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CEFR English Path · ESL 4 · Week 8 · Solve Problems Together

🤝 Community Problem-Solving

Compare realistic solutions, negotiate respectfully, and help a group reach an agreement.

Illustrated Thai teenage real-world English scene for Community Problem-Solving
Lesson 8 of 100 of 5 steps complete

Today

Your goal

  • I can discuss several solutions to a familiar community problem.
  • I can explain advantages, disadvantages, and likely results.
  • I can help a group reach a practical agreement.
🔊 Listen first
?

Listen to the English first. Use slower audio only when needed, then repeat it yourself.

Learn

Key words

We need to deal with …

Define the problem the group must address.

Thai helpเราต้องจัดการกับ…

วี นีด ทู ดีล วิธ

ใช้ระบุปัญหาที่กลุ่มต้องแก้

One possible solution is …

Introduce one solution.

Thai helpทางแก้หนึ่งที่เป็นไปได้คือ…

วัน พอส-ซะ-เบิล ซะ-ลู-เชิน อิซ

ใช้เสนอทางแก้หนึ่งทาง

The advantage would be …

Explain a benefit of an option.

Thai helpข้อดีคือ…

ดิ แอด-แวน-ทิจ วุด บี

ใช้อธิบายข้อดีของทางเลือก

The downside is …

Explain a drawback honestly.

Thai helpข้อเสียคือ…

เดอะ ดาวน์-ไซด์ อิซ

ใช้อธิบายข้อเสียอย่างตรงไปตรงมา

This would probably …

Predict a likely result.

Thai helpสิ่งนี้น่าจะ…

ดิส วุด พร็อบ-อะ-บลี

ใช้คาดการณ์ผลที่น่าจะเกิด

It might be difficult because …

Explain a practical difficulty.

Thai helpมันอาจยากเพราะ…

อิท ไมท์ บี ดิฟ-ฟิ-เคิลท์ บิ-คอซ

ใช้อธิบายอุปสรรคที่เป็นจริง

What if we …?

Offer an alternative for discussion.

Thai helpถ้าเราลอง…ล่ะ

วอท อิฟ วี

ใช้เสนออีกทางเพื่อให้กลุ่มพิจารณา

Which option is most realistic?

Evaluate options by practicality.

Thai helpทางเลือกไหนเป็นจริงที่สุด

วิช ออป-เชิน อิซ โมสต์ รี-อะ-ลิส-ทิค

ใช้ถามว่าทางใดทำได้จริงที่สุด

Can we agree on …?

Move the group toward agreement.

Thai helpเราตกลงกันได้ไหมว่า…

แคน วี อะ-กรี ออน

ใช้พากลุ่มไปสู่ข้อตกลง

Our final decision is …

State the agreed decision.

Thai helpข้อสรุปสุดท้ายของเราคือ…

อาวร์ ไฟ-เนิล ดี-ซิช-เชิน อิซ

ใช้สรุปข้อตกลงของกลุ่ม

Listen & Use

Use it

Real-life English

1
Canteen

We need to deal with mixed rubbish near the canteen.

Thai help

เราต้องจัดการขยะรวมใกล้โรงอาหาร

Tip: Stress deal with and rubbish.

2
Proposal

One possible solution is clearer sorting bins with bilingual signs.

Thai help

ทางแก้หนึ่งคือถังแยกขยะที่ชัดขึ้นพร้อมป้ายสองภาษา

Tip: Pause after solution.

3
Evaluation

The advantage would be easier recycling, but the downside is the initial cost.

Thai help

ข้อดีคือรีไซเคิลง่ายขึ้น แต่ข้อเสียคือต้นทุนเริ่มต้น

Tip: Contrast advantage and downside.

4
Agreement

Can we agree on a one-month trial and measure the result?

Thai help

เราตกลงทดลองหนึ่งเดือนและวัดผลได้ไหม

Tip: Use inviting intonation.

Listen

Useful sentences

We need to deal with mixed rubbish near the canteen.
Thai meaning

เราต้องจัดการขยะรวมใกล้โรงอาหาร

One possible solution is clearer sorting bins with bilingual signs.
Thai meaning

ทางแก้หนึ่งคือถังแยกขยะที่ชัดขึ้นพร้อมป้ายสองภาษา

The advantage would be easier recycling, but the downside is the initial cost.
Thai meaning

ข้อดีคือรีไซเคิลง่ายขึ้น แต่ข้อเสียคือต้นทุนเริ่มต้น

What if we run a one-month trial and measure the result?
Thai meaning

ถ้าเราทดลองหนึ่งเดือนแล้ววัดผลล่ะ

Can we agree on a plan that is realistic for students and cleaning staff?
Thai meaning

เราตกลงแผนที่เป็นจริงสำหรับนักเรียนและพนักงานทำความสะอาดได้ไหม

Listening for meaning

A group negotiates a school-waste plan

Listen twice. First identify purpose and main point. Then note important details, certainty/viewpoints, and the outcome before opening Thai help.

  1. Which solutions does the group discuss?
  2. What difficulties do they identify?
  3. What is the final one-month plan?

Reading for meaning

Reading: Community Problem-Solving

Read in English first. Identify purpose, main idea, evidence/details, and the language function for this week before opening Thai help.

A secondary school wants to reduce rubbish near the canteen without creating a plan that students will ignore. The student council collects three proposals. Proposal A is to remove most single-use plastic cups and ask every student to bring a bottle. This could reduce waste quickly, but some students may forget their bottles, and the school would need a backup option. Proposal B is to keep the current cups but add clearly labelled sorting bins and student volunteers for two weeks. The advantage would be easier recycling, although volunteers would need training and the bins could still be used incorrectly. Proposal C is to give a small class reward when a class reduces mixed waste for a month. Supporters think the reward would motivate students, but others worry that measuring each class fairly would be difficult. The canteen manager says any plan must be simple during the busy lunch period. A teacher adds that the school should not create extra work for cleaning staff. Students also want the plan to be affordable and easy to explain in Thai and English. During discussion, one student suggests combining ideas: install better sorting bins first, run a short awareness campaign, and allow students to refill water safely. After one month, the council can check the amount of mixed waste and decide whether stronger measures are needed. The group prefers this option because it can start at low cost, includes clear responsibilities, and can be adjusted after real evidence is collected.
  1. What problem is the student council trying to solve?
  2. What is one downside of removing disposable cups immediately?
  3. Why does the group prefer a one-month combined trial?
  4. How will the group know whether the plan works?

Use it

Listen, then change the details

Mali

We need to deal with the waste near the canteen.

Thai meaning

เราต้องจัดการขยะใกล้โรงอาหาร

Arun

One possible solution is to stop disposable cups immediately.

Thai meaning

ทางแก้หนึ่งคือหยุดใช้แก้วใช้ครั้งเดียวทันที

Nicha

The advantage would be less plastic, but some students may forget bottles.

Thai meaning

ข้อดีคือพลาสติกน้อยลง แต่นักเรียนบางคนอาจลืมขวด

Mali

What if we improve sorting bins first?

Thai meaning

ถ้าเราปรับปรุงถังแยกขยะก่อนล่ะ

Arun

That would probably be easier to start, but signs must be clear.

Thai meaning

น่าจะเริ่มง่ายกว่า แต่ป้ายต้องชัด

Nicha

It might be difficult because the canteen is very busy at lunch.

Thai meaning

อาจยากเพราะโรงอาหารยุ่งมากตอนพักกลางวัน

Mali

We could use pictures and Thai-English labels.

Thai meaning

เราอาจใช้รูปภาพและป้ายไทย-อังกฤษ

Arun

Which option is most realistic for the first month?

Thai meaning

ทางเลือกไหนเป็นจริงที่สุดสำหรับเดือนแรก

Nicha

Can we agree on better bins, clear signs, and a refill-point trial?

Thai meaning

เราตกลงเรื่องถังที่ดีขึ้น ป้ายชัด และทดลองจุดเติมน้ำได้ไหม

Mali

Yes. Our final decision is a one-month trial, then we measure the waste.

Thai meaning

ได้ ข้อสรุปคือทดลองหนึ่งเดือนแล้ววัดปริมาณขยะ

Try / Speak

Three-minute community solution meeting

Prepare briefly, speak independently, respond to other people, and use notes only as prompts rather than reading full sentences.

Press “New prompt” to begin.
03:00

Connected writing

Recommend a community solution

Write a recommendation for a school or community problem. Compare at least two options, include a trade-off, and recommend a realistic plan.

Target: 90–115 words

  • I used connected ideas rather than isolated sentences.
  • I included specific evidence, detail, or an example.
  • My final message matches the real-world purpose.

Mediation challenge

Summarize the group’s agreed plan

After a group discussion, explain the main proposals, one important trade-off, and the final one-month plan to a teacher who did not hear the discussion.

The group considered banning disposable cups, improving sorting, and a class reward. The agreed first step is clearer bins, bilingual signs, and a refill-point trial, followed by measuring mixed waste.

Reflect

How independently did I communicate?

  • I contributed at least one solution and responded to another person’s idea.
  • I compared advantages, disadvantages, and realistic constraints.
  • I helped summarize a final agreement and next step.
3 Independent2 Mostly independent1 Supported0 Not yet

Check

Quick check

1. Which phrase evaluates a practical choice?
2. A strong group solution should include…
3. Which phrase moves a group toward agreement?
More help

Can-Do goals

By the end of this lesson, I can…

  • Spoken InteractionI can discuss several solutions to a familiar community problem.
  • Language ControlI can explain advantages, disadvantages, and likely results.
  • MediationI can help a group reach a practical agreement.

CEFR Pre-B1 → B1

Skill focus

Interaction competence: contribute, respond, repair, negotiate, summarize.

Speaking productionSpoken interactionListeningReadingWritingMediation

Thai Learner Focus

Use clear turn-taking and evaluation stress in group discussion

Turn-taking, polite interruption, stress for evaluation, intelligible group discussion.

The ADvantage would be…

ดิ แอด-แวน-ทิจ วุด บี

Stress the evaluation word advantage.

Can we aGREE on this?

แคน วี อะ-กรี ออน ดิส

Use polite rising-falling intonation to invite agreement.

More words

English for familiar situations

school waste

Thai help

ขยะในโรงเรียน

Students compare ways to reduce single-use waste at school.

traffic at school gate

Thai help

การจราจรหน้าโรงเรียน

The group discusses safer and more realistic traffic flow at the school gate.

clean air awareness

Thai help

การตระหนักเรื่องอากาศสะอาด

Clean air awareness can include checking official PM2.5 information and reducing exposure.

water saving

Thai help

การประหยัดน้ำ

A water-saving plan should be simple enough for students to follow every day.

quiet study area

Thai help

พื้นที่อ่านหนังสือเงียบ

Students consider where and when a quiet study area would help most.

community event

Thai help

กิจกรรมชุมชน

A community event plan needs roles, timing, cost, and a realistic backup.

Grammar help

Conditionals, modals, cause/effect connectors, and comparative evaluation

Combine conditionals and modals with because, so, therefore, more/less, enough, and comparative language to predict consequences and evaluate realistic options.

More practice
  • Compare at least three solutions using one advantage and one downside for each.
  • Practise polite interruption and repair before returning to your main point.
  • Summarize the group decision, responsibilities, and one way to measure the result.