FUNCTIONS:

Agreeing

Disagreeing

Hesitating

Introducing your opinion

Asking for opinions

Expressing preferences

Asking for clarification

Expressing likelihood

Speculating, guessing

Advice and recommendations

Describing a picture

Agreeing

I think you’re right

I would go along with the idea

I completely agree with you

That makes perfect sense

You have a point there

Absolutely, that’s spot on!

I couldn’t agree more

Disagreeing

That’s not how I see it

I couldn’t agree less

You must be kidding

That’s a ridiculous idea, don’t you think?

With all due respect, I must disagree

I’m afraid I can’t see it that way

No way, that’s nonsense!

Hesitating

I’m in two minds about it

I have some reservations regarding that

I’m not entirely convinced

There’s something that gives me pause

While I’m not entirely opposed, I do have some doubts

Introducing your opinion

To my mind

I reckon

In my opinion

As I see it

It seems to me

I would argue

From my point of view

Asking for opinions

Don’t you think …?

What’s your attitude to …?

What’s your opinion of …?

Are you in favour of …?

What’s your position as regards …?

You don’t support …, do you?

Expressing preferences

I prefer…

I would rather…

My preference would be…

I tend to favour…

If I had to choose, I would…

I lean towards…

I am inclined to…

I’m a big fan of…

I really enjoy…

I’m into…

I absolutely love…

I’m crazy about…

I’m fond of…

It’s right up my alley

It’s my thing

I can’t get enough of…

It appeals to me

It’s growing on me

I wouldn’t miss it for the world

I’m not a big fan of…

I don’t really enjoy…

I’m not into…

I can’t stand…

I’m not fond of…

It’s not my cup of tea

It doesn’t do anything for me

I’m sick of…

It gets on my nerves

It puts me off

I’d rather not…

It leaves me cold…

Asking for clarification

Could you please elaborate on that?

Would you mind explaining that further?

I’m not quite sure I understand. Could you clarify?

Could you provide more details?

Can you expand on that point?

Expressing likelihood

“It’s a foregone conclusion that…”

“There’s no doubt in my mind that…”

“I am almost certain that…”

“It’s highly likely that…”

“Chances are that…”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if…”

“It’s possible that…”

“There’s a chance that…”

“It’s unlikely that…”

“I doubt that…”

Speculating, guessing

“It seems to me that…”

“My gut feeling is that…”

“From what I gather…”

“If I were to guess…”

“It would appear that…”

“I reckon that…”

“I suspect that…”

“In all likelihood…”

“There’s a distinct possibility that…”

“It’s plausible that…”

Advice and recommendations

“You might want to consider…”

“Perhaps you could try…”

“If I were you, I would…”

“One thing you could do is…”

“Have you thought of…”

“May I suggest…”

“It might be beneficial to…”

“Consider this approach…”

“Why not give this a go…”

“If it were up to me, I’d…”

Describing a picture

“In the foreground…”

“In the background…”

“In the center of the image…”

“On the left side of the picture…”

“On the right side of the picture…”

“At the top of the picture…”

“At the bottom of the picture…”

“The picture depicts…”

“The image illustrates…”

“The photograph shows…”

“One can see…”

“Notice how…”

“This scene captures…”

“This photograph highlights…”

DICTIONARY

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Zespół The Blue Tree

Talking Point – Memory
Learn more words

THE BLUE TREE

Everyday English

CEF B1

CEFR B1

Intermediate

Practise English by describing this image

part one

General View of Memory

Study the flashcards below.

Questions for discussion

Discuss these questions. Listen to the model answer and read the transcript.

TRANSCRIPT

I think I have quite a good memory, especially for conversations and emotional moments. I remember some situations very vividly, even small details. But when it comes to names, I sometimes struggle — the name escapes me, even if I know the person well. It’s funny because later it’s on the tip of my tongue, and then suddenly it’s coming back to me. So maybe my memory is selective rather than perfect.

In what situations does your memory work best, and when does it usually fail you?
TRANSCRIPT

My memory works best when I’m relaxed and genuinely interested in something. For example, I remember conversations with friends very vividly, especially if they were emotional or funny. But under pressure, my memory sometimes fails me. During exams or presentations, I can suddenly be drawing a blank, even if I revised regularly. Later, when I calm down, it’s coming back to me. I guess stress really affects how our brain filters information.

TRANSCRIPT

Yes, I definitely think it’s possible to improve your memory through practice. Our brain works like a muscle — the more you train it, the stronger it becomes. When I revise regularly and use repetition, information stays in my head much longer. Of course, sometimes I’m drawing a blank, especially under stress, but later it’s coming back to me. So I believe patience and consistent practice really make a difference.

part two

Personal Memories

Study the flashcards below.

Questions for discussion

Discuss these questions. Listen to the model answer and read the transcript.

TRANSCRIPT

One of my most pleasant memories from childhood is spending long summer evenings at my grandparents’ house. I have very fond memories of playing in the garden until it got dark and then listening to stories inside. I remember it vividly — the smell of fresh grass and the warm light in the kitchen. Even now, certain songs or smells bring back memories of that peaceful time.

TRANSCRIPT

Yes, I have — and it still makes me cringe when I think about it. Once, I completely forgot about an important school presentation. It slipped my mind because I was busy with other things. The next morning, when the teacher called my name, I was drawing a blank. For the life of me, I couldn’t explain why I wasn’t ready. I definitely learned to write important dates down after that.

Which types of memories stay with people the longest: emotional, surprising, painful, or joyful ones? Why?
TRANSCRIPT

I think emotional memories stay with people the longest, especially the ones that are very joyful or very painful. When something touches us deeply, it becomes etched in our memory. Even years later, we can remember it vividly. Surprising moments are strong too, but emotions make experiences more personal. That’s why certain smells, songs, or places bring back memories immediately — because they are connected to strong feelings.

Personal Memories

part three

Remembering Strategies

Study the flashcards below.

Questions for discussion

Discuss these questions. Listen to the model answer and read the transcript.

TRANSCRIPT

When I’m learning something new, I try to memorise it step by step instead of all at once. I revise regularly and use repetition because it really helps me remember. I also make associations, especially visual ones, so I store information more easily. If something is very important, I write it down so I don’t forget. For me, consistency is the key to making new knowledge stay longer.

TRANSCRIPT

Yes, I have kept a journal at different moments in my life, especially when I felt confused or stressed. Writing things down helped me organise my thoughts and understand my feelings better. Sometimes, when I read old entries, it brings back memories I had almost forgotten. It’s interesting how some moments are etched in my memory, while others need a small reminder from the past.

TRANSCRIPT

I think regular habits make a big difference. For example, if people revise regularly and use repetition, information stays in their memory much longer. It also helps to make associations or store information visually, like using diagrams or mind maps. Writing things down and keeping track of important dates can prevent problems later. In my opinion, small daily routines are more effective than last-minute studying.

Remembering strategies

part four

Reflective Memory

Study the flashcards below.

Questions for discussion

Discuss these questions. Listen to the model answer and read the transcript.

TRANSCRIPT

I think we remember some things better because they are connected to strong emotions. If something is joyful, painful, or surprising, it’s etched in our memory and stays with us for years. On the other hand, everyday details often fade over time because our brain filters information and keeps only what seems important. Memory is selective, so we don’t store everything — only what really matters to us.

TRANSCRIPT

I think modern technology has changed the way we remember things a lot. Today, we don’t always try to memorise information because we know we can find it online in seconds. Sometimes we just store information digitally instead of in our heads. At the same time, constant notifications can create a short attention span, which makes it harder to focus deeply. Our brain filters information differently when we are always distracted.

Many people believe that forgetting can be as important as remembering. Why might this be true?
TRANSCRIPT

I think forgetting can be just as important as remembering because our brain cannot keep everything. If we remembered every small detail, we would feel overwhelmed. Sometimes forgetting is a coping mechanism, especially after painful experiences. It helps us move forward instead of living in the past. Also, when some memories fade over time, we can focus more on what really matters in the present.

Reflective memory

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