USING QUESTIONS

USING QUESTIONS

Giving students the chance to ask Qs during lessons is a great idea to encourage speaking and participation in lessons. If some of them don’t do this spontaneously and confidently in front of others already, I encourage them to grab my attention and I’ll come and see them personally.

I also ask Qs after certain parts of the lesson, or as I’m explaining a grammar/situation/vocabulary and give them time to write their question down if that’s easier for them. I find that this constant opportunity for exchange helps to build rapport, confidence and communication with my learners. All too often when I was at school, there were teachers who talked at us and never gave us the chance to speak!

Comments

  1. Daniel GintingNovember 9, 2017 at 6:38 AM

    Hannah, could you please explain by "to grab my attention and I'll come and see them personally?"

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hannah McCullochNovember 9, 2017 at 7:11 AM

    danielmachung Sure thing. They just need to raise their hand and I’ll come over to their desk and answer their question.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Penny UrNovember 10, 2017 at 12:15 AM

    Yes, great points here. Hannah, I really like your phrase 'talked at us' - unfortunately a lot of teachers do this instead of 'talking to' us - with eye-contact and sensitivity and willingness to accept questions.
    One nice way of structuring a questioning activity is by linking it to listening comprehension. You think of a story and start telling it. The students' task is to interrupt you with clarification questions as often as they can to delay you getting to the end of the story. As soon as someone raises their hand, you have to stop and let them ask, and you have to give an answer. For example: 'Yesterday I was coming home from work...' Student: 'What time was it?' You: about 5 pm. Anyway, I was coming home from work when I met a friend...' Student 'Where did you meet the friend?' etc.

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  4. Daniel GintingNovember 10, 2017 at 12:22 AM

    Wow..it is an inspiring learning activity. Thanks Penny.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hannah McCullochNovember 10, 2017 at 1:00 AM

    Penny Ur Excellent! I’ll try that out when I do Have You Ever? discussion activity with some classes next week! (From Games for Grammar Practice I think...) Thanks a lot, Penny.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sun ShineNovember 10, 2017 at 5:03 AM

    Considering I deal with students from different backgrounds at public schools, that is, some of them are especially terrible so they love interrupting. But now they'll have a good opportunity to do so. 🙄 Love your craft, Penny! 💎

    ReplyDelete
  7. Julia BlinovaNovember 10, 2017 at 7:43 AM

    Penny Ur Thank you so much for this 'interruption' idea. I am already thinking about how I am going to use it teaching my students to react appropriately and interrupt politely during 'story time'.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sun ShineNovember 11, 2017 at 5:39 AM

    I would like to reinforce how I loved the idea of interrupting for clarification, Penny. Although I ask them to raise their hands first, you know, a classroom is an unpredictable environment, especially when it's full of teenagers. By the way, to get started, do you think I could use strips of paper with some contextualized questions prepared in advance so as to avoid L1 (Brazilian Portuguese) in class? For another story, I would switch to their real questions, according to your example. Thank you Penny Ur .

    ReplyDelete
  9. Penny UrNovember 11, 2017 at 7:22 AM

    That's one possibility, but the problem is that then you take away the initiative from them and force them to use your questions instead of asking their own .. and the fun of the activity is based on the fact that they are asking their own questions.
    How about if you say first you're only going to stop and answer if the question is in English, but then give them lots of help in asking. For example, write up question words (When/Why/What/Who/Where) on the board. And/or tell them that if there is a word in their question they only know in Portuguese, they can ask you and you'll provide the English so they can insert it ... but the final version of the question has to be in English in order to be answered. Might these work in your class?

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sun ShineNovember 11, 2017 at 7:53 AM

    They'll certainly find it hard except for a few students but it's worth trying. Moreover it will be more challenging so I guess it may even become a memorable experience. Thank you! 💎

    ReplyDelete

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