Summary
Finding out what people really think about a product or service requires a delicate touch, especially when you need honest feedback. This lesson explores the techniques behind successful market research, teaching you how to phrase questions politely and effectively. You'll discover how to encourage open responses and gain valuable insights from your participants.
Vocabulary
Expand your professional lexicon with terms essential for market research, such as to gauge interest, to drill down into a topic, and understanding what it means to be on the right track. You'll also learn how to talk about a focus group and the skill of reading between the lines.
Grammar
This lesson focuses on mastering indirect questions, a key grammatical structure for polite and professional communication. You'll learn how to transform direct questions into more tactful enquiries, making your interactions smoother and more effective, especially in formal settings.
Practical English
Practise conducting a market research interview with useful phrases designed to create a comfortable atmosphere and elicit detailed responses. You'll learn how to start an interview with phrases like First off, thanks for your time. Just to be clear, there are no right or wrong answers here, and how to clarify understanding with expressions such as So, if I'm understanding you correctly, you feel that....
Discussion
Put your new skills into practice with a speaking activity where you'll have the opportunity to conduct and participate in mock market research interviews. This allows you to apply the polite questioning techniques and practical phrases in a realistic scenario.
Reading
The lesson is built around an authentic article that explores various aspects of effective market research. You'll engage with real-world examples and insights, providing a solid foundation for understanding the topic.
