Teacher Notes: Opinions, Agreeing, and Sounding Natural

Suggested full session

1. Warm-up (say aloud): 5–8 minutes
2. Board the “do not accept” list once: I am agree, according to me, depends of, I think that yes/no
3. Reading A + B + C with comprehension: 30–35 minutes (or set Reading C as preview)
4. Vocabulary + strength scale: 10 minutes
5. Calque repair (drag) + typed gaps + Soft/Strong: 12–15 minutes
6. Opinion flashcards — 3 cards per student: 15–20 minutes
7. Level 3 pair disagree: 8 minutes
8. Writing or grammar (pick one): 8 minutes
9. Set homework (recordings + rewrite rude reply): 5 minutes

Phrases to reward

• I agree / I don’t agree / I disagree
• In my opinion… / From my point of view…
• I think so / I don’t think so
• It depends on…
• I see your point, but…
• To some extent… / On the other hand…
• Self-correcting a calque mid-sentence

Do not accept — recast immediately

How to run them in class

• Solo mode (recommended): Each learner speaks 60s; others note one calque (if any) to share after—not during.
• Round-robin: One student speaks; class listens for hedges; quick praise + one recast; next topic.
• Required move: Every turn must include one soften (to some extent / I see your point / on the other hand).
• Deck: 12 everyday debate topics (remote work, tipping, AI drafts, late WhatsApp, etc.)—avoid politics.
• Timer: Use when students stop after one sentence.

English → Spanish (lesson 11)

• agree → estar de acuerdo (EN: verb, no be)
• disagree → no estar de acuerdo; discrepar
• in my opinion → en mi opinión
• from my point of view → desde mi punto de vista
• I think so / I don’t think so → creo que sí / creo que no
• it depends on → depende de (EN preposition: on)
• I see your point → entiendo tu punto
• to some extent → hasta cierto punto
• frankly → francamente
• on the other hand → por otro lado

Quick reference

A: Elena / Tomás prioritize portal vs close; soft disagreement; lead’s compromise; “I am not agree” almost said.

B: Diego’s calques (according to me, think that no, depends of); Plan B walk + film; discuss ≠ discuss about.

C: Sofia’s blunt remote-work post; Ana coaches hedges; edited post; sticky note on agree = verb.

Homework: Pablo soft-no on Thursday party; Saturday alternative.

Drag + type + strength

Drag: I agree, I don't agree, In my opinion, I don't think so, depends on, It seems to me, discuss, Currently.

Type: agree, on, so, point, extent, hand, view, about.

Strength: Strong, Soft, Strong, Soft.

Grammar choose: I agree with the idea · depends on · I think so · In my opinion · Let’s discuss it.

What to collect

• Part 1: Pablo / party comprehension.
• Part 2: Three flashcard recordings with softening + self-noted calque.
• Part 3: Rewrite of rude reply into soft disagreement email.
• Part 4: Spanish glosses for the ten opinion phrases.

Opinions and fluency

Praise a clear stance + one hedge before correcting form. For flashcards, recast calques after the 60s—unless the student freezes on I am agree; then prompt a restart. One correction per turn maximum. Collect repeated calques on the board for a 2-minute end-of-class “kill list.”