Getting Students to Ask the Questions

Students prepare and ask questions to the teacher (or another student) about a topic, reversing the typical classroom interaction pattern.

Procedure

1. After studying something (a reading text, a language point) or choosing a general interest topic, ask students to prepare — in pairs or groups — a list of questions they would like to ask you. Questions can be factual, curiosity-based, or any kind.
2. Monitor and help students word the questions well.
3. When ready, sit at the front and let them ask. Keep answers brief and interesting — the focus is on their questions, not your answers.
4. After each response, invite follow-on questions to explore the subject further.

Tips

• Reverses the interactional flow: in most classes, the teacher asks the vast majority of questions.
• Builds a positive sense of students being in control.
• Can be used with any topic: recent lesson content, current events, a talent show, etc.
• Works at any level.