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Expressing Stance (Formally and Informally)
Objectives
Responding to meaning of formal, sustained, transactional (to get things done) conversations and interpersonal (socializing) conversations in fluent and accurate manners, using varieties of simple oral texts in different daily life contexts, involving expression of stance.
Learn about it!
You spend a lot of time at school. Do you ever have arguments with your friends? Have you ever discussed about your school with your friends? What are the good things about your school? And what are the things that need improvement? When thinking about your school and its facilities, you have opinions. You want others know your opinion.
Sharing opinions in daily life can be about many things. When you watch television, listen to radio broadcast, read newspaper, or reading profile status on social media, etc. Expressing opinion involves a thinking process.
A way of thinking about something is called stance. Expressing stance means you give an opinion or letting other people know your position about specific issues, by saying what you think, feel or believe. Take for an example, sharing opinions about the condition in your city. It can be about the traffic jam, a new open wi-fi facility in town, events at public libraries, etc. Your position can be supporting something, critical about something, or neutral.
In this topic, you will learn how to express stance or how to show where you stand (your opinion) on some issues, whether you are for (support) it, against it or do not take sides. Before you start, please watch the following video!
DEBBIE I hate gardening. I hope we don't have to do this every week.
PETE Think of the Community Award. And it makes the garden look nice.
DEBBIE I suppose so.
JOEL I'm really hungry. Is it time for lunch yet?
DEBBIE "Is it time for lunch yet?"
Honestly Joel, you're always eating.
JOEL So what?
DEBBIE So, you're overweight.
JOEL You must be joking!
I am not overweight, am I?
PETE No. Definitely not... Not yet, anyway!
JOEL Hey!
JOEL That's not lunch. That's a snack.
DEBBIE For me, Joel, it's lunch.
JOEL Oh, I know, you're on one of those stupid diets.
PETE Joel!
JOELWell, she must be crazy! She's not eating enough. And it's all salad.
DEBBIE No it isn't. I decide what I eat and how much, thank you.
I don't need your advice. Anyway, look what you've got there.
It's gross.
JOEL What?
DEBBIE You don't need crisps and bread.
And you certainly don't need chocolate biscuits.
JASS Hey, come on, guys. We don't have to argue about this.
I think the important thing about eating is...
DEBBIE I don't care what you think, Jess.
I don't actually care what any of you think. I eat what I want to eat.
JOEL And that goes for me too.
DEBBIE Yes, it does. I eat healthily. You eat unhealthily. Let's leave it at that.
JOEL No way! First you say I'm overweight...
PETE It was a joke, Joel.
JOEL Then you tell me I eat unhealthily. That's out of order, Debbie.
DEBBIE But when you say I'm on a stupid diet, that's OK - yes?
JASS Oh, come on guys. Stop arguing you two.
We've got a lot of work to do.
DEBBIE You must be joking. I'm not doing any work with Joel around.
I'm going home.
JASS Debbie!
Now look what you've done.
JOEL What I've done! I'm telling you, that's the last time I work with Debbie.
JASS I don't know what to do about Debbie and Joel.
We have to work as a team for the Community Award.
JASS So we have to get them working together again.
Have you got any ideas?
PETE I have actually. I think Debbie should meet my sister.
JASS Your sister?
PETE That's right. She's back from university for a few days.
JASS How can she help?
PETE Joel didn't mean to be so rude.
I think he was upset because you said he was overweight.
DEBBIE It was a joke.
PETE I know that. But it didn't sound like a joke at the time.
DEBBIE Well. Maybe. I don't know.
PETE Do you think he's got a point? You know, about you not eating
a balanced diet. And not eating enough.
DEBBIE Not really, no. I mean, I want to stay thin and healthy.
PETE Yeah. Oh, look, there's my sister!
Hi, Soph! This is my friend Debbie.
SOPHIE Hello, Debbie.
DEBBIE Hi.
SOPHIE I'm just on my way to the gym. I'll see you later, Pete.
Er, mum said dinner is at 6 o'clock so don't eat too much here!
PETE Yeah, OK.
SOPHIE 'Bye, Debbie. Nice to meet you.
DEBBIE You too.
Wow! Your sister is so cool. She looks really good. What's her secret?
PETE Three meals a day. And she doesn't go on diets.
DEBBIE You're joking.
PETE No I'm not. Three balanced meals, obviously!
And she goes to the gym twice a week.
DEBBIE Pete, did you plan this? Did you ask your sister to...
PETE Why would I do that?
PETE You know, when Debbie said you're overweight -
it was meant to be a joke.
JOEL It didn't sound like one.
PETE I know. She's really sorry.
JASS So what have you guys got for your lunch this time?
DEBBIE My usual. Plus a sandwich and an apple.
JOEL My usual. But I've just decided not to eat my crisps
and my chocolate after all!
DEBBIE You can have my yoghurt if I can have your chocolate.
JOEL Done!
PETE Think of the Community Award. And it makes the garden look nice.
DEBBIE I suppose so.
JOEL I'm really hungry. Is it time for lunch yet?
DEBBIE "Is it time for lunch yet?"
Honestly Joel, you're always eating.
JOEL So what?
DEBBIE So, you're overweight.
JOEL You must be joking!
I am not overweight, am I?
PETE No. Definitely not... Not yet, anyway!
JOEL Hey!
- MEETING 1
- DEBBIE I hate gardening. I hope we don't have to do this every week.
- Vocabulary (Synonym/Antonym)
- Grammar review (Present Tense: Affirmative and Negative Sentences)
- Expression of Stance "What do you think about gardening at your school?
- Role play/Short Video/Instagram Post
JOEL That's not lunch. That's a snack.
DEBBIE For me, Joel, it's lunch.
JOEL Oh, I know, you're on one of those stupid diets.
PETE Joel!
JOELWell, she must be crazy! She's not eating enough. And it's all salad.
DEBBIE No it isn't. I decide what I eat and how much, thank you.
I don't need your advice. Anyway, look what you've got there.
It's gross.
JOEL What?
DEBBIE You don't need crisps and bread.
And you certainly don't need chocolate biscuits.
JASS Hey, come on, guys. We don't have to argue about this.
I think the important thing about eating is...
DEBBIE I don't care what you think, Jess.
I don't actually care what any of you think. I eat what I want to eat.
JOEL And that goes for me too.
DEBBIE Yes, it does. I eat healthily. You eat unhealthily. Let's leave it at that.
JOEL No way! First you say I'm overweight...
PETE It was a joke, Joel.
JOEL Then you tell me I eat unhealthily. That's out of order, Debbie.
DEBBIE But when you say I'm on a stupid diet, that's OK - yes?
JASS Oh, come on guys. Stop arguing you two.
We've got a lot of work to do.
DEBBIE You must be joking. I'm not doing any work with Joel around.
I'm going home.
JASS Debbie!
Now look what you've done.
JOEL What I've done! I'm telling you, that's the last time I work with Debbie.
- MEETING 2
- JASS Hey, come on, guys. We don't have to argue about this. I think the important thing about eating is...
- Vocabulary (Synonym/Antonym)
- Grammar review (Present Tense)
- Expression of Stance "What do you think about being overweight?
- Role play/Short Video/Instagram Post
JASS I don't know what to do about Debbie and Joel.
We have to work as a team for the Community Award.
JASS So we have to get them working together again.
Have you got any ideas?
PETE I have actually. I think Debbie should meet my sister.
JASS Your sister?
PETE That's right. She's back from university for a few days.
JASS How can she help?
- MEETING 3
- PETE I have actually. I think Debbie should meet my sister.
- Vocabulary (Synonym/Antonym)
- Grammar review (Modal Auxiliaries)
- Expression of Stance "If you are as Pete, how will you solve that problem?
- Role play/Short Video/Instagram Post
PETE Joel didn't mean to be so rude.
I think he was upset because you said he was overweight.
DEBBIE It was a joke.
PETE I know that. But it didn't sound like a joke at the time.
DEBBIE Well. Maybe. I don't know.
PETE Do you think he's got a point? You know, about you not eating
a balanced diet. And not eating enough.
DEBBIE Not really, no. I mean, I want to stay thin and healthy.
PETE Yeah. Oh, look, there's my sister!
Hi, Soph! This is my friend Debbie.
SOPHIE Hello, Debbie.
DEBBIE Hi.
SOPHIE I'm just on my way to the gym. I'll see you later, Pete.
Er, mum said dinner is at 6 o'clock so don't eat too much here!
PETE Yeah, OK.
SOPHIE 'Bye, Debbie. Nice to meet you.
DEBBIE You too.
Wow! Your sister is so cool. She looks really good. What's her secret?
PETE Three meals a day. And she doesn't go on diets.
DEBBIE You're joking.
PETE No I'm not. Three balanced meals, obviously!
And she goes to the gym twice a week.
DEBBIE Pete, did you plan this? Did you ask your sister to...
PETE Why would I do that?
- MEETING 4
- PETE Do you think he's got a point? You know, about you not eating a balanced diet. And not eating enough.
- Vocabulary (Synonym/Antonym)
- Grammar review (Present Tense: Interrogative sentence)
- Expression of Stance "What do you think about healthy life?
- Role play/Short Video/Instagram Post
PETE You know, when Debbie said you're overweight -
it was meant to be a joke.
JOEL It didn't sound like one.
PETE I know. She's really sorry.
- MEETING 5
- PETE You know, when Debbie said you're overweight - it was meant to be a joke.
- Vocabulary (Synonym/Antonym)
- Grammar review (Past Tense)
- Expression of Stance "What will you do if you are being overweight?
- Role play/Short Video/Instagram Post
JASS So what have you guys got for your lunch this time?
DEBBIE My usual. Plus a sandwich and an apple.
JOEL My usual. But I've just decided not to eat my crisps
and my chocolate after all!
DEBBIE You can have my yoghurt if I can have your chocolate.
JOEL Done!
- MEETING 6
- DEBBIE My usual. Plus a sandwich and an apple.
- Vocabulary (Synonym/Antonym)
- Grammar review (Countable and Uncountable Noun)
- Expression of Stance "What do you think about healthy food?
- Role play/Short Video/Instagram Post
ASKING FOR ONE'S OPINION/VIEW
what do you think about ...?
What is your opinion about...?
What do you mean?
What would you say about that?
what do you think about ...?
What is your opinion about...?
What do you mean?
What would you say about that?
STATING ONE'S POINT/VIEW
In my experience, ...
As far as I am concerned, ...
Speaking for my self, ...
In my opinion,...
Personally, I think ...
I'd say that ...
I'd suggest that ...
I'd like to point out that ...
I believe that ...
What I mean is ...
EXPRESSING PEOPLE'S GENERAL OPINION/VIEW
It is thought that ...
Some people say that ...
It is believed that ...
It is considered that ...
It is generally accepted that ...
Do you understand?
Conversation 1
Danang : Day by day the traffic jam is getting worse.
Dimas : I believe it is because there are too many private vehicles on the main street.
Danang : Do you think people should stop using private vehicles and start taking public transportation?
Dimas : In my point of view, if people move to public transportation, the traffic will not be this bad.
Danang : Well, it seems to me that people use private vehicles because the public transportation is not comfortable.
Dimas : In my experience not all of public transporations are uncomfortable. Besides, it is cheaper.
Danang : Yes. You are right about that.
Dimas : I believe it is because there are too many private vehicles on the main street.
Danang : Do you think people should stop using private vehicles and start taking public transportation?
Dimas : In my point of view, if people move to public transportation, the traffic will not be this bad.
Danang : Well, it seems to me that people use private vehicles because the public transportation is not comfortable.
Dimas : In my experience not all of public transporations are uncomfortable. Besides, it is cheaper.
Danang : Yes. You are right about that.
The conversation above shows how to express stance formally. When discussing a serious matter in formal settings, we tend to use formal phrase, such as in a debate, presentation or speech. The formal phrases you can use in this situation are:
I (personally) think ….
I feel that ….
I (strongly) believe (that) ….
In my opinion ….
In my experience ….
As far as I'm concerned ….
It seems to me that ….
In my (point of) view ….
To my mind ….
To be honest with you ….
I feel that ….
I (strongly) believe (that) ….
In my opinion ….
In my experience ….
As far as I'm concerned ….
It seems to me that ….
In my (point of) view ….
To my mind ….
To be honest with you ….
Conversation 2
Alia : What did you think of the Twilight movie?
Petra: I hated it.
Alia : Really? I loved it.
Petra: I think the movie is boring. The love story is just too much.
Alia : I guess it’s because you are a boy, and boys don’t like romantic movies.
Petra: Maybe. I like the music, though. In my opinion, the only good thing about the movie is the music.
Alia : Yeah. I feel that the music is really good.
Petra: I hated it.
Alia : Really? I loved it.
Petra: I think the movie is boring. The love story is just too much.
Alia : I guess it’s because you are a boy, and boys don’t like romantic movies.
Petra: Maybe. I like the music, though. In my opinion, the only good thing about the movie is the music.
Alia : Yeah. I feel that the music is really good.
The second conversation shows more casual way of expressing stance. Casual style is usually used when you discuss light issue between friends. For example, when your friend asks for your opinion about movies, music, sports, or fashion; the informal phrases you can use in these situations are:
I think ….
I feel that ….
If you ask me ….
I guess ….
You know what I think? (I think) ….
I feel that ….
If you ask me ….
I guess ….
You know what I think? (I think) ….
Keypoints
- You don’t always have to use casual phrases in informal conversations.
- Sometimes you can use formal phrases in your conversation between friends, to show you are very serious with what you say.
- The most important thing is to express what you have in mind without offending others.
- You can be strong in the position of your opinions but remain polite and not offensive
see also English Debate
see also How to Ask and Give Opinions
Jawablah pertanyaan-pertanyaan berikut dengan jujur dan bertanggungjawab!
| No. | Pertanyaan | Jawaban | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01. | Saya mengetahui arti kata-kata pada pada teks di atas |
Ya | Tidak |
| 02. | Saya bisa mengucapkan kata-kata sesuai dengan audio/video yang disajikan |
Ya | Tidak |
| 03. | Saya bisa memperagakan percakapan dengan membaca teks yang tersedia |
Ya | Tidak |
| 04. | Saya bisa memperagakan percakapan dengan sedikit membaca teks |
Ya | Tidak |
| 05. | Saya bisa memperagakan tanpa membaca teks |
Ya | Tidak |
| 06. | Saya bisa memperagakan tanpa membaca teks disertai dengan variasi baru atau pengembangan teks |
Ya | Tidak |
| 07. | Saya bisa membuat karya video terkait dengan percakapan yang diperagakan |
Ya | Tidak |
| 08. | Saya bisa membuat video dan telah disosialisasikan pada sosial media yang saya miliki |
Ya | Tidak |
Bila ada jawaban "Tidak", maka segera lakukan review pembelajaran, terutama pada bagian yang masih "Tidak".
Bila semua jawaban "Ya", maka Anda dapat melanjutkan ke pembelajaran berikutnya.
Buatlah jurnal harian untuk membantumu dalam mempercepat proses pembelajaran dengan menjawab soal evaluasi diri berikut ini.
- Apakah yang kamu telah pelajari pada bagian ini?
- Apa yang menarik pada sesi ini?
- Apa kendala yang kamu alami?
- Apa yang kamu lakukan untuk mengatasi kendala tersebut?
Informasi lainnya yang terkait dapat diakses pada tautan berikut ini
