concession forms.
Your teacher

Group member

Says things like:
  1. People are naturally independent.
  2. Can you give an example?
  3. But crowds are often right.
  4. So what do you think?
7.2

Advising a young person

You

Adviser

A young colleague (your teacher) feels pressure to agree with everyone:
  • listen to the problem
  • explain why it is hard
  • give advice
  • use much as, however or be that as it may
You do most of the talking. Use: Much as I understand... · However hard it is...
Your teacher

Colleague

Says things like:
  1. Everyone disagrees with me.
  2. I'm afraid of being an outsider.
  3. What should I do?
  4. Thank you for your advice.
8

Homework

at home

Your homework score

Do all four exercises, then press Check all homework. Correct answers will appear next to your mistakes.

– / 30
H1

Complete with a word

conformitycomplydissentmajoritynormresistapprovalunanimous
  1. Behaving like everyone else in a group is called .
  2. Most employees with the new rules because they fear trouble.
  3. In some countries, open is punished.
  4. The of voters supported the plan, though a few opposed it.
  5. In some offices, working late is the , so nobody leaves on time.
  6. It takes courage to the pressure to agree with everyone.
  7. Teenagers often seek the of their friends.
  8. The jury's decision was : all twelve members agreed.
H2

Choose the correct form

  1. I like him, I disagree.
  2. it is, speak up.
  3. , people copy strangers.
  4. the study was small, but the result was clear.
  5. I will decide for myself.
  6. However , we should try.
  7. she was, she kept working.
  8. others think, I will say what I believe.
H3

Correct or incorrect?

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. Much as I admire her, I disagree.
  2. Much I admire her, I disagree.
  3. However hard it is, we should try.
  4. However hard is it, we should try.
  5. Be that as it may, we must think for ourselves.
  6. Be that how it may, we must think for ourselves.
  7. Young as he was, he refused.
H4

Match the two halves

  1. Much as I respect the majority,
  2. However hard it is,
  3. Granted,
  4. Admittedly,
  5. Be that as it may,
  6. Strange as it may seem,
  7. Whatever the majority thinks,

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© Yevheniia Kolesnykova, Academy of Languages. All rights reserved. No copying or reuse without written permission.