Increasing Speaking in the Multicultural Classroom
Robyn Vaccara and Raul Sanchez
Additional Resource: Discussion Facilitation Techniques
Use questions to expand and direct student responses whenever possible to potential solutions,
while also using questions to give meaningful and understandable feedback.
Technique: Paraphrase
Paraphrase what a student said so they feel understood and others understand. Then, add a
question to encourage specificity or a restatement of their original statement.
Question Stems
● So what you’re saying is _____. How would you put that in another way?
● In other words, you believe_____. How would you describe _____?
Technique: Check for Meaning
Ask for clarification.
Question Stems
● Are you saying that _____? If so, then _____.
● How does _____ relate to _____?
● Could you give me an example of _________?
Technique: Expand
Elaborate on a contribution with examples or suggest a new viewpoint.
Question Stems
● Your comments give an interesting perspective. It may also be useful to consider _____.
● Would this be an example of what you mean: _____? What about another?
● Could you elaborate on that further in terms of _____?
● What evidence would illustrate _______?
Technique: Devil’s Advocate
Disagree gently to stimulate critical thinking and further discussion.
Question Stems
● I see, but there are those who say that _____. How would you respond?
● I see, but what might happen if _____?
● How would you answer the objection that _______?
Technique: Increase the Pace
Quicken the pace, use humor, prod the group.
Question Stems
● For the next few minutes, let’s see if you/we can think of ___(# number)____ ways that
_____.
● So how many people believe _______ ? Why? We’ll first go to X and then to Y...
● So let’s hear one example of _______ and then one counter example of ____from the
other side...
Technique: Consolidate
Pull together ideas, showing their relationship to each other.
Question Stems
● As we can see from X’s and Y’s comments _____.
● So let’s compare these two ideas_____and _____. What do you think about _____?
● So X made a good point about _____. And Y shed some light on _____. What about
_____? (ease tension, mediate discord)
Technique: Summarize
Summarize the major views of the group and provide a question for further reflection.
Question Stems
● So today, we discussed _____. As we wrap up, let’s think about _______.
● Today, we talked about whether _____ or _____. On the one hand _____. On the other
______. Ultimately, ______.
● So, in short ____. Proponents would contend that ______. Opponents contend that _____.
Both sides would agree that ______. That was a stimulating discussion, here are some
additional questions to consider ____.