What is the most efficient approach for a tutor to help their students in developing their listening and speaking skills? By fostering organic conversations.
An organic conversation is a well-structured dialogue that flows naturally. Although this may sound like a contradiction, there is a method behind this idea. The structure is derived from carefully chosen questions that prompts predictable responses and by employing primarily first and second person pronouns. Furthermore, the conversation maintains a normal form by integrating main clauses, verbs, nouns, and adjectives. The organic conversation can be utilised in every lesson for varying durations, flowing seamlessly between past, present, and future tenses.
The organic conversation always begins with chronological day-to-day events, that provide a supportive structure. As the student develops their speaking skills, they require less structure, allowing the conversation to branch into a variety of topics and events.
The organic conversation starts with simple yes or no questions such as:
Q1: Did you have a good week?
Q2: Was your day busy?
Next, it progresses to straightforward questions like:
Q1: When did you finish work today?
Q2: When did you have breakfast yesterday?
Q3: When will you start work on Thursday?
As the conversation develops, it delves into more complex questions that elicit the student to use new vocabulary:
Q1: What did have for lunch yesterday?
Q2: What did you do after work on Tuesday?
The introduction of more complex questions prompts unpredictable answers, allowing the tutor to ask follow-up questions:
Q1: What did you do after work on Monday?
A1: I played the guitar.
Q2: How long have you been practicing the guitar?
A2: I have been playing for four years.
Q3: Are you self-taught?
A3: No, I have had an instructor for four years.
Q4: How often do you play?
A4: I play three times a week.
As the student becomes more confident, a wide range of topics can be covered. Rather than treating work, food, or hobbies as separate topics, students learn to discuss these subjects in a way that mirrors real-world conversations. This approach fosters their confidence and improves their readiness to apply their skills in practical contexts.
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