The Bus Route 12 Discussion: Holding the Floor and Building Consensus
At the Canolradd speaking test, you join a four-person group discussion. The prompt is: 'The council plans to change bus route 12, which serves 60 residents, the Thursday market and two hospital clinics. Should the route run later in the evening instead of more often during the day?' You have eight minutes to reach a consensus. The chair gives each person 90 seconds for an opening statement. One candidate, Rhys, keeps interrupting and insists on a later bus. Another, Nia, worries that a later service will cost too much and says older residents need daytime buses. You have 45 seconds left when the chair asks for a final proposal. Your job is to disagree politely with Rhys, link Nia's concern to evidence, and help the group agree on one recommendation and one action.
1. What turn-taking strategy should you use when Rhys interrupts your opening statement for the second time? Give one exact Welsh phrase and explain why it fits B1 register.
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Use a short, polite bid for the floor rather than competing with him: 'Gaf i orffen fy mhwynt, os gwelwch yn dda?' ('May I finish my point, please?'). This fits B1 because it is a fixed courtesy formula, uses 'gaf i' to ask permission, and names the specific problem without accusing Rhys. It also buys you a turn. Then immediately return to content: 'Rwy'n deall dy bwynt di am fws hwyrach, ond...' This acknowledges his point and keeps the discussion moving. If he continues, the chair should enforce the 90-second rule; you could add 'Dim ond un munud sydd gen i'. Avoid 'Byddwch yn dawel', which sounds aggressive and shifts the group from consensus to conflict.
2. Draft a 25-35 word contribution in Welsh that disagrees with Rhys's later-bus proposal and offers a compromise using Nia's cost concern.
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A suitable contribution is: 'Rwy'n deall bod bws hwyrach yn helpu gweithwyr, ond mae Nia'n iawn fod cost yn bwysig. Beth am rannu'r newid: bws hwyrach ddydd Iau yn unig, a gwasanaeth arferol ymlaen ddydd Llun?' (32 words). It does three things: it acknowledges Rhys's aim with 'yn helpu gweithwyr', validates Nia with 'mae Nia'n iawn', and proposes a trial rather than rejecting him. 'Beth am...' is a B1-level suggestion structure. 'yn unig' limits the extra cost, and the Thursday market detail connects the compromise to the prompt. It does not promise funding; it asks the group to test a limited change.
3. How should the group close in the final 45 seconds? State the two elements the final proposal must contain and give one Welsh sentence the chair or you could use.
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The final proposal must contain (1) the agreed recommendation and (2) an action with an owner and deadline. Example: 'Felly, rydyn ni'n cytuno i roi cynnig ar fws hwyrach ddydd Iau am dri mis, a gofyn i'r cyngor am gostau cyn mis Mai.' This states what will happen, how long the trial lasts, who will ask, and by when. In the last 45 seconds, do not introduce a new idea; use consensus language such as 'Felly, rydyn ni'n cytuno...' and check with 'Oes unrhyw un yn anghytuno?' The chair can then confirm the action in one sentence. This meets the task because it resolves the disagreement and leaves a clear next step.