Wanna know why I absolutely love small group discussions? Because it’s a great way to get students talking in your language classroom! Small group discussion takes away the scary experience of speaking in front of a large group of fellow students. It also makes sure all students get a chance to talk, because there is room for everyone and time to talk.
I love thinking of things to get my students to talk about. Together with writing activities I enjoy it the most when I can actually hear my students talk in the target language! And there’s many topics to choose from too! I made a free Topic Picker Cheat Sheet so I always know what topics for small group discussions are good. Grab it here!
And now, here is why small group discussions are so great.
Small group dynamics
First of all, small group discussion requires students to be responsible for their own learning. The teacher asks of the students to do the task independently as a group – as opposed to a class discussion – and the students are in charge of that actually happening. Giving students autonomy is a proven motivator for learning.
Small groups discussions are great for involving ALL students in learning. It is a great way for all students to have a chance to talk. In a class discussion, those who are timid will often not talk, and their more extroverted counterparts will take over, which is fine, because not everyone can talk at the same time anyway. In a small group, it’s easier to make yourself heard because there are fewer people talking. It’s even necessary for the discussion to continue.
In small group discussions, it is easier to take that limelight, as there are fewer people to get embarrassed in front of. More timid students will refrain from talking in a class discussion because they are scared to say something silly. In a small group, this is all contained, so there’s less focus on what one person says. It will give students confidence for future discussions.
Small group discussion techniques
By engaging in small group discussion, students will also learn to share ideas in the first place and to practice participation in the academic process. For some, this is the first step and a hurdle they need to overcome. Small group discussion provides a safe environment.
Last, small group discussions will help students clarify their own attitudes towards things and test them against those of other students. It will help them see other perspectives, as each student brings their own experiences, background and ideas to the table. In small groups, more ideas will surface, and this more discussion will ensue.
Small group discussion strategies
How do I facilitate small group discussions in my lessons? I choose from the following:
They each provide a way to show students what to talk about in their groups, but there’s nothing the teacher needs to do while they are at it. Click the words to check out the blog posts I wrote on each of these options!
And that’s my opinion on small group discussion! You should try it in your lessons, because it’s so much fun to get students talking! Wanna know what topics you can have students talk about? Use this Topic Picker Cheat Sheet to decide!
Small group discussions resources
Over the years, I’ve made a bunch of sets of discussion cards for my students and I use them often. I have sets for the various seasons, holidays, etcetera. Check out the bundle in my store, HERE!
Or check out this article on how to get your students to join a discussion by the Language Adventurist!
