Hello! I am currently in an IB English class and the only two grades that my teacher puts in the grade book are discussions and essays. I think I am decent at essays BUT I am horrible, absolutely horrible, at talking in class. Our class discussions are usually in a circle on the floor but I just feel like i can never talk. It doesn’t help that I am an introvert and I don’t really converse with more than half of the people in my class. Any advice on just I guess talking more and expressing my thoughts more?
Some of this should fall on your teacher…they should sometimes have discussions where you get a chance to read, think and write…AND Then discuss it with your group.
Or they should set it up so that each person has to say something. Or if you have said something this time, the next time somebody else gets a turn.
So one thing you could do is talk to your teacher and explain your problem. So lets say that Billy always takes over the discussion…say that you are working on your discussion skills but have a hard time when Billy talks and won’t let anyone else talk…could she think about implementing something like having tokens, like 2 Popsicle sticks or something, where you hand one in when you talk and don’t get to talk if you have no more sticks.
Or if the problem is that you want to think about it first, ask if she could have a 5 min period where people get to write their thoughts down before the discussion.
Make sure that you are annotating (either directly in your book, or on post-in notes) so that you have prepared some important ideas to discuss in advance. Come to class with a question about the reading that will provoke thought. Good question-askers are much appreciated by teachers. Also, choose one quote that you find intriguing or confusing, and have that ready to discuss. Also, make sure you listen to what the more talkative students are saying–often when we are anxious about participating, we spend our mental time worrying and don’t really listen. Listen and then build on someone else’s comment. So if Bobby is talking about how the main character is not nice, you could either agree and give more evidence for that, or disagree (politely, of course) and offer another spin. Try to speak at least once every class period. It really does get easier as you go along. If you speak early in the class period, that’s usually easier, too, as your anxiety isn’t building. Hope this helps!