Introduction: Engaging in Conversation
At B2 level, you should be able to do more than just answer questions; you need to actively participate in discussions (actief deelnemen aan discussies) on a range of topics, both familiar and somewhat unfamiliar. This involves expressing opinions, agreeing/disagreeing politely, asking clarifying questions, building on others' points, and helping the conversation flow smoothly.
Active participation demonstrates fluency, confidence, and effective communication skills.
Key Skills for Active Participation
- Expressing Opinions (
Meningen Uiten): Clearly state your viewpoint.
Ik vind dat...(I find that... / I think that...)Naar mijn mening.../Volgens mij...(In my opinion... / According to me...)Ik ben van mening dat...(I am of the opinion that...)Ik geloof dat...(I believe that...)Het lijkt mij dat...(It seems to me that...)Wat mij betreft,...(As far as I'm concerned,...)Ik ben ervan overtuigd dat...(I am convinced that...)
- Agreeing (
Instemmen): Show you share someone's view.
Dat ben ik (helemaal) met je eens.(I (completely) agree with you.)Dat vind ik ook.(I think so too.)Precies!/Inderdaad!(Exactly! / Indeed!)Dat klopt.(That's right.)Je hebt gelijk.(You are right.)Daar kan ik me wel in vinden.(I can agree with that / I can see that.)
- Disagreeing Politely (
Beleefd Oneens Zijn): Express a different view without being confrontational.
Daar ben ik het niet (helemaal) mee eens.(I don't (completely) agree with that.)Ik zie dat anders.(I see that differently.)Misschien wel, maar...(Maybe so, but...)Aan de ene kant..., maar aan de andere kant...(On the one hand..., but on the other hand...)Ik begrijp wat je zegt, maar ik denk dat...(I understand what you're saying, but I think that...)Zou het niet kunnen dat...?(Couldn't it be that...?)Met alle respect, maar...(With all due respect, but... - Use cautiously)
- Asking for Clarification (
Om Verduidelijking Vragen): Ensure you understand correctly.
Wat bedoel je precies met...?(What exactly do you mean by...?)Kun je dat uitleggen/toelichten?(Can you explain/elaborate on that?)Dus als ik het goed begrijp, zeg je dat...?(So if I understand correctly, you're saying that...?)Sorry, ik volg het even niet.(Sorry, I'm not quite following.)Kun je een voorbeeld geven?(Can you give an example?)
- Interrupting Politely (
Beleefd Onderbreken): Necessary sometimes, but do it courteously.
Sorry dat ik je onderbreek, maar...(Sorry to interrupt you, but...)Mag ik hier even op inhaken?(May I briefly jump in here?)Voordat we verdergaan, zou ik willen zeggen dat...(Before we continue, I would like to say that...)
- Building on Others' Points (
Voortbouwen op Anderen): Connect your contribution to what was said before.
In aanvulling op wat [naam] zei,...(In addition to what [name] said,...)Dat sluit aan bij mijn punt over...(That connects to my point about...)Om daarop verder te gaan,...(To elaborate on that,...)Dat doet me denken aan...(That reminds me of...)
- Keeping the Conversation Going: Ask open-ended questions, invite others to speak.
Wat vinden jullie ervan?(What do you all think about it?)Hoe zie jij dat, [naam]?(How do you see that, [name]?)Heeft iemand anders hier nog gedachten over?(Does anyone else have thoughts on this?)
- Summarizing or Concluding: Briefly recap points made.
Dus samenvattend kunnen we zeggen dat...(So, summarizing, we can say that...)De belangrijkste punten lijken te zijn...(The main points seem to be...)Zijn we het erover eens dat...?(Do we agree that...?)
Discussing Unfamiliar Topics
When a topic is less familiar:
- Listen Carefully: Focus on understanding the main points others are making.
- Ask Questions: Don't be afraid to ask for explanations of terms or concepts (
Wat betekent...?,Kun je uitleggen wat ... inhoudt?). - Relate to What You Know: Connect the unfamiliar topic to your existing knowledge or experiences, if possible.
- Express Tentative Opinions: Use cautious language (
Het lijkt mij dat...,Ik heb de indruk dat...,Ik weet er niet veel van, maar misschien...). - Acknowledge Lack of Knowledge: It's okay to say
Daar weet ik eerlijk gezegd niet zoveel van.(To be honest, I don't know much about that.) before asking a question or offering a limited perspective.
Active participation in discussions involves a combination of linguistic skills (knowing the right phrases) and interactional strategies (listening, turn-taking, politeness). Practice using phrases for agreeing, disagreeing, clarifying, and building on others' ideas. Don't hesitate to engage even with unfamiliar topics by listening actively and asking thoughtful questions. This active engagement is key to developing fluency and confidence at the B2 level.