Getting Your Students To Make Long(er) Answers!  Original post February 2018

Hi there,

An easy way to get longer answers from your students is to slowly add more and more “information”.

An answer to a basic question such as “Do you like watching TV?” could for example evolve like this:

Add a statement:

Yes, I do. I like watching TV.

No I don’t. I don’t like watching TV.

Then add some new information (more detailed):

Yes, I do. I like watching TV. I like watching the news.

No I don’t. I don’t like watching TV. I like watching YouTube videos.

Then add some frequency related information (how often):

Yes, I do. I like watching TV. I like watching the news. I watch the news every day.

No I don’t. I don’t like watching TV. I like watching YouTube videos. I usually watch YouTube videos after school.

The last step is recycling this information with other type questions:

Do you think that reading books  is fun?

Yes, I do. I like reading books. I like to read storybooks. I read books every day.

No I don’t. I don’t like reading books. I like to watch YouTube videos. I think that watching YouTube videos is fun.  

If you build things up slowly, it will boost your student’s English communication skills  and subsequently your student's confidence. What can be better than that....?

Thanks for stopping by and until next time!

Jay