Conversation training (IMS-M4-01-EN)

• Supporting students in learning how to hold a good conversation with their classmates.
• Learning the roles of moderators and conversation participants
• Learning to let everyone take part equally in the conversation, not overpowering discussions.

• First-liners

1. Divide the students in small groups of five or six students. In each group, one student is assigned the role of conversation leader. This role can be switched after each round of the activity so every student gets to participate in the activity.
2. The moderator receives a stack of cards with statements on them. These statements can:
   • relate to a topic that the teacher is currently teacher
   • relate to an issue that is currently going on at the school or in the class
   • be based on topics the students themselves would like to have a conversation on (the teacher can ask them about this beforehand)
     These statements should be prepared beforehand by the teacher.
3. Each student participating in the group gets a stack of cards with responses on them such as “I agree, because, …” or “I do not like this, because …”.
4. The moderator looks through the stack of statement cards and picks a statement they want to discuss with the group. The moderator reads aloud the statement and places the card in the middle for everyone to read.
5. The other group member then get some time to think about the statement and to pick a response card that they feel fits best with their position. The moderator gets to give the floor to those who want to speak. They should pay attention that everyone gets the chance to speak and nobody is overpowering the conversation.
6. Other students can use their “what do you think?” or “why do you think that?” cards to elicit further responses or explanations from their peers. This aids in shifting the direction to another students in the group who can then elaborate on their answer.
7. Each discussion round (about one statement) should take about 10 minutes. Then it is time to switch the moderator role to a different student and to pick a statement to start a new discussion.

• Statement cards (to be prepared by teacher), print out for each group of students
• Response cards (provided in handouts), print out for each student

• Discussion 

Yes