ASKING QUESTIONS

Today I'd like to share a short exercise that could help the students master the art of question asking in English which usually is much harder than question answering. It involves a bit of writing and employs students creativity even on the lower levels. 

SPEAKING

Prepare a handout for each student with the entries of the questions. Students are to choose one groupmate they would like to ask the questions to, finish the questions to their liking (and write few themselves) and then give it with the student they chose. He/she answers them aloud. You may also ask the students to give the questions to their partner on the right or to draw lots with the names to prevent leaving any students without questions.

QUESTIONS FOR __________________________________

                       (Name)

Are you _________________________________________________________?

Do you __________________________________________________________?

Do you think ______ _______________________________________________?

What’s your favourite ______________________________________________?

Where do you usually ______________________________________________?

How ____________________________________________________________?

What are you going to ______________________________________________?

When did you last _________________________________________________?

Have you ever ____________________________________________________?

Would you like to __________________________________________________?

_________________________________________________________________?

_________________________________________________________________?

It's a good idea to encourage the students to ask follow up questions to the answers their groupmates are giving.

asking questions in PRESENT SIMPLE

While presenting the principles PRESENT SIMPLE, teachers take this opportunity to introduce wh-questions to the class. One of the most common grammar exercise to master the subject is of course classical asking questions about particular (underlined) parts of a sentence. Let me show you a fun alternative or addition to it - a good old-fashioned tic-tac-toe.

SPEAKING

The class is divided into two teams. One team is a cross (x), the other is a circle (o). They are asked to put their symbol in a diagram below which may be drawn on the board. To do that they need to make a Present Simple question using a word/phrase in a space they have chosen. If their sentence is correct, they may draw their symbol in a chosen place. In addition you may ask the students to answer the questions they create.

What?	Where?	How?
Why?	How often?	Whose?
How much?	Who?	When?

The aim of the game is to get a sequence of three same symbols in a horizontal, vertical or diagonal line. the team which does it first is a winner. Look at the example.