B2 Collocation 正式 2分钟阅读

facilitate discussion

Enable conversation

Use this phrase when you want to professionally describe helping a group share ideas and talk openly.

15秒了解

  • Helping a group of people talk to each other effectively.
  • Making conversation easier by removing barriers or providing structure.
  • A professional way to say you are leading a group talk.

意思

To make it easier for people to talk and share ideas. It is like being a bridge that helps a conversation flow smoothly without getting stuck.

关键例句

3 / 6
1

Leading a team meeting

My role today is to facilitate discussion regarding the new budget.

My role today is to enable conversation regarding the new budget.

💼
2

A teacher in a classroom

The seating was arranged in a circle to facilitate discussion.

The seating was arranged in a circle to make talking easier.

💼
3

Texting a group project chat

I'll start a thread to facilitate discussion on the final slides.

I'll start a thread to help us talk about the final slides.

🤝
🌍

文化背景

This phrase rose to prominence alongside the 'facilitative leadership' style in the late 20th century. It reflects a Western cultural shift away from top-down authority toward collaborative teamwork. In modern offices, being a 'facilitator' is often seen as a more valuable skill than being a traditional 'boss'.

💡

The 'Neutral' Secret

To truly facilitate discussion, you should stay neutral. If you give your opinion too early, you stop others from sharing. Use phrases like 'What do others think?' to keep it going.

⚠️

Don't Overuse in Casual Settings

If you use this at a party, you will sound like a robot. Stick to 'get people talking' or 'break the ice' when you are with friends.

15秒了解

  • Helping a group of people talk to each other effectively.
  • Making conversation easier by removing barriers or providing structure.
  • A professional way to say you are leading a group talk.

What It Means

Facilitate discussion is about creating a space where people feel comfortable talking. You aren't just talking yourself. You are helping others speak. Think of it like being a party host. You introduce people and keep the energy high. You remove the awkward silence. It makes the act of sharing ideas feel effortless.

How To Use It

You use this when you are the leader or the helper. Use it with verbs like aim to or strive to. For example, "I want to facilitate discussion on this topic." You can also use it to describe tools. A good app might facilitate discussion between remote teams. It sounds smart and professional. It shows you care about what others think.

When To Use It

Use this in any organized setting. It is perfect for business meetings or workshops. Use it in a classroom when the teacher wants students to participate. It works well in online forums too. If you are a moderator, this is your main job. Use it when you want to sound like a leader. It shows you are organized and inclusive.

When NOT To Use It

Do not use this at a casual Friday night dinner. If you tell your best friend, "I will facilitate discussion about our pizza toppings," they will laugh. It is too formal for a first date. Avoid it in high-stress emotional arguments. It sounds too clinical and cold there. Don't use it if you are the only one talking. That is a lecture, not a discussion!

Cultural Background

In Western business culture, "flat hierarchies" are very popular now. Leaders don't want to dictate; they want to facilitate. This phrase became a buzzword in the 1990s and 2000s. It reflects a shift toward collaboration. It suggests that the best ideas come from the group, not just the boss. It is a very "democratic" way of speaking.

Common Variations

You might hear facilitate a dialogue or encourage discussion. Some people say moderate the conversation. If you want to be less formal, say get people talking. In tech, people say enable communication. However, facilitate discussion remains the gold standard for professional settings. It sounds polished and intentional.

使用说明

This is a high-level B2/C1 collocation. It is most effective in resumes, cover letters, and formal workplace settings. Using it correctly marks you as a sophisticated communicator.

💡

The 'Neutral' Secret

To truly facilitate discussion, you should stay neutral. If you give your opinion too early, you stop others from sharing. Use phrases like 'What do others think?' to keep it going.

⚠️

Don't Overuse in Casual Settings

If you use this at a party, you will sound like a robot. Stick to 'get people talking' or 'break the ice' when you are with friends.

💬

The Silent Facilitator

In some cultures, silence is a tool to facilitate discussion. In the US/UK, facilitators often jump in quickly, but in Japan, a long pause can be the best way to invite others to speak.

例句

6
#1 Leading a team meeting
💼

My role today is to facilitate discussion regarding the new budget.

My role today is to enable conversation regarding the new budget.

Shows the speaker is a neutral leader helping the team.

#2 A teacher in a classroom
💼

The seating was arranged in a circle to facilitate discussion.

The seating was arranged in a circle to make talking easier.

Refers to how physical space helps people talk.

#3 Texting a group project chat
🤝

I'll start a thread to facilitate discussion on the final slides.

I'll start a thread to help us talk about the final slides.

Slightly formal for a text, but shows leadership.

#4 A humorous social observation
😄

Nothing facilitates discussion like a broken elevator and four strangers.

Nothing makes people talk like being stuck in an elevator.

Uses a formal phrase for a funny, awkward situation.

#5 A community town hall
👔

We need a neutral moderator to facilitate discussion between the neighbors.

We need a neutral person to help the neighbors talk.

Used when there is conflict that needs careful handling.

#6 Talking about a support group
💭

The counselor worked hard to facilitate discussion about our shared grief.

The counselor worked hard to help us talk about our grief.

Used in a sensitive, high-stakes emotional environment.

自我测试

Choose the best word to complete the professional goal.

The workshop leader used icebreakers to ___ discussion among the shy participants.

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: facilitate

Facilitate is the correct choice because it means making the conversation easier and more natural.

Identify the correct context for this phrase.

In a job interview, you might say: 'I am skilled at ___ discussion in diverse teams.'

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: facilitating

We use the -ing form (gerund) after the preposition 'at' to describe a skill.

🎉 得分: /2

视觉学习工具

Formality Scale of 'Facilitate Discussion'

Casual

Chatting with friends

Get everyone talking

Neutral

Small office meeting

Start a conversation

Formal

Boardroom or Academic

Facilitate discussion

Where to Facilitate Discussion

Facilitate Discussion
💼

Corporate Workshop

Brainstorming new products

💻

Online Forum

Moderating a Reddit thread

🎓

University Seminar

Analyzing a complex text

🤝

Support Group

Sharing personal stories

常见问题

10 个问题

Not exactly. Leading a meeting can mean just giving orders, but facilitate discussion specifically means you are helping others talk and collaborate.

It is usually used for groups of three or more. For two people, it sounds a bit too formal; you would just say have a talk.

In professional and academic English, yes. In daily street English, people usually prefer help or make easier.

A facilitator is a person whose job is to facilitate discussion. They don't take sides; they just help the group reach a goal.

Yes! You can say, 'Slack facilitates discussion across different time zones.' It means the tool makes communicating easier.

Both are correct. Use facilitate discussion for the general concept and facilitate a discussion when talking about one specific event.

No, it is positive. It implies that without your help, the talk might be difficult or disorganized, but not necessarily bad.

Yes, it is used globally in all professional English contexts, including the UK, Canada, and Australia.

It is pronounced fa-SIL-i-tate. The stress is on the second syllable.

Don't say facilitate to discuss. Always use a noun after it, like facilitate discussion or facilitate the process.

相关表达

Moderate a debate

To control a formal argument between two sides.

Break the ice

To do something to help people feel relaxed in a new group.

Encourage dialogue

To try to get two different groups to talk to each other.

Foster communication

To help a culture of talking and sharing grow over a long time.

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