ここまで学習した内容を活かしながら、講師と一緒にスムーズにトピックを紹介する練習をしましょう。
The last three lessons have been about explaining context and asking questions. We are going to combine them into a full interview where you introduce topics smoothly.
Also known as "signposting", this is a very important skill that transfers to a ton of places. You can use signposting in:
- expert interviews;
- presentations;
- meetings you lead; and
- speaking tests, if needed.
Why is signposting important?
- It orients the listener. Not doing it can be confusing.
- It gives the listener a clear sense of where they are going.
- It shows you have a plan, that you are comfortable being in charge.
Quickly interview your teacher about their professional experience. Ask them about:
- their background;
- their teaching specialty; and
- one common trait in successful students.
Try to be professional in your approach.
Let your student interview you. Give short answers.
For example:
Q. Could you tell me about your background?
A. Sure, I started teaching [...] years ago. Before that, I worked in [...].
On that topic,
Q. What's your teaching specialty?
A. I specialise in teaching [for the G.B.C. test/teaching grammar/teaching business professionals, etc.].
So finally,
Q. I'd like to talk about successful students. What's one common trait in successful students?
A. Successful students always balance learning input with practical output. So they learn a new word and then put it into a few example sentences.
Likely feedback
- If they didn't use a roadmap and transitions:
- As an interviewee, I didn't know where you were going.
- Transitions between questions make it easier for the interviewee.
- Laying out a quick roadmap makes you seem professional.
- The first question should be polite, then the following questions can be more direct.
- Start politely, then get more direct (as in 8.3's Language B)
- You seemed nervous! Was it the topic? Or using English? Or what?
- Let's work on seeming confident all the time.
A. General to specific
Specific questions need to be introduced clearly. That can mean starting from the most general part and then specifying. Take a look at this example:
- Unclear question
"What's the name of the company that is my client's main competitor in the Middle East region and what's that company's competitive advantage?"
- Better order of information
client's competition > the Middle East region > the name of the competitor > their competitive advantage
- Clear question
"I'd like to know about my client's competition, especially in the Middle East region. What is the name of the main competitor there? What's that company's competitive advantage?"
Practice
Try an exercise with your teacher. Look at the following questions, decide on a better order of information, and ask the same question (or questions) more clearly.
- How many widgets were produced last year in the newer factory in Thailand and how many were produced in the older factory in Thailand?
- When did the current market leader in the ed-tech industry in your country become the market leader?
- How much did productivity change in the Delhi office after the new productivity measures were implemented, compared with before?
- How did the new meetings policy in the Paris office change workers' productivity in the office and were the changes perceived positively from the initial phase?
- What are 3 or more companies that are newcomers or disruptors in the financial technology industry in Scandinavia who have entered the market in the last 12 months?
B. Moving forward to the next point
You should tell the expert if you are staying on the same topic:
- On that...
- Also...
- One more question on that topic.
Also, smoothly transition to the next topic:
- Moving on...
- So, next, I'd like to talk about...
- Okay, that makes sense. Next, I have some questions about...
Practice
Pick a couple of topics with your teacher and think of a few questions. Your teacher will give relatively short answers. When you feel the topic is complete, naturally move on to the next one.
C. Controlling the conversation
Controlling the conversation can also be important.
A. You can go back to a previous point:
- Do you mind if we go back a bit?
- Actually, just to go back to what you said before...
- Let me circle back to what we were talking about a few minutes ago.
B. You can deviate from the plan.
- Just a quick aside...
- Let me go on a short tangent here.
- Let's actually go off track a little.
C. If your expert mentions a topic you'd rather cover later, you can defer that topic.
- You're getting ahead of me.
- Great point, but let's get to that in a moment.
- Let's put that aside for a moment.
Practice
Let's start with a very simple topic—your teacher's hometown or a place they've lived. First, look critically at these questions and give your teacher a roadmap. Then ask the questions in an order that makes sense.
- [Confirm your teacher's hometown.]
- NOTE: It's safest to confirm with an "I" statement: "I believe your hometown is […]. Is that right?"
- What's the population?
- What's the population trend?
- What's the best food?
- Is there a local specialty?
- What's the population forecast in 10 years?
- What's your personal favourite food?
- What's the climate like?
- Does it ever snow?
- What's the best food to eat in summer?
A. General to specific
If you have a specific question, you can lead into them through a big-to-small context.
Teacher's extra information:
Jarring:
(Out of the blue) "Please recommend a local seafood restaurant in your hometown."
Smooth, formal:
"I'd like to ask about your hometown. Specifically, I'm interested in seafood restaurants there. Would you be able to recommend a good one?"
Notice: Your hometown > seafood restaurants there > one you recommend
Practice
- How many widgets were produced last year in the newer factory in Thailand and how many were produced in the older factory in Thailand?
- Reordered:
newer factory in Thailand; older factory in Thailand > How many widgets were produced > last year
- Clearer:
I'm interested in the performance of the newer factory in Thailand compared to the older one. Specifically, how many widgets were produced last year in each one?
- When did the current market leader in the ed-tech industry in your country become the market leader?
- Reordered:
the ed-tech industry > your country > The current market leader > when?
- Clearer:
I'd like to ask about the ed-tech industry in your country. Which company is the market leader? When did it become the market leader?
- How much did productivity change in the Delhi office after the new productivity measures were implemented compared with before?
- Reordered:
new productivity measures > the Delhi office > productivity change > compared with before?
[NOTE: Can also be "the Delhi office > new productivity measures > ..."]
- Clearer:
I'd like to know about the new productivity measures in the Delhi office. How much did productivity change compared with before?
- How did the new meetings policy in the Paris office change workers' productivity in the office and were the changes perceived positively from the initial phase?
- Reordered:
the Paris office > new meetings policy > workers' productivity > the initial phase, how were the changes perceived?
[NOTE: Can also be: "new meetings policy > the Paris office > ..."]
- Clearer:
Tell me about the Paris office, specifically the new meetings policy there. How did it affect workers' productivity? ...Now, tell me about the initial phase, how were the changes first perceived?
- What are 3 or more companies that are newcomers or disruptors in the financial technology industry in Scandinavia who have entered the market in the last 12 months?
- Reordered:
financial technology industry > in Scandinavia > 3 or more companies that are newcomers or disruptors > entered the market in the last 12 months
- Clearer:
Can you tell me about the financial technology industry in Scandinavia? What 3 or more newcomers or disruptors have entered the market in the last 12 months?
[NOTE: We know that we're talking about companies, so you don't have to say it.]
B. Moving forward to the next point
The phrases are self-explanatory.
Practice
Pick a couple of topics: you can give a few topics you are knowledgeable about. Your hobbies, interests, background, or experience.
"I've travelled to India, Spain and South Korea. Ask me about each place."
Think of a few questions: your student should be able to come up with questions.
- Give relatively short answers.
- When the student feels the topic is complete, they should naturally move on to the next one.
C. Controlling the conversation
There are a lot of potential topics. Obviously, this topic is simple because your student should just focus on moving the conversation forward and back. Please don't really talk about simple topics like this at other times!
You can make up any answer you like.
Example:
- I believe your hometown is […]. Is that right?
- Okay. First, let me give you an overview of what I'd like to talk about.
- I’d like to ask about the population. Then we’ll get to local food and then the weather.
- So, let’s get started.
- What's the population?
- On that,
- What's the population trend?
- Great. Moving on to food.
- What's the best food?
- Also,
- Is there a local specialty?
- Do you mind if we go back to the population?
- What's the population forecast in 10 years?
- Thanks. Getting back to food.
- What's your personal favourite food?
- Sounds good. Next, I have some questions about the weather.
- What's the climate like?
- Also,
- Does it ever snow?
- By the way,
- What's the best food to eat in summer?
Case
The country’s leading drugstore chain has hired your company to grow profits. One growth area is to accelerate the growth of sales of their gift cards. Your team sees the opportunity to grow their gift card sales in the B2B space. The drugstore chain needs your resources and insight to execute this opportunity.
Your consulting firm is building a business case to validate this opportunity, Your team needs to:
- Assess the competitive landscape.
- Identify best practices.
- Create the infrastructure to support the B2B gift card program.
- Create a marketing plan to successfully meet sales targets.
First, work with your teacher to decide how you would introduce this case and what questions you would ask.
Then, interview the following experts.
1. Chris Wile-Smith
Chris has over 20 years of executive retail business experience. He has led teams of thousands to win multiple retail awards. Now he mainly defines corporate visions and strategies to deliver significant and sustainable growth. He has steered commercial growth, strengthened customer advocacy, elevated team engagement and provided strategic foresight to some of the largest global retail brands.
2. Ryan Shelton
Ryan Shelton is a founding member of Retail Doctor Group, which he helped establish in 2005. Ryan has steered his business to become a leading retail firm, specialising in retail, franchise and service sectors in every retail category. Retail Doctor Group has a strong history of development and transformation of retail strategy throughout Australia, Singapore and Europe, including sales campaigns and marketing.