3/3/3 Repeated Speaking

Learners deliver the same talk three times to different partners, each time for three minutes, with no time pressure to allow focus on accuracy and complexity improvement.

Procedure

1. Prepare learners with a familiar topic (previously covered in class or personally familiar).
2. Learners work in pairs. The speaker delivers a three-minute talk while the listener listens without interrupting.
3. After three minutes, the speaker changes to a new partner and delivers the same talk again for three minutes.
4. After three minutes, the speaker changes partner again and delivers the same talk a third time for three minutes.
5. Optionally, include an intervention between deliveries 1 and 2: listener feedback, speaker reflection and note-making, or listening to a recording of the first delivery.

Tips

• Unlike 4/3/2, there is no time pressure, so the focus shifts from speed to accuracy and complexity improvement.
• Research suggests that 3/3/3 with an intervention (e.g., feedback between deliveries) can improve accuracy and complexity more than 4/3/2.
• Can be used as preparation for 4/3/2: do 3/3/3 first, then redo the same topic as 4/3/2 on another day.
• The lack of time pressure encourages speakers to self-correct and choose more appropriate words.