Walk Around the Room Discussion Questions: Vocabulary and Grammar (Gallery Walk)

(TESOL ideas--Any Vocabulary Set, Any Grammar Point)

Example for Vocabulary Sets: docs, pub

Example for Grammar (Present Simple Versus Present Continuous): docs, pub

In a previous post, I mentioned discussion questions as a possible freer practice for vocabulary items.

A slight variation of this activity is to post the questions around the room.  The students have to walk around the room with a partner.  As they come to each question, they discuss the question with their partner.  They then continue walking around the room until all the questions have been discussed.

(This is opposed to the standard activity, of giving the students all of the questions on a worksheet, and having them discuss the questions with the partner while seated at their desks.)

The advantage of having the students walk around the room is primarily just to get the students moving.  Especially during longer classes (i.e. more than 1 hour).  Sometimes it's easy for us as teachers to forget how difficult it is for many students to sit still and focus for long periods of time.  (As teachers, we are constantly moving around the room, so we always feel that the class is active, but sometimes we forget that the students need to move to.)

This activity works equally well for grammar practice.  In fact, I've previously mentioned this activity in my collection of practice activities for grammar.  

Discussion Questions--Example

Students are given a list of discussion questions that require an extended response and encourage the use of the target language.  They discuss these questions  with their partner.

Variation: Walk around the Room-- Example

The same idea, but the discussion questions are now posted around the room.  With their partner, students have to walk around the room.  When they get to a discussion question they stop, talk about the question, and then when they have finished the discussion, they move on to the next question.

Note: I've seen other teachers refer to this activity as a "Gallery Walk".  I have previously used the term Gallery Walk to refer to an activity for giving feedback on student writing, but I suppose any activity that requires students to walk around the room and view something can be considered as a gallery walk.

Below are two sample activities to illustrate.  The first is discussion questions for the vocabulary set for Reflect Reading & Writing 6, Unit 5, Reading 1: Painting Prehistory p.101-107.  (The questions are adapted from the suggestions in the teacher's book).  The second activity is a series of questions meant to contrast present simple with present continuous.  I have previously posted that activity HERE.  

What kind of remains do you think are studied in archaeology?

What are some ways to classify animals?

What kinds of lists do people compile?

What is the general consensus of people in this area about plastic waste?

Where might you see a distorted image of yourself?

Can you name some animals that are extinct?

If I offered you chocolate or vanilla ice cream, would you prefer the former or the latter?

Can you name two local streets that are parallel?

Do you think teachers should call on students to answer a question at random?

Is it possible to speculate on what an artist is thinking, based on a piece of art?

What’s your typical working day?  (Or school day?)  Are you working on anything new at the moment?  (Or studying anything new?)

How do you spend your free time?  Are you getting much exercise?

Do you often read novels?  Are you reading anything at the moment?

Where do you normally go on holiday?  Are you planning your holidays for this year?

Do you speak any other languages?  Are you learning any new languages?

What clothes do you wear every day?  What are you wearing now?

Does your teacher normally let you bring food or drinks into the classroom?  Are you eating or drinking anything now?

How much TV do you usually watch every day?  Are you watching any interesting TV series at the moment?

What are some traditions in your country?  Are any traditions changing nowadays?

What is the weather usually like in your city?  What is the weather like now?

What does your teacher usually act like in the classroom?  What is your teacher doing now?

What does your family usually do at this time of day?  What is your family doing now?

How do you usually feel at this time of day?  How are you feeling now?