ABSTRACT
The most common oracy activity in classrooms today is surely the pair discussion. However, “Turn to your partner and discuss” does not always provide for a focused or equal exchange. The activities in this chapter can sharpen discussion and allow for more variety in talk partners. They include Rebuttal Tennis (which puts pairs on opposite sides of a controversial statement), Teacher-Pupil Pairs (which encourages pupils to teach other), Rotating Circles (which is the speed-dating approach to pair work and allows students to have exchanges with multiple peers in a high-pace activity) and Quiz and Switch and Question and Answer Pair-Up” (which get pupils up and moving around—either asking others their questions in the former or searching for the pupil with the matching question or answer in the latter).
