Moderating Discussions and Debates for ESL Students “Speaking Club” Workshop: Purpose, Topics, Ideas By Peter Bohan, English Language Fellow (Armenia)
Post on 14-Jan-2016
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Moderating Discussions and Debates for ESL Students
“Speaking Club” Workshop:
Purpose, Topics, IdeasBy Peter Bohan,
English Language Fellow (Armenia)
Foundational ConsiderationsWho are the students?
- Proficiency level? - Self-motivated
What will you discuss?- Current affairs- Controversial issues
When will it be offered?- Curriculum or optional? - Relaxed/informal setting
Atmosphere of “Speaking Club?”
Why debate/discuss?
• Communicative class• Authentic Materials• “Real life” issues• Critical Thinking • Integrated Skills• Build Confidence• Motivating Topics• Ielts/Toefl prepare• A ‘break’ from
curriculum
LISTEN READ
INPUT (TOPIC)
FORMLEXIS
DISCUSS
PRAGMATICSTURN TAKING
COLLABORATE
CRITICAL THINKING
PRESENT RESPOND
PRODUCE LANGUAGE
INTEGRATED SKILLS
What? Discussion Materials
Authentic/Interesting Topic• Current Affairs • Controversial topics• Blogs/Editorials• Advice columns• Problem solving tasks• Court cases• Proverbs/Quotes• Controversial topics
Got controversy?• Legalizing drugs• Death penalty• Free speech limits• Right to protest• Marriage/Dating• Gun Control• Right to die• Abortion• Gays in Military• Consumerism• Technology • Global warming/future
How? Leading in Topics
Concept-->Get Attention/Interest
Concept-->Activate personal experience
• Audio/video clip
• Read article
• Focused questions
• Brainstorm on board (pro/con)
Focus on Form?
Theme ->Form->Methodology
• Hypothetical -->(conditionals)
• Stating opinion--> (lexical chunks)
• Context specific vocab--> (lexis)
• Predictions -->(future forms)
• Compare/Contrast-->(lexical chunks)
• Disagreement-->(lexical chunks)
Teacher as Moderator
Learner Centered Context Introduce topic/questionPre-teach vocabulary?Moderate/Facilitate “Nudge”/ “Suggest”Focus discussionFocus on formPlay “devil’s advocate”
Tasks/Student Roles
• Pair discussion• Role play (pairs)• Group (discussion)• Groups (for/against)• Groups (individual
roles within the group)
Error Correction Considerations
Overriding considerations Attitude towards error correction Fluency vs. accuracy Overt correction vs. Self-Editing On the spot vs. delayed feedback Feedback types Elicitation (gesture) Clarification request Peer editing Reformulation
Recapitulation: Approach Interesting/Relevant
topic? Appropriate topic? Lead-in--> introduce/set
up discussion Focus on
form/Vocabulary? Communicative
dynamic? Monitor students how?
Outline a speaking
club lesson plan)
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