language learning center · B2 · Lesson 6
Summarising complex ideas
Report another person’s position accurately and condense several points without distorting them.
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.
Hana
As I understand it, the report makes two main claims about urban green spaces.
Hana signals that she is presenting her understanding.
Marcus
Right. It suggests that they improve wellbeing and may also reduce summer temperatures.
Marcus reports both a strong and a cautious claim.
Hana
In other words, the benefits are social as well as environmental.
Hana condenses the details into broader categories.
Marcus
Yes, though the authors emphasise that design and maintenance affect the outcome.
Marcus preserves an important qualification from the source.
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.
As I understand it,…
Mark your interpretation.
As I understand it, the report makes two main claims about urban green spaces.
The main point is that…
Identify the central claim.
The main point is that…
It suggests that…
Report a cautious conclusion.
Right. It suggests that they improve wellbeing and may also reduce summer temperatures.
In other words,…
Restate more simply.
In other words, the benefits are social as well as environmental.
Taken together,…
Combine several findings.
Taken together,…
Notice, try, and speak
Which summary preserves a cautious original claim?
Make it yours
Summarise a complex idea in English using a main claim, two supporting points, and one qualification.
Use a recent article, conversation, or proposal that you can represent fairly.
Use it with someone
Summarise ideas accurately in English
- 1. As I understand it,…
- 2. The main point is that…
- 3. It suggests that…
- 4. In other words,…
- 5. Taken together,…