Hi Tim here with another 9 to 5 English lesson. In today's lesson we're

going to learn how to talk about your ideas. You might be full of great ideas

about your company your products or how to connect with your customers but those

ideas aren't very useful if you can't tell other people about the.

You probably find yourself in lots of situations where you might talk about

your ideas. Think about a staff meeting or a business lunch everyone's talking

about what the company should do and you've got a good idea. So do you just

shout it out for everyone to hear? No rather than just shouting out your idea

it's best to introduce it first. I mean you should tell everyone that you have

an idea you want to share. And you might say exactly that like I've got something

to share or you could say here's what I've been thinking or how about this?

These are just some of the ways that you can introduce your idea. How about

practicing some of these expressions? We're going to present some examples

after you hear each example try repeating it yourself. Ready? Let's give it a go!

How about this for an idea?

Here's what I've been thinking about.

I've got something I'd like to share on this point.

One way of looking at this would be to...

So we've just practiced some different ways of introducing an idea. Once you've

done that then people are prepared they are now listening to hear what you have

to say but you need to be a bit careful how you state your idea if you're not

the boss you'll need to avoid saying we have to or it is necessary for us to do

something in many situations that's too strong if you're just making a

suggestion then you need something softer one way of suggesting an idea is

saying we could that's a polite way to present your idea as one possibility so

in a marketing meeting you might say we could create some new TV ads there are

other ways of making suggestions using how about and what if for example you

could say how about creating some ads or what if we created some ads another

really simple way to present your idea is with the words I think for example

you might say I think we should lower our costs that's just a bit softer than

saying we should lower our costs which is to direct many people don't like to

hear ideas suggested that directly now it's your turn to try using these

expressions you'll hear some examples after each example repeat what you hear

let's begin we could hold a big promotional event

you

I think there are a few ways we could cut costs

what if we bought the building instead of renting it

why don't we make a mobile version of the website

as you heard to suggest an idea sometimes we ask a question that shows

that we are open to what other people think after all you're not giving orders

rather you're trying to get people to think your idea is a good one so it's

important simply to ask them what they think about it you might ask an entire

group of people by saying how does everyone feel about that or anyone have

any thoughts on this you might also ask one person to respond with something

like what's your view on this Betty one more simple way to ask what people think

about an idea is with the question how does that sound and do you notice in

this and the other expressions I've given you that we say this or that to

refer to the idea using these words is better than saying my idea or asking do

you agree with me why is saying this better than saying my

idea well because you want people to focus on the idea not on whose idea it

is if you say me and my a lot people might feel you are thinking about

yourself too much let's practice using these expressions for asking what people

think about your ideas remember to repeat each example after you hear it

how does everyone feel about that

what's your view on this Dave

how does that sound

anyone have any on this

oK you've done some great practice with some useful expressions but how does

this sound in a conversation well let's listen to a short discussion between

Sandra and Kelly about a new office design looking at the office layout does

anyone have any ideas yes I've got something I'd like to share on this sure

go ahead well what if we put another meeting room

on the second floor can you see how that worked

Sandra says she's got something to share about the office layout then once

everyone's listening she makes a suggestion

using a what if question now it's your turn to practice will repeat the

dialogue but this time we're going to beep out Sandra's words you will have to

say those parts yourself remember first you'll say that you have something to

share and then you'll suggest putting another meeting room on the second floor

looking at the office layout does anyone have any ideas

you

sure go ahead

you

all right so we've learned some great ways to talk about your ideas and to ask

what other people think about your ideas in our next lesson we'll learn about how

to agree with other people's ideas until then so long and happy learning