language learning center · B2 · Lesson 5
Contrasting perspectives
Compare competing viewpoints, concede valid points, and defend a position with balance.
Understand and learn
Work from a natural example to useful language, one small pattern, a spoken attempt, and a response that is relevant to your life.
Grace
Some people argue that tourism always benefits small communities.
Grace introduces a commonly held position.
Omar
That may be true economically; nevertheless, rapid growth can put pressure on housing.
Omar concedes one dimension before presenting a counterpoint.
Grace
Whereas visitors bring income, residents may bear costs that are less visible.
Grace contrasts effects on two groups.
Omar
Exactly. The issue is not tourism itself, but how its benefits and costs are shared.
Omar reframes the disagreement around a more precise question.
Notice, try, and speak
Understand a natural example and learn a small set of useful words, phrases, and patterns.
Useful words and phrases
These items were selected by the lesson curriculum for practical use—not extracted as an every-word list.
Some people argue that…
Introduce a viewpoint fairly.
Some people argue that tourism always benefits small communities.
That may be true; nevertheless,…
Concede before countering.
That may be true economically; nevertheless, rapid growth can put pressure on housing.
Whereas…, …
Contrast two facts or groups.
Whereas visitors bring income, residents may bear costs that are less visible.
From another perspective,…
Change the analytical viewpoint.
From another perspective,…
The issue is not…, but…
Reframe the central question.
Exactly. The issue is not tourism itself, but how its benefits and costs are shared.
Notice, try, and speak
Which response concedes a point before presenting a counterargument?
Make it yours
Compare two perspectives in English using concession, contrast, and reframing.
Choose a real issue where both sides have at least one reasonable point.
Use it with someone
Discuss competing views in English
- 1. Some people argue that…
- 2. That may be true; nevertheless,…
- 3. Whereas…, …
- 4. From another perspective,…
- 5. The issue is not…, but…