• When students talk during the class.

• When they raise their hands for volunteering

• When the teacher asks a question and everybody says

something nobody can understand.

• When students get involved in every aspect of the class,

not only by talking, but showing interest and provoking

peer participation.

Teachers play an

important role

We have to facilitate students’ participation.

Teacher: Class, do you understand? Class: (chorally) Yes we do!

Teacher: Hello Bryan, What did you do this weekend? Bryan: Errr… (pause and silence) Teacher: Did you go to the movies? Bryan: Yes Teacher: Did you like the movie? Bryan: Yes

Teacher: I need a volunteer, please raise your hands. Class: (silence, everybody seems unattentive) Teacher: I will give you extra points. Class: (everybody reising hands) Me! Me! Me!

• They are the simplest form of interaction and can occur at any moment.

• Do not give the answer, but elicit the answer.

• Use Open ended questions (Wh- questions) to spark discussion and

Close Ended Questions to elicit and encourage longer answers.

• Try the PPP technique:

Pose a question

Pause for answer.

Pounce for somebody else for help.

• Good for vocabulary lists.

• Activates previous knowledge.

• Consolidates what has been

taught.

• Only some participate.

• Can be outside of context.

• Why don’t we give

specific instructions?

Tell names of animals

with each letter of the

alphabet.

• Ant, alligator…. Bee, bear…. Cat, crocodile…. Q??? X???

• Everybody has to write.

• Enhances listening skills.

• May result boring if used

often.

• But….

Not only saying: Manuel, you are the teacher. Christina, you are the student. Jose, you are the principal.

Role 1

Your company has designed a

range of revolutionary new

products completely different

from your usual ones.

You are having a meeting

with one of your best

costumers. Describe the new

product to him/her.

Role 2

You are having a meeting to

hear about some amazing

new products from an

important suplier.

Ask a lot of questions and

find as much as you can

about the products.

Hollander (2002) discusses the need to present participation

as a collective responsibility of the class rather than just an

individual responsibility. In order to facilitate a conversation

where connections are made, students need to view their

participation as a contribution to a shared experience.

Asking students to respond to a peer’s response helps to

facilitate a conversation. As well, positively reinforcing such

contributions builds this sense of collectivism.

Create a vibrant Training Environment

Question your question style

Be different. Create a shared experience