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)

Reflective Teaching

• Learner centered?• Time management?• Topic motivating?• Level appropriate?• Fluency vs. Form • Integrated skills?• Resource Bank