Student Talk as Curriculum EDESL 771 Curriculum & Materials in the Content Areas

Hunter College MA in TESOL, Laura Baecher 1

Every secondary school teacher will have met classes of older adolescents who do not answer teachers’ questions, who will not join in pseudo-discussion…They have learnt during the years that most teachers only wish to hear the expected reply, that they do not want discussions that include divergent viewpoints and which raise questions different from theirs. When teachers complain about classes who will not talk they often present this as a moral failing in the pupils: it is more likely that the pupils have learnt from their schooling that their knowledge is irrelevant in a context determined by teachers, examinations, school syllabuses, and so on.

 How can your lessons, curriculum and activities encourage exploratory talk?  What would you like to hear in a group or pair conversation in your class and how can this be planned for in curriculum design?  Why is this so important with ELLs?

Exploratory Talk

Hunter College MA in TESOL, Laura Baecher 2

What are some of the variables that might lead to less classroom talk?

 Teacher discourse incomprehensible  Few response opportunities

 Lack of wait or processing time  Cultural beliefs about classroom talk

 Silent period—or belief that students cannot participate  Teacher talk dominates-75% and 25% student talk

 Nature of IRE response patterns leads students to believe they must have “right” answer

 Lack of linguistic repertoire to communicate ideas

Classroom Discourse with ELLs

Hunter College MA in TESOL, Laura Baecher 3

Teacher-Supported Discourse

Hunter College MA in TESOL, Laura Baecher 4

What are some of the ways ESL teachers can encourage classroom

talk?

 Adapt discourse to make it more comprehensible  Distribute response opportunities  Build in wait or processing time

 Be explicit about classroom talk (the PUSH)  Do not prolong students’ “silent period”

 Plan lessons and activities that make students talk 75%  Craft exploratory rather than display or “known-answer”

questions  Provide the language needed and assist in student

elaboration

Planning to Extend ELL Classroom Talk

Hunter College MA in TESOL, Laura Baecher 5

 Ques&on  

Appropriate  or  Correct  Response  

Par&ally  Appropriate  or  

Correct  Response  

Incorrect  or  Inappropriate  Response  

Response  in  Na&ve  Language  

Another  Ques&on  

No  Response