ELT365 · Day 192 — Discussion tasks: build in a clear outcome

Idea — Discussion without a clear outcome trails off. Give learners a decision to reach, a list to rank, or a recommendation to make — something that requires the discussion to produce something.

Example — Weak: ‘Discuss the advantages of social media.’ Strong: ‘Agree on the single biggest risk of social media and be ready to defend it.’ A decision forces collaboration.

Try — Rewrite a discussion question from your coursebook. Add: ‘Agree on…’ or ‘Rank these in order and be ready to explain your top choice.’ Does the discussion feel more purposeful?

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