A great way to get students talking in your language classroom is to facilitate small group discussion. Small group discussion takes away the scary experience of speaking in front of a large group of fellow students and it makes sure all students get a chance to talk. And there's many topics to choose from too! Here is why small group discussion is so great:
First of all, small group discussion requires students to be responsible for their own learning. The teacher asks of the students to do the task independently as a group – as opposed to a class discussion – and the students are in charge of that actually happening. Giving students autonomy is a proven motivator for learning.
Small groups discussion is great for involving ALL students in learning. It is a great way for all students to have a chance to talk. In a class discussion, those who are timid will often not talk, and their more extroverted counterparts will take over, which is fine, because not everyone can talk at the same time anyway. In a small group, it’s easier to make yourself heard because there are fewer people talking. It’s even necessary for the discussion to continue.
In small group discussions, it is easier to take that limelight, as there are fewer people to get embarrassed in front of. More timid students will refrain from talking in a class discussion because they are scared to say something silly. In a small group, this is all contained, so there’s less focus on what one person says. It will give students confidence for future discussions.
By engaging in small group discussion, students will also learn to share ideas in the first place and to practice participation in the academic process. For some, this is the first step and a hurdle they need to overcome. Small group discussion provides a safe environment.
Last, small group discussions will help students clarify their own attitudes towards things and test them against those of other students. It will help them see other perspectives, as each student brings their own experiences, background and ideas to the table. In small groups, more ideas will surface, and this more discussion will ensue.
And that’s my opinion on small group discussion! You should try it in your lessons, because it’s so much fun to get students talking!
Wanna know what topics you can have students talk about? Use this Discussion Questions Topic Picker to decide!
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