C1 Speaking Part 3: Master the Collaborative Task with 40+ Essential Phrases

Understanding the Collaborative Challenge

Part 3 tests three crucial skills:

1. Initiating and responding to ideas
2. Managing the discussion democratically
3. Reaching a decision (or attempting to)

Success comes from balancing assertiveness with collaboration—leading when needed, following when appropriate.

The 3-Minute Structure

First 2 Minutes: Exploration Phase

• Discuss all options
• Share opinions
• Compare possibilities
• DON'T rush to decide

Final Minute: Decision Phase

• Summarize key points
• Attempt to agree
• Make a selection (or agree to disagree)

Essential Phrases by Function

Starting the Discussion

Taking Initiative:

• "Shall we start by looking at...?"
• "Why don't we begin with...?"
• "Would you like to kick things off, or shall I?"
• "Let's see what we're dealing with here..."
• "Right, so we need to discuss..."

Collaborative Openers:

• "What's your initial reaction to these options?"
• "Which one catches your eye first?"
• "Where would you like to start?"
• "Any immediate thoughts on these?"

Inviting Your Partner's Opinion

Direct Invitations:

• "What do you think about...?"
• "How do you feel about this one?"
• "What's your take on...?"
• "Where do you stand on...?"
• "What are your thoughts on...?"

After You've Spoken:

• "But what about you?"
• "Do you see it differently?"
• "Would you agree with that?"
• "Does that make sense to you?"
• "What's your perspective?"

When Partner is Quiet:

• "I'd love to hear your thoughts on..."
• "You look like you have something to add..."
• "I'm curious about your opinion on..."
• "Have I been talking too much? What do you think?"

Building on Ideas

Agreement Plus:

• "I absolutely agree, and I'd also add that..."
• "That's a great point. Building on that..."
• "Exactly! And another thing is..."
• "You're right, and what's more..."
• "I couldn't agree more. In fact..."

Partial Agreement:

• "I see what you mean, though I wonder if..."
• "That's true to some extent, but..."
• "You make a valid point, however..."
• "I partially agree, although..."
• "Yes and no. While I accept that..., I think..."

Diplomatic Disagreement

Soft Disagreement:

• "I see where you're coming from, but..."
• "That's interesting, though I have a different view..."
• "I understand your point, but have you considered...?"
• "I'm not entirely convinced because..."
• "Actually, I see it slightly differently..."

Respectful Challenges:

• "Playing devil's advocate here, but what if...?"
• "Just to offer a different perspective..."
• "I wonder if we're overlooking..."
• "Could there be another way to look at this?"
• "Let me suggest an alternative view..."

Managing the Discussion

Moving On:

• "Shall we move on to the next option?"
• "What about looking at...?"
• "We haven't discussed... yet"
• "Let's consider... for a moment"
• "Perhaps we should talk about..."

Bringing Partner In:

• "You've been quiet—what are your thoughts?"
• "I've been dominating—over to you"
• "Sorry, I interrupted—please continue"
• "You were saying something about..."
• "Did you want to add something?"

Time Management:

• "We should probably start thinking about our decision"
• "We're running out of time, so..."
• "Let's try to narrow this down"
• "We need to start concluding"
• "Time to make a choice, I think"

Comparing and Evaluating

Weighing Options:

• "If we compare X with Y..."
• "The advantage of X over Y is..."
• "While X offers..., Y provides..."
• "On balance, I think..."
• "Weighing up the pros and cons..."

Prioritizing:

• "The most important factor is..."
• "What matters most here is..."
• "The key consideration should be..."
• "Above all, we need to think about..."
• "The priority has to be..."

Working Towards a Decision

Summarizing:

• "So, to recap what we've discussed..."
• "Let me see if I can summarize our thoughts..."
• "From what we've said, it seems..."
• "The main points we've covered are..."
• "Looking at everything we've discussed..."

Proposing Decisions:

• "Based on our discussion, I'd suggest..."
• "Given what we've said, how about...?"
• "Would you be happy if we went with...?"
• "Can we agree on...?"
• "What if we chose...?"

Reaching Agreement:

• "So, are we in agreement that...?"
• "It looks like we both prefer..."
• "Shall we go with... then?"
• "I think we've reached a consensus on..."
• "We seem to be leaning towards..."

When You Can't Agree:

• "We'll have to agree to disagree on this"
• "It seems we have different priorities"
• "Perhaps there's no perfect answer"
• "Both options have merit"
• "It's a tough call between..."

Advanced Collaborative Techniques

The Echo-Extend Technique

Partner: "I think flexibility is important."
You: "Yes, flexibility is crucial, especially when it comes to..."

The Question-Return Method

Partner: "What do you think about the cost?"
You: "It's definitely a factor. Do you think it outweighs the benefits?"

The Combine-and-Conquer Approach

"What if we combined elements from both options? We could..."

The Criteria Setting Strategy

"Before we decide, should we agree on what's most important? Is it cost, effectiveness, or accessibility?"

Managing Different Partner Types

The Dominator

• Use: "That's interesting. Can I add something?"
• Try: "You've made several good points. My view is..."
• Assert: "I'd like to explore a different angle..."

The Silent Type

• Use: "What aspects appeal to you?"
• Try: "I'm talking too much—your turn!"
• Ask: "Which option speaks to you?"

The Interrupter

• Use: "Just let me finish this thought..."
• Try: "Hold that thought—I'll come back to you"
• Assert: "As I was saying..."

The Rambler

• Use: "Those are all good points. Moving on..."
• Try: "Interesting! Now what about...?"
• Guide: "Time's ticking—shall we look at...?"

Cultural Sensitivity in Collaboration

Remember:

• Some cultures value harmony over debate
• Direct disagreement might feel uncomfortable
• Silence doesn't always mean lack of ideas
• Body language varies culturally

Adapt your approach while maintaining task focus.

Common Part 3 Topics and Useful Vocabulary

Workplace/Professional

• "team dynamics," "productivity," "work-life balance"
• "professional development," "job satisfaction"
• "efficiency versus quality," "innovation versus tradition"

Education/Learning

• "practical skills," "theoretical knowledge"
• "traditional methods," "modern approaches"
• "individual needs," "collective benefits"

Social/Community

• "community cohesion," "individual freedom"
• "cultural preservation," "modernization"
• "accessibility," "sustainability"

Technology/Progress

• "digital solutions," "human touch"
• "convenience versus privacy"
• "innovation versus reliability"

The Perfect Collaborative Balance

Your Speaking Time: 40-50%

• Not dominating (70%+)
• Not passive (20%-)
• Natural turn-taking

Interaction Types:

• Asking questions: 20%
• Building on partner's ideas: 30%
• Introducing new points: 30%
• Managing discussion: 20%

Practice Scenarios

Scenario 1: Facilities for a New Community Center

Practice phrases for:

• Comparing different facilities
• Considering diverse user groups
• Balancing cost with benefit

Scenario 2: Company Team-Building Activities

Practice phrases for:

• Evaluating effectiveness
• Considering different personalities
• Discussing practical constraints

Scenario 3: Environmental Initiatives

Practice phrases for:

• Weighing impact versus effort
• Considering long-term benefits
• Addressing skepticism diplomatically

Your Part 3 Emergency Kit

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Monologuing - Remember it's a discussion
2. Instant agreement - Show you can explore ideas
3. Harsh disagreement - Keep it diplomatic
4. Ignoring partner - Interaction is key
5. Forgetting to decide - Attempt a conclusion

Final Success Strategies

1. Listen actively - React to what your partner actually says
2. Share airtime - Both voices should be heard equally
3. Stay flexible - Don't be married to your first opinion
4. Show range - Use various collaborative phrases
5. Enjoy it - Natural interaction beats perfection