by MIOM631217MDFRRR05 » Wed Nov 01, 2017 7:51 pm
Discussion Activities
I usually use the speaking activities in my class, I prefer the roll play, conversation and debate. It seems to me that students have a little fun when they play a role, being another person for a moment attracts their attention. In conversation, critical thinking always arises when analysing a problem and finding a solution makes them feel proud and productive by being able to contribute in a positive way in the solution of a given problem, in the debate the competitive attitude comes out so they have to make an effort to generate a good speech that defend their position in a certain situation. My advice for teachers who are going to start with this type of activities is to make sure that the topic is of interest to the student and that he has reasons to speak, in addition to not making the activity very extensive to prevent students from losing interest or get bored.
When students make mistakes in discussion activities I don’t stop them, because if I do that they can fell frustrated and I need them to practice the language, I just take notes to try to solve the problem later in another activity. I organize the group in pairs or small teams: 3 or 4, thus the shy or weak students are more comfortable to participate, also I ask the students their opinion to choose an interest topic for them in order to motivate them to talk and sometimes I start with a question to encourage them to participate. Finally if they use a lot their mother tongue I usually remind them constantly to try express the idea in the second language or let the students prepare their speech before the discussion activity.
I like the activity of Advantages and disadvantages of living in a big city, but I think is a little bit longer so I would adapt it, I think ask the students to think in only 3 advantages and disadvantages it is better than 5, and in the point 3 I would ask the students to agree in only 2 problems (and devise the solutions) instead 4.
Discussion Activities
I usually use the speaking activities in my class, I prefer the roll play, conversation and debate. It seems to me that students have a little fun when they play a role, being another person for a moment attracts their attention. In conversation, critical thinking always arises when analysing a problem and finding a solution makes them feel proud and productive by being able to contribute in a positive way in the solution of a given problem, in the debate the competitive attitude comes out so they have to make an effort to generate a good speech that defend their position in a certain situation. My advice for teachers who are going to start with this type of activities is to make sure that the topic is of interest to the student and that he has reasons to speak, in addition to not making the activity very extensive to prevent students from losing interest or get bored.
When students make mistakes in discussion activities I don’t stop them, because if I do that they can fell frustrated and I need them to practice the language, I just take notes to try to solve the problem later in another activity. I organize the group in pairs or small teams: 3 or 4, thus the shy or weak students are more comfortable to participate, also I ask the students their opinion to choose an interest topic for them in order to motivate them to talk and sometimes I start with a question to encourage them to participate. Finally if they use a lot their mother tongue I usually remind them constantly to try express the idea in the second language or let the students prepare their speech before the discussion activity.
I like the activity of Advantages and disadvantages of living in a big city, but I think is a little bit longer so I would adapt it, I think ask the students to think in only 3 advantages and disadvantages it is better than 5, and in the point 3 I would ask the students to agree in only 2 problems (and devise the solutions) instead 4.
