Dialogue, not debate

Dialogue, not debate 

Dialogue isn't about winning an argument – it's about listening to other people's perspectives and exploring ideas together. By following these tips in your classes, you can create a space where everyone has a voice, and dialogue helps learners grow. 

Before viewing 

Reflect and make notes.

• Do your learners sometimes get into debates that turn into disagreements in class?
• What do you do to make sure they are listening to each other with respect?
• Read the six tips below. For each one, think of examples of what this would mean in a classroom context.

1. Teach active-listening skills
2. Teach learners to explore perspectives
3. Avoid polarised thinking
4. Encourage exploratory questions
5. Practise perspective taking
6. Lower the pressure 

While watching

Watch the video and answer the questions.

• What's the difference between dialogue and debate?
• What are some of the active-listening skills mentioned?
• What questions can we ask to avoid polarised thinking?

Answers

• Dialogue is when learners explore ideas together, whereas debate is when learners use their ideas to win. Dialogue encourages empathy and curiosity. Dialogue happens when we try to understand different perspectives.
• Active-listening skills include not interrupting, using keywords and paraphrasing what the other person says to make sure you have understood what they have said.
• We can ask questions like 'What can we learn?' and 'How are these ideas similar and different?'

Transcript

Dialogue, not debate. 

How can you promote dialogue in your classroom? 
Dialogue happens when learners explore ideas together rather than using them to win. In a debate, we often say things like 'I think' or 'I believe', but when we tie ourselves closely to a position, other opinions can start to feel threatening. 
Dialogue, on the other hand, encourages curiosity, empathy and understanding. Dialogue is when we try to understand different perspectives, explore uncertainty and grow together. The result is that we feel more listened to. When we approach certain themes in the classroom, learners and sometimes teachers go towards debate. Why is this? Well, right and wrong answers are part of classrooms and assessments. Then we have the fact that social media shows polarising arguments that divide people, and in some cultures, success is measured by competition and individual achievement. So how do we move towards dialogue? 

One: Teach active listening skills. Tell learners 'don't interrupt', use keywords and paraphrasing like 'So what I heard you say is ...' and 'if I heard you correctly, you think that ...'  

Two: Teach learners to explore perspectives. Dialogue isn't about sides, it's about exploring. Our learners can use language like 'help me understand why you think ...' and 'Can you explain more?' 

Three: Avoid polarised thinking. Instead of asking who's right, ask what can we learn? Instead of asking which is correct, ask how are these ideas similar and different? 

Four: Encourage exploratory questions. Create a wall of wonder in your classroom. Get your learners to generate as many questions as they can about a topic, in other words, things they're curious about. They then stick their questions on the Wall of Wonder, which is a dedicated space in your classroom. As lessons on the topic progress, they can go back and see if their questions have been answered. 

Five: Practise perspective taking. Use role cards, case studies, storytelling, anything that helps learners step into someone else's shoes. 

Six: Lower the pressure. Start with small groups before moving to whole-class dialogue. All learners deserve a chance to practise, build their confidence and feel prepared. 

And what about us, the teachers? We can ask questions rather than give answers and admit when we don't know. Redirect when discussion turns into debate. When we listen deeply and ask with curiosity, classrooms become places where dialogue helps everyone grow. 

After watching

Reflect on the questions and share your answers in the comments below. 

• Which of these strategies do you already use in your classes?
• Which would you like to try?
• Can you add any more ideas for encouraging dialogue?  

More on this topic 

This video series explores how teachers can help learners think critically, express themselves respectfully, listen with empathy and take positive action on real-world issues. The videos offer practical tips and strategies on how to create equitable, safe and inclusive classrooms, where learners can grow, feel confident in themselves and connect with each other and the world.

Other videos in this series will be available soon: 

Representing people, not issues 

Creating safe and brave spaces 

Protecting learners and respecting boundaries 

Creative + collaborative = real-world impact 

Staying resilient when facing pushback 

Futher resources: Lesson plans 

Help your learners practise their listening skills and reflect on whether the right mindset can reduce division in society. Try this lesson plan on 'Open-mindedness': 

Open-mindedness lesson plan