Conversation Strategies: Preparing Students for Real-World Interaction Angela Richardson

What strategies/skills enable us to successfully carry out a conversation (in L1 or L2)?

Why teach conversation strategies? Builds confidence & reduces anxiety Improves fluency Successful communication motivates Prepare learners for real world interactions Negotiating meaning -learners find new ways to express themselves & notice ‘knowledge gaps’

Each group will choose a strategy Create a poster Why is your strategy important to teach? How would you teach your strategy? Share! Gallery walk

How can we teach conversation strategies? Introduce using an authentic model Textbook dialogue & CD, video, etc. Semi-controlled practice Lots of scaffolding, peer support, think time Authentic communicative activities Incorporate regularly

Interview a star One student chooses a star they know a lot about. Another student interviews them for a TV show. The interviewer focuses on formulating follow-up questions (FUQs) in response to the star’s replies (they have ten cards that say ‘FUQ’ and they discard one each time they ask a FUQ until all the cards have been laid down). Change roles. Race game Small groups of students work together to generate a FUQ in response to a prompt from the teacher (ex: I went to Thailand). The first group to write a correct FUQ on the board wins a point. The question word (who?, what?, etc.) and group writer change each round. Follow-up question Ten of these!

Students need regular, authentic practice! Knowledge = Ability Students need regular, authentic practice!

Angela Richardson