Improving discussion lessons

Have you ever felt that you were doing too much of the talking in a class discussion and that your learners were not speaking enough?

Here are some teaching tips to:

shift the task focus from the teacher talking to the learners (they have to talk to each other)
give learners control of their own discussion
give learners practice in formulating their opinions within a controlled framework.

Discussion envelopes

Make a list of issues or topics that your learners might find interesting. Think of seven or eight statements on each issue which represent typical and widely opposing comments on the topic. For example:
- Topic: Are boys and girls the same?
  - Girls naturally want to play with dolls.
  - Boys are usually better at science subjects than girls.
Photocopy each list of statements on different topics and put them in 3–4 envelopes.
Divide the class into small groups. Tell them the title of each topic.
Each group selects an envelope. They work through the topic in their group, taking turns to read aloud the statements found in the envelope and inviting comment and opinions.
You can ask each group to record their reactions to the issues for feedback at the end of the session.
Re-use the envelopes in another lesson. Each group chooses a new topic and envelope.

Put learners in small groups of three or four, all facing each other.
Read aloud a statement on a list, one at a time. The statements should be mildly controversial to provoke reactions, but be sensitive to any taboo topics within your class/context.
After each statement, learners have one minute to react in their group to what they have heard by agreeing, disagreeing, commenting, etc.
Stop them talking after one minute (with a gong, whistle, clap, etc) and read the next statement on your list.
Learners hear you but must look at each other and tell each other what they think.

Give a list of statements on a set topic to each group in the class.
Learners must work through the statements and modify them to reflect their views as a group. This involves discussion on how they will re-word the sentence or add a further clause to justify their position. For example:
- Topic: The school year
  - Statement: School holidays are too long.
  - Learners’ modified sentence: We think school holidays are not long enough.
Conduct a feedback session at the end of the lesson to hear some of the modified statements that each group has created and encourage learners to justify the reasons for their views.