Common English Expressions and Communication Skills in Brainstorming Sessions

We've looked at the guidelines for leading a successful brainstorming session, so now we're going to focus on useful language. At the end of this part, you'll be able to identify effective vocabulary to facilitate brainstorming sessions, ask for and give ideas, and ask for clarification. We'll start with the facilitator. Do you remember the phrase that was used during the brainstorming to encourage people to begin sharing their ideas? Listen again. So let's hear your thoughts. We can also say, let's hear your ideas. Here are two more phrases we can use to ask for ideas. What do you all think? Any ideas, suggestions? When the facilitator asks for ideas, he or she should also be encouraging. These are phrases that we can use to react positively. Okay. Good. Good idea. Nice idea. Interesting idea. The facilitator can also encourage people with these phrases. Go ahead. Anything else? Anyone else? And something isn't totally clear, you can ask the person to clarify. A simple way is to restate the idea with rising intonation. Listen to this example. How about something spicy? Spicy? Yeah, I mean, chili, black pepper, something like that. Otherwise, you can use phrases like these. What do you mean exactly? Could you explain a little more? Here, the word exactly means that you would like a little more detail or a specific example. Using exactly and a little makes it sound less direct, and so it won't discourage the person. So you've learned about some language for the facilitator. Now let's look at useful language for giving ideas. These are some common ways to give ideas. They are similar to ways to make suggestions. What about combining white chocolate and apple? Why not combine white chocolate and apple? We could combine white chocolate and apple. What if we combined white chocolate and apple? Notice how the verb form changes when we use what about and what if we. With what about, we can use the i-n-g form. We can sometimes use the past form, especially if we want to make it sound indirect. Usually, when we give ideas, we don't want it to sound like the idea is definitely a really good one, so we often use words like maybe or perhaps. Maybe espresso and chili? Perhaps we could combine coffee and strawberry. We can use rising intonation at the end to make it sound like a question. If we want to be even less sure of an idea, we can use phrases like this before giving the idea. I don't know about this, but what about espresso and chili? It might sound a little crazy, but perhaps we could combine coffee and strawberry. One of the advantages of using brainstorming is that if someone suggests an idea, it might help people think of other ideas, and these ideas might turn out to be even better than the first one. We can call this building of other people's ideas. Here are some examples of what to say when you want to connect with what someone has just said. Building on what Tina just said. Picking up on what Tina just said. Adding to what Tina just said. Another related idea is. If we use these phrases before we give an idea, it shows that we are making a connection and also encourages participation because it shows that the other person helped you think of something too. Now, let's practice some of this language. You'll hear a sentence and they then see a follow-up sentence or a response with a word missing. You have five seconds to say the complete sentence or response. Even listen to see if you were right. We have about 20 minutes and remember there are no bad ideas, so let's hear your thoughts. Our sales are falling, so we need to think of some solutions. Any ideas? What about white chocolate and apple? Good idea. Any ideas? What about combining chocolate and apple? Anything else? Yes, what if we combine strawberry and banana? How about something hot? What do you mean exactly? This might sound a little crazy. Don't worry, go ahead. Any more ideas? I don't know about this, but what about a spicy flavor? Maybe we could do something spicy, like pepper. According to what Tina said, what about chili?