yatcb lesson plans discussion questions

FREE PRACTICE
Discussion Questions

Method:

1.

T asks every SS to think of one discussion question based on a given topic. SS could use any of the
discussion question templates on pp.67-71 of You Are The Course Book 1 for inspiration.

Or – T gives each group a copy of Sample Question Set 1 or 2 (p.111) and gives them 10 minutes to write
eight discussion questions.
2.

T (or a SS) writes questions from each group on the board until there are a certain number, e.g. 6 or 8. The
more questions there are, the longer the activity will last. The person writing the questions should choose
the best ones from the many that SS have come up with.

3.

SS discuss the questions on the board in pairs or small groups. One could ask the questions and the other
answer – then change roles. SS should write down their partner’s answers in brief note form. T monitors,
checks, and corrects. After a certain period, SS could change partners and either continue discussing the
question they were on, or go back to the beginning.

4.

Group feedback – T asks different SS for responses to each question. SS tell their partner’s answer as well
as their own. T writes errors on the board and discusses corrections with the group.

Tips:

•

SS should use wh- questions, which require a longer answer, rather than yes/no questions which require
only a one-word answer.

•

Whoever asks the question should try to get a long answer from their partner by asking follow-up
questions such as, “Why?” “...for example?” “Can you tell me more about that, please?” and so on.

•

Encourage SS to write different kinds of discussion question. For example, there are 16 different kinds of
question listed on p.111. There are further examples of discussion questions in the first four Talk a Lot
books 2.

•

SS could use vocabulary words from the vocabulary stage as inspiration for their questions.

•

Encourage SS to work with partners they do not know very well. This will help everybody get to know
one another better.

•

Getting SS to write their own discussion questions, rather than reading from a book or worksheet, will
encourage them to engage with their learning more deeply, as well as make them more confident with

question forms.

•

You could ask SS to write up their answers to a set of questions for homework.

Purland, Matt. You Are The Course Book. Ostróda: English Banana.com, 2012. Hardback. Available for free download:
/>2 Talk a Lot Elementary Book 1, Talk a Lot Elementary Book 2, Talk a Lot Elementary Book 3, and Talk a Lot Intermediate Book 1 are all
available for free download: />1

You Are The Course Book – Lesson Plans

72