aiMOOC

E9 E - Solve competing priorities on a class trip

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E9 E - Solve competing priorities on a class trip

Mini-description: You are planning a class trip. Your group has different priorities: budget, culture, free time, accessibility, travel time and sustainability. Your job is to listen, compare evidence, ask follow-up questions, negotiate and agree on a fair compromise.

Target group: English as a first foreign language, Class 9, E-level, Baden-Württemberg.

Language mode: English first → understand → respond → ask → hint → improve → use again. You work mainly in English. Short German rescue hints are allowed when they help you continue, but there is no full translation.

Main speaking target: an 8–10 minute group negotiation with 4 speakers, followed by a 60–90 second group decision.

Learning goals: I can ...

I can compare priorities and explain why one point matters without ignoring other perspectives.
I can negotiate by making suggestions, disagreeing politely, asking spontaneous follow-up questions and building on another person's idea.
I can use evidence from short texts, tables, images and videos to support a decision.
I can develop a compromise that balances several needs instead of simply voting for my first choice.
I can revise my language after feedback and use improved phrases again in speaking and writing.
I can mediate information for a specific person and purpose without translating every word.

Media start: What matters on a class trip?

Look – think – speak, 90 seconds.

Look at the image for 20 seconds.
Name two possible advantages of combining train and bicycle travel.
Add one possible problem for a school group.
Ask a partner: Which priority would this option support most? Why?

Quick language:

It could be useful because ...
One concern might be ...
From an accessibility point of view, we should check ...
Compared with ..., this option seems ...

Do not guess access needs. Accessibility can include step-free routes, lifts, accessible toilets, seating, clear information, breaks and other individual needs. Ask what is needed and check reliable information.

Activate prior knowledge

Work with a partner for two minutes.

Name three things your class usually considers before a trip.
What is the difference between a want and a need?
Give one example of a situation in which the cheapest option is not automatically the fairest option.

Rescue hint: need = something that may be necessary; want = something you would like.

Your planning scenario

Your class has one school day for a trip. The following data are fictional classroom planning data. They are not real prices, timetables or accessibility information.

Option	Cost per student	Travel time one way	Culture	Free time	Accessibility information	Sustainability
Harbour City	€62	1 h 50 min	interactive history museum + city walk	80 min	step-free main route, accessible toilet listed	train + walking
Oldtown	€49	2 h 20 min	castle exhibition + local history trail	120 min	alternative step-free route needed for one viewpoint	coach + walking
Lake Park	€38	2 h 35 min	environmental centre + local history room	150 min	main route step-free, some optional gravel paths	train + local bus

Important: A good decision uses the data, but it also checks what is missing. For example: Is the return time realistic? Is the accessible route available on that day? Are there extra costs? Which source would you trust for current information?

Fictional group profiles

All names and preferences are fictional. Do not use private data from real classmates.

Alex – budget + travel time: “I don't want anyone to miss the trip because it is too expensive. I also don't want us to spend most of the day travelling.”
Samira – culture: “A class trip should include something we cannot simply do in our classroom. I want a strong learning experience.”
Jordan – accessibility: “The plan must work for everyone in the group. We need reliable access information, not assumptions.”
Lea – free time + sustainability: “I want some independent time with friends, but I also want us to think about the environmental impact of our journey.”

Your task: Represent your profile fairly, but do not stay fixed. A strong negotiator can change position when another argument is convincing.

Listening and viewing 1: disagreeing without stopping the discussion

The British Council video shows two young people expressing different opinions.

First viewing – understand:

Watch without stopping.
Listen for one phrase that shows disagreement.
Notice how a speaker reacts to the other person's point.

Second viewing – respond:

Pause after a useful phrase.
Say the phrase aloud.
Replace the topic with a class-trip issue.

Example: I see what you mean, but ... → I see what you mean, but the journey would take too long.

Ask: What makes disagreement sound cooperative rather than aggressive?

Listening and viewing 2: making and responding to suggestions

Focus on the section in which speakers make, accept or reject suggestions.

Viewing challenge:

Write down two different suggestion starters.
Write down one way to reject an idea politely.
Use one phrase immediately with the Harbour City, Oldtown or Lake Park option.

Use again: How about ...? Why don't we ...? We could ... That sounds reasonable, but ... I'd prefer ... because ...

Reading: Compare before you decide

Read the three option cards again. Then answer in English.

Which option has the lowest stated cost?
Which option gives the shortest stated journey?
Which option provides the most stated free time?
Which option includes an accessibility point that still needs an alternative route?
Which two options use rail for at least part of the journey?
Which important information is still missing from all three options?

Higher-level question: Which fact is most relevant depends on the speaker. Explain how the same fact could be interpreted differently by two group members.

Context vocabulary

Word or phrase	Meaning in this task	Short rescue hint
priority	something that matters more than other points	wichtiger Punkt
trade-off	giving up one advantage to gain another	Abwägung
affordable	not too expensive for the people involved	bezahlbar
accessible	usable by people with different access needs	zugänglich
journey time	time needed to reach the destination	Fahrzeit
evidence	information that supports a claim	Beleg
concern	a point that may cause a problem	Bedenken
feasible	realistic and possible	machbar
compromise	an agreement in which different sides give and gain something	Kompromiss
outweigh	be more important than another factor	stärker wiegen
reliable source	a source you have good reasons to trust	verlässliche Quelle
to reconsider	to think about a decision again	neu abwägen

Pronunciation and fluency

Goal: Be easy to understand. Accent-free English is not the goal.

Speak in meaningful chunks:

I see your point / but I'm still worried about the cost.

If we choose Harbour City / we will save travel time / but we will spend more.

Could you explain / why accessibility is a concern here?

Fluency drill:

Read each sentence once slowly.
Read it again with clear stress on the important content words.
Turn the sentence into your own class-trip sentence.
Say it once without reading.

Useful stress: Make the contrast clear: CHEAPER, but LONGER; MORE free time, but LESS culture.

Speaking toolkit

Give a position

From my point of view, ... For me, the main priority is ... because ... The evidence suggests that ... I would rank this point highly because ...

Ask and clarify

What makes that your main concern? Could you explain what you mean by ...? Which part of the plan are you referring to? What evidence supports that? Would your view change if ...?

Agree and build

That's a good point. I agree, especially because ... Building on your idea, we could ... Yes, and we might also ...

Disagree and keep the discussion open

I see your point, but ... I'm not fully convinced because ... That could work, although ... I agree up to a point, but ... I'm not sure that solves the accessibility issue.

Compromise

What if we ... so that ...? Could we keep ... but change ...? We could accept ... if ... A fair compromise might be ... This option does not give everyone their first choice, but it addresses ...

Functional grammar for negotiation

Use grammar because it helps you negotiate.

Function	Useful pattern	Example
Suggest	could / might	We could choose Oldtown and reduce another cost.
Recommend	should	We should check the step-free route before deciding.
Predict a result	If + present, will + verb	If we choose Harbour City, we will spend less time travelling.
Compare	comparative + than	Lake Park is cheaper than Harbour City.
Concede	although / even though	Although Oldtown is cheaper, the journey is longer.
Balance	on the one hand / on the other hand	On the one hand, the trip is affordable; on the other hand, we lose time.

Mini-upgrade: Avoid repeating good and bad. Try affordable, realistic, inclusive, flexible, time-consuming, worthwhile, limited, convincing.

Main speaking task: 8–10 minute negotiation

Work in groups of four. Use the fictional profiles or create four new fictional role cards.

Round 1 – opening positions, about 3 minutes: Each person speaks for 35–45 seconds. Give your priority, one piece of evidence and one concern.

Round 2 – open negotiation, about 4 minutes: Ask questions, challenge ideas, compare options and react spontaneously.

Round 3 – compromise, about 2 minutes: Build one plan that addresses all six priorities.

Final decision, 60–90 seconds: One or two speakers present the group's compromise and one unresolved point.

Minimum speaking challenge per learner:

three extended turns of about 20–35 seconds
two spontaneous follow-up questions
one polite disagreement
one concession
one evidence-based comparison
one contribution to the final compromise

No script reading. Notes may contain keywords, numbers and phrase starters only.

Media checkpoint: accessibility and sustainability

Image task: Identify what information an image can show and what it cannot prove. An image may show a feature, but it does not confirm that every station, route or service is accessible on your travel date.

Source question: A visual can influence your impression quickly. Before using it as evidence, ask:

Who created it?
What does it actually show?
Is it current enough for my claim?
Can another reliable source confirm the information?

Transfer prompt: Sustainable travel is not only about the vehicle. Group size, route, connections, walking distances, accessibility and total travel time can affect the decision too.

Help levels

Choose the lowest level of help that lets you continue.

Help 1 – independent

Use only the option table and your own notes. Aim for spontaneous language.

Help 2 – phrase bank

My main concern is ... The table shows that ... Can you respond to that point? I see your argument, but ... What if we combine ... and ...? Would that be fair for ...?

Help 3 – rescue frame

I prefer ______ because ______. You said ______. Do you mean ______? I agree / disagree because ______. If we choose ______, we will ______. A compromise could be ______.

After using a rescue frame once, try a freer sentence next time.

Feedback loop: hint → improve → use again

After the first discussion, exchange feedback.

Two strengths:

Name one moment when your partner reacted well to another speaker.
Name one phrase or argument that was clear and convincing.

One next step: Choose only one improvement:

give a reason after an opinion
ask a real follow-up question
connect ideas more clearly
use evidence more precisely
soften disagreement
make the compromise more specific

Use again: Repeat a 90-second mini-negotiation and deliberately use your improvement.

Error analysis

Correct the sentences. Then explain what changed.

We should to choose the cheaper option.
If we will take the train, we will arrive earlier.
Oldtown is more cheaper than Harbour City.
Accessibility is more important as free time for this situation.
I am agree with you because the journey is shorter.
The museum is interesting, but I think we need also free time.

Possible improved forms: We should choose ...; If we take ..., we will ...; cheaper than; more important than; I agree ...; place also naturally in the sentence.

Do not erase your first version. Keep it, mark the change and write one short rule or reminder next to it.

Writing: decision memo

Write 180–220 words for your class council.

Purpose: recommend a class-trip plan after the group negotiation.

Include:

a clear recommendation
at least two different perspectives
evidence from the fictional option table or a checked source
one counterargument
one compromise
a short final justification

Suggested structure:

Paragraph 1: decision + main reason Paragraph 2: compare two priorities with evidence Paragraph 3: address a different perspective and counterargument Paragraph 4: compromise + final recommendation

Revision round:

underline your claim
box two pieces of evidence
circle one connector of contrast
mark one sentence you improved after feedback
check that your final text still sounds like your own writing

Optional mediation

A German-speaking teacher gives you these planning notes:

Die Gruppe muss spätestens um 18 Uhr zurück sein. Zusätzliche Kosten sollen vorher klar genannt werden. Mindestens eine Person benötigt eine stufenfreie Route. Freie Zeit ist möglich, wenn Treffpunkt und Uhrzeit eindeutig vereinbart sind. Änderungen müssen der Gruppe rechtzeitig mitgeteilt werden.

Your English-speaking exchange partner asks: What do we need to know before we choose a trip?

Write or say 90–120 words in English. Do not translate sentence by sentence. Select the information that your partner needs, organise it clearly and adapt the wording to the situation.

Digital and AI literacy

No external AI tool is required for this aiMOOC.

Keep your own first draft and your own notes.
Do not upload private recordings, names, contact details or other personal data.
Audio or video recording is voluntary and should stay private unless everyone involved has clearly agreed to another use.
If your school allows an AI tool for language feedback, use only non-personal text excerpts, compare the suggestion with your own intention and verify factual claims with reliable sources.
Do not accept feedback automatically. Decide which changes improve clarity and which would change your meaning or make the language sound unlike you.
Check current travel facts with suitable official sources before a real trip. The classroom data in this aiMOOC are fictional.

Transfer

New situation: Your class can organise only one end-of-year event. The priorities are cost, inclusion, learning value, fun, travel distance and environmental impact.

You have four minutes to transfer the same strategy:

define priorities
ask for evidence
compare trade-offs
challenge politely
agree on one compromise

Goal: Use at least three phrases from the class-trip negotiation without reading them.

Can-do check

I can ...	Yes	Almost	My next step
explain a priority with a reason and evidence	□	□	__________
ask a spontaneous follow-up question	□	□	__________
disagree politely and continue the discussion	□	□	__________
compare at least two perspectives	□	□	__________
help create a specific compromise	□	□	__________
revise my own language after feedback	□	□	__________

Follow-up course

Continue with E9 E - Present and defend a class trip decision. There you turn the compromise into a short presentation, answer spontaneous questions and defend the decision with evidence.

Interaktive Aufgaben

Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen

What is the main purpose of a compromise? (To address different priorities in one workable agreement) (!To make one person win every point) (!To avoid giving reasons) (!To choose the most expensive option)

Which phrase keeps a disagreement polite and open? (I see your point, but I am still concerned about the travel time.) (!You are completely wrong.) (!That idea makes no sense.) (!Stop talking about that.)

Which question asks for evidence? (What evidence supports that point?) (!Who is your best friend?) (!Can we skip the discussion?) (!Why is English difficult?)

Which sentence uses the first conditional correctly? (If we choose the train, we will save time.) (!If we will choose the train, we save time.) (!If we chose the train, we will saves time.) (!If we choosing the train, we will saved time.)

Which sentence makes a comparison correctly? (Lake Park is cheaper than Harbour City.) (!Lake Park is more cheaper Harbour City.) (!Lake Park is cheapest than Harbour City.) (!Lake Park cheaper as Harbour City.)

What should you do before using current accessibility information for a real trip? (Check a reliable and current source.) (!Assume the photo shows every station.) (!Copy an old comment without checking it.) (!Guess what another person needs.)

What is a trade-off? (Giving up one advantage to gain another.) (!Repeating the same opinion louder.) (!Ignoring a difficult priority.) (!Choosing without comparing options.)

Which action shows active listening? (Responding to a speaker's point and asking a follow-up question.) (!Reading your prepared speech without reacting.) (!Changing the topic immediately.) (!Waiting only for your turn to speak.)

What is the best use of mediation in this task? (Selecting and explaining relevant information for a specific person and purpose.) (!Translating every word in the same order.) (!Adding information that was not provided.) (!Replacing the message with your own opinion.)

What should happen after feedback? (Improve one point and use the improved language again.) (!Delete the first draft immediately.) (!Accept every correction without checking it.) (!Stop using your own wording.)

Memory

Priority	Something that matters strongly in a decision
Trade-off	Giving up one advantage to gain another
Evidence	Information that supports a claim
Accessibility	Planning so people with different access needs can take part
Feasible	Realistic and possible
Compromise	An agreement that balances different interests

Drag and Drop

Ordne die richtigen Begriffe zu.	Thema
I see your point, but ...	polite disagreement
What evidence supports that?	asking for support
How about taking the train?	making a suggestion
Could you explain what you mean?	asking for clarification
What if we keep the museum but reduce the free-time block?	building a compromise

Kreuzworträtsel

Compromise	What do you call an agreement that balances different interests?
Accessibility	Which planning principle focuses on whether everyone can take part?
Priority	What is a point that matters especially strongly in a decision?
Evidence	What supports a claim with information rather than opinion alone?
Feasible	Which word means realistic and possible?
Sustainability	Which concept asks you to consider long-term environmental and social impact?

LearningApps

Lückentext

Offene Aufgaben

Leicht

Priority card: Create one fictional student profile with one main priority, one reason and one concern. Keep it to 60–80 words.
Phrase remix: Choose six negotiation phrases and rewrite them for the class-trip scenario.
Image evidence: Use one Wikimedia Commons image from this aiMOOC. Write three sentences: what you can see, what you can reasonably infer and what you cannot know from the image alone.
Mini dialogue: Write a 10-line dialogue in which two students disagree politely and end with one possible compromise.

Standard

Option redesign: Change one fictional trip option so that it becomes more accessible without making every other priority perfect. Explain the new trade-off.
Source check: Find two reliable sources for one real trip factor such as timetable, accessibility or entrance cost. Explain why each source is suitable and note the date you checked it.
Negotiation replay: Perform a 4-minute second negotiation after peer feedback. Use at least two improved phrases and one spontaneous follow-up question.
Decision memo: Write the 180–220 word recommendation, then revise it once while keeping the first version visible.

Schwer

Perspective switch: Argue first for one priority and then for a different priority. Explain which evidence changes when your perspective changes.
Fairness audit: Examine your group's compromise. Identify one person who gains, one who gives something up and one issue that still needs checking. Improve the plan.
Mediation challenge: Turn a short German information sheet about a fictional school trip into a concise English message for exchange students. Select rather than translate.
Class council simulation: Run an 8–10 minute negotiation with four speakers and finish with a 90-second presentation plus two spontaneous audience questions.

Lernkontrolle

Conflicting priorities: A trip is cheap and culturally rich but takes three hours each way. Explain how three different student profiles might judge the same plan differently and propose a compromise.
Evidence under pressure: A group member says, “This station is accessible because I saw a photo of a ramp.” Evaluate the claim and describe what should be checked before a real journey.
Compromise quality: Compare two possible compromises. Explain which priorities each one addresses, what each one gives up and what extra information would help the group decide.
Language for cooperation: Rewrite a short, confrontational disagreement so that the arguments stay clear but the discussion remains cooperative. Explain two language changes.
Transfer decision: Apply the negotiation process to a school event with new priorities. Show how you move from individual preferences to a shared decision.
Revision reasoning: Present one sentence from your first draft, your revised version and a short explanation of why the change improves clarity, accuracy or argumentation.

Lernnachweis

Für einen Lernnachweis zu diesem Thema sind wichtig:

eine nachvollziehbare 8–10-minütige Gruppendiskussion mit aktiver Reaktion auf andere Beiträge
mindestens zwei spontane Rückfragen pro Lernendem
ein begründeter Vergleich unterschiedlicher Prioritäten
ein konkreter, nicht nur allgemein formulierter Kompromiss
ein kurzer mündlicher Abschluss mit Entscheidung und Begründung
ein 180–220 Wörter langer argumentierender Text mit Perspektivenbezug, Beleg, Gegenargument und Revision
sichtbare Überarbeitung des eigenen Textes statt Ersetzen durch fremde Formulierungen
reflektierter Umgang mit Quellen, Medien, Fakten und Feedback
verständliche Aussprache und sinnvoller Redefluss; Akzentfreiheit ist kein Bewertungskriterium
bei Mediation: Auswahl der relevanten Informationen passend zu Zweck und Adressat

Medien und geprüfte Ausgangsquellen

Die eingebundenen Wikimedia-Commons-Dateien sind freie bzw. offen lizenzierte Medien; die konkrete Lizenz und erforderliche Namensnennung stehen jeweils auf der Dateibeschreibungsseite.