This semester I am teaching an elective at a private university in Bogotá, Colombia with the Faculty of Business. It is called “21st Century Skills for Success” and develops students’ skills of communication, creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking and focuses on the interpersonal, intercultural, and soft skills needed to navigate the complexities of the 21st century.
A specific lesson I created for this course was on how to lead a discussion effectively. My students responded very positively to this lesson. They were engaged and through informal feedback I understood that they found it to be a very valuable lesson. As a result, I tweaked it a bit to make it a skills-based activity for any advanced group of English language learners.
Here is a breakdown of the lesson.
1. Discuss in pairs/groups: When was the last time you had a really interesting discussion?
2. Open class discussion and debrief
3. Discuss in pairs/groups: What are the characteristics of a good discussion?
4. Open class discussion and debrief
5. Establish objectives: Learn how to lead a discussion effectively.
6. Discuss in pairs/groups: What does it mean to “lead a discussion”?
7. Open class discussion and debrief
8. Clove Activity: What does it mean to “lead a discussion”?
9. Discuss in pairs/groups: Why is it important to be able to “lead a discussion” effectively!
10. Open class discussion and debrief
11. Brainstorm in pairs/groups: General Techniques for Leading a Discussion
12. Open class discussion and debrief
13. Discuss in pairs/groups: Challenges / Strategies for Leading a Discussion.
14. Open class discussion and debrief
15. Practice Leading a Discussion
Here are the slides I created for this lesson with the necessary content:
If you are a teacher and want to use the ideas here send me a message and I can send over the actual presentation!