Techniques to Increase Student Talk Time

For the ESL classroom, the issue of teacher talk vs student talk becomes even more critical since English language learners need to practice speaking and listening in a controlled and supportive setting. Many motivated students will engage with English outside the classroom by listening to podcasts, reading articles or watching YouTube videos. But these passive forms of learning cannot replace expressive speech. ESL students need a safe and instructive place in which to practice and hone their skills and integrate new knowledge into their speech

Techniques to Increase Student Talk Time

Use groupwork or paired work. Instead of engaging in dialogue with students themselves, you can divide the class into pairs and have them practice conversations. Groups can work together on writing assignments or to develop speeches or make videos all while speaking English to each other. In these scenarios, you can provide oversight and support without dominating the class conversation.

Ask students to read and explain the instructions. Letting early ESL learners read the instructions aloud and explain them to the class can provide a great way for you to give your voice a rest while centering the student. And since the words are written down, it feels a lot safer and easier for the learner to get started with English.

Ask open-ended questions. Moving beyond yes/no questions or those that require just one-word answers can prove tough for any class, but it’s a great way to get students engaged. Just one or two students who love to share stories, information or opinions can get the whole class talking about the topic of the day.

Avoid excessive explanations. Probably the most difficult technique to implement is just to stop talking after giving the initial instruction or explanation. Teachers who can curb their own voice after a single explanation will see a lot of reward in increased student attention and interaction.

The Benefits of Increased Student Talk Time in ESL Classrooms

An ESL students’ ultimate goal in the classroom is to improve communication skills. Only plenty of loosely structured time to talk will generate that improvement. By increasing student talk time, you gently force students to learn new vocabulary, compensate for what they don’t know, help each other and overcome barriers of shyness. Typically, teachers who re-center the classroom around learners while taking on a role as a coach and evaluator can expect measurable improvement in student cognition in a short time.

Over the past five to10 years, the ideal of a Western education has transitioned from a teacher-centered classroom to a learner-centered environment. The emphasis has moved from compliance with standards to student empowerment and innovation. In that context, student talk time engages learners and helps improve academic performance in all classrooms particularly ones focused on learning word-based content. In the book “Content-Area Conversations,” the authors wrote that “oracy is the foundation of literacy.”