Conversation is often about learning some little bit of news from a friend and asking many questions. For example:
Person A: “My daughter just had a baby!”
Person B: “Oh really! How is she doing?”
Person A: “She is doing just fine.”
Person B: “How much did the baby weigh?”
“Where was the baby born?”
“What are they naming the baby?”
“When is she coming home from the hospital?”
Formalizing this into a daily activity works very well to instill good question-and-answer dialogue, and encourages good listening habits as well.
Invite your learner to share one piece of news from their lives. They should keep it short – like a headline. Ask some questions using different question words:
Did you?
Did she?
Could you?
Were you?
Was he?
Do you?
Does she?
Can you?
Are you?
Is he?
Did you?
Did she?
Could you?
Were you?
Was he?
How often?
How many?
When was the last time?
Then share a piece of news from your life and ask your learner to do the questioning. If the learner’s questions are poorly formed, put the questions correctly on a piece of paper and have the learner repeat the questions. Make sure the tenses are appropriate to the news being shared.
Gross, S. E. (2004). Manual for volunteers facilitating ESL conversation classes. Edmonton, Alberta: Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers. Used with permission.
Handout 12.14