TIPPS & TRICKSBubbles Discussion

  • 1 question, 5 prompts
  • About 2 minutes to discuss
  • Then about 1 minute to decide
  • With your partner

You and your partner get a central question with five prompts around it, the 'bubbles'. First you talk together about the prompts for about two minutes. Then the examiner asks a new question, and you have about a minute to reach a decision.

This part tests interaction above all: how well you listen, respond, build on your partner's ideas and move the conversation on. You don't have to agree, but you do have to discuss.

Depth beats coverage

You don't need to cover all five prompts. Two or three explored in depth are better than five mentioned in passing. Always link each prompt back to the central question, instead of talking about it in general.

Build on your partner

Don't just wait for your turn. Pick up what your partner said and add to it: 'That's true, and it also means...' or 'Going back to what you said about...'. This is exactly what the examiner is listening for.

Ask real questions

Bring your partner in with open questions: 'What's your view on this one?' or 'How do you think it affects...?'. Share the time fairly: taking over the discussion doesn't earn extra marks.

Move the talk on

When a prompt has been covered, move on smoothly: 'Shall we look at this one?' or 'What about...?'. It keeps the discussion flowing and shows you can manage a conversation.

The decision minute

In the last minute, the new question usually asks you to choose one prompt. Don't restart the whole discussion: weigh up the strongest options, suggest one and try to agree. Agreeing to disagree is fine, too.

Practising on your own

Here there's no partner, so play both roles: make a point, imagine a reply and respond to it. Use the two examiner lines shown with the task to practise both stages: the discussion, then the decision.

Strategy

  1. 1Read the central question and see how the five prompts connect to it.
  2. 2Open by picking one prompt and linking it to the question.
  3. 3Invite your partner in after each point with a real question.
  4. 4Build on or challenge what your partner says before adding a new idea.
  5. 5Move on to another prompt once one has been covered.
  6. 6Listen carefully to the new question for the final minute.
  7. 7Compare the strongest options and try to agree on one.

Nützliche Ausdrücke

Starting and moving on

  • Shall we start with this one?
  • Where would you like to begin?
  • Shall we move on to ...?
  • What about this one?
  • Going back to ..., ...

Inviting your partner

  • What's your view on this?
  • Would you agree?
  • How do you feel about ...?
  • What do you make of ...?
  • Have you had any experience of ...?

Agreeing and disagreeing

  • I couldn't agree more.
  • That's a fair point, and ...
  • I see what you mean, but ...
  • I'm not so sure about that.
  • I take your point, although ...

Reaching a decision

  • So, which one do you think is the most ...?
  • It's between ... and ..., isn't it?
  • Shall we go for ...?
  • So we've agreed on ...
  • Let's agree to disagree on this one.
Bubbles Discussion üben80 Prüfungen zum Üben. Die erste ist kostenlos.