by Figen Karaferye |
Are You Ready to Talk?
A Speaking Activity
Speaking activity to revise question formation – direct & indirect questions in the context/co-text of a peaceful civilization.
Resource Type: Activities
Audience: University
Audience Language Proficiency: Intermediate
Duration: 50 minutes
Materials And Technology:
Attached PDF file, paper/board to keep track using the table below.
Objective:
To revise & practise question formation in speaking.
Outcome:
Students will be able to use the direct and indirect question forms in conversations.
Activity Description:
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Criteria: The questions asked by each group in the conversation should … |
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criterion #1 include at least 1 direct question |
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criterion #2 include at least 2 indirect questions |
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criterion #3 include at least 2 yes/no questions in different tenses/structures |
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criterion #4 include at least 2 different wh- questions in different tenses/structures |
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The table to be used to keep track is given above.
Use the attached PDF to scaffold the topics and vocabulary to be used in question-making and answering.
Have students get into small groups of 3-4 students. Ask 1 student in each group to act as a moderator to keep track using the criteria table.
Step 1. Groups check the PDF to brainstorm on the focus topic: A peaceful & sustainable civilization. They take notes about the sub-dimensions of the topic to be able to speak about them for Step 2.
After the groups decide on the sub-areas of the topic to talk about, they examine the criteria table and study it to know what variety of questions they are expected to ask during their conversation with the other group.
Step 2: Two groups meet. 2 students (1 from each) act as moderators to keep track using the criteria table. The moderators can either use paper or the board to take notes. The other students in the group start their conversation on the topic a peaceful & sustainable civilization by forming the questions as they are expected to. Since this is a conversation, they need to pay attention to what the other group is asking or saying to be able to continue the conversation while meeting the question formation criteria. The moderators and the teacher can also pay attention to the meaningfulness at the time.
Step 3: Groups share their experiences, and their tables are shared. If needed, a closure activity can be done to highlight question formation patterns grammatically and vocabulary-related mistakes or to share more context-related ideas.
Supporting Files:
A Speaking Activity Are You Ready To Talk.pdf
TESOL Interest Section: English as a Foreign Language, Higher Education, Nonnative English Speakers in TESOL