Speaking Club: Discussion and Debate Publications

Shaping and Moderating Debates: Materials Suggestions/Ideas (AUC, 1.2.11)

By Peter A. Bohan, English Language Fellow (Armenia)

Publications Materials

1. Discussion Starters, Keith S. Folse, Michigan Press.

This is a very useful book and contains a variety of materials: problem solving tasks, court cases, role-play, questionnaires, and discussion topics with questions.

(low intermediate to advanced proficiency levels)

2. More Discussion Starters, Keith S. Folse & Jeanine Ivone, Michigan Press.

(same as above) (low intermediate to advanced proficiency levels)

3. Instant Discussions, Richard MacAndrew with Ron Martinez, Thomson & Heinle. (Another useful book, less controversial topics: topics are set forth with focused vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, and focused discussion questions.

(low intermediate to advanced proficiency levels)

4. Taboos and Issues, Richard MacAndrew & Ron Martinez, Thomson & Heinle

(Similar to the above, topics are more controversial in this book: mid-high intermediate to advanced proficiency levels)

5. Speaking Personally, Gillian Porter Ladousse, Cambridge Univ. Press

(This book is a little less current, but still useful. Contains a wide range of activities/tasks, questionnaires, quizzes, role plays, language focus, and games.: pre-intermediate to high intermediate proficiency levels)

6. I Think You Think, L G Alexander, R H Kingsbury, Longman

(Less current, but similar to the above publication)

7. Reading Extra, Liz Driscoll, Cambridge Univ. Press

(Tasks, role plays, games and activities: elementary to upper-intermediate proficiency levels)

8. Speaking Extra, Mick Gammidge, Cambridge Univ. Press

(Similar to the above publication)

9. Compelling Conversations, An Engaging ESL Textbook for Advanced Students, Questions and Quotations on Timeless Topics, Eric H. Roth, Toni Aberson, Chimayo Press (Focused questions, more suited to a role play, but can be adapted as needed; website has free materials available. Also provides some proverbs/idioms related to the context of the discussion questions; intermediate to upper-intermediate)

10. Conversation Gambit, Real English Conversation Practices, Eric Keller & Sylvia T. Warner, Language Teaching Publications

(Maybe most useful as a warmer or if a focus on form goal of lesson, emphasizes lexical chunks in specific situations: pre-intermediate to upper-intermediate proficiency levels)

11. Discussions A-Z Advanced, A Resource Book of Speaking Activities, Adrian Wallwork, Cambridge University Press (also for intermediate, upper-intermediate proficiency levels)

12. Keep Talking, Communicative fluency activities for language teaching, Friederike Klippel, Cambridge University Press

Websites

http://www.esldiscussions.com/ (a useful resource for a wide range of topics that have questions that are set up for role play activities which can be easily adapted)

http://www.procon.org/ - (a great website with controversial topics, pro and con arguments outlined, video clips discussion questions, relevant news articles)

http://www.compellingconversations.com/ (downloadable pdf files with topics that have focused questions on a variety of topics)

http://iteslj.org/questions/ (loads of topics, questions prepared and easily adapted)

http://www.ted.com/ (video clips of a wide range of topics; may be used as an introduction to a topic to generate thought on a particular topic)

http://www.fora.tv/ (similar to the above: video clips)

http://www.conversationcafe.org/ (resources and many downloadable useful ideas for crafting questions related to various topics that can be adapted; a great resource)

http://publicconversations.org/ (more topics, more useful ideas)

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/ (another useful one with many current topics from news stories ((shortened)) with lessons plans, focused vocabulary,

http://www.famouspeoplelessons.com/ (another great site from Sean Banville for discussions and comparisons about why someone admires a particular famous person)