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Structures for speaking skills

Whoever talks, learns — yet in a class discussion the same five students tend to speak. These structures organise talk so that everyone gets a turn: fixed turns, roles, or speaking time per person. For language teaching this is the core of fluency; for every other subject, explaining in your own words remains the strongest processing.

30 structures in this theme

Taking Turns
Work in pairs or small groups. Take turns giving one answer to the question.
Everyone joins inCooperative learning
2–4 · 3–5 min
Full steps after registration
On time
Everyone gets a timed turn to speak about a topic — choose the group size and grouping while playing.
Everyone joins in
2–6 · 3–5 min
Full steps after registration
Interview in Three Rounds
Interview each other in groups of 4: A↔B and C↔D simultaneously. Then switch and share with the class.
Everyone joins inCooperative learning
10–15 min
Full steps after registration
Movement Quiz
Walk around the classroom, find a partner, ask your question and give feedback. Then change partners!
Everyone joins in
10–15 min
Full steps after registration
Numbered Minds
Everyone gets a number in the group. Write individually, discuss together — then the facilitator picks a number to explain the answer.
Everyone joins inCooperative learning
2–6 · 10–15 min4.5
Full steps after registration
Think, Write & Share
Write individual ideas, compare them in your group and share the combined list with the class.
Everyone joins inHigher-orderCooperative learning
2–6 · 10–15 min5.0
Copy Me
A makes something while giving instructions. B copies without looking! Then compare and switch roles.
Everyone joins inTPR
5–10 min4.0
Full steps after registration
Pair Coach
A solves exercises and thinks aloud. B watches and coaches. Then switch roles!
Everyone joins inHigher-orderCooperative learning
10–15 min5.0
Inner & Outer Circle
Two circles facing each other. Short conversation with your partner — then the outer circle rotates to a new partner.
Everyone joins inChanging groupsCooperative learning
10–15 min5.0
Incident Method
An 8-step intervision technique where one participant brings a work situation and the group searches for insights together.
Higher-order
45–60 min
Full steps after registration
Gossip Method
A 5-step intervision technique where the group openly discusses the case presenter while they listen.
Higher-order
45–60 min5.05.0
Full steps after registration
Socratic conversation
A 7-step intervision technique based on cardinal virtues: the presenter describes a situation up to the hot point, and the group explores the essence together.
Everyone joins inHigher-order
60–90 min
Full steps after registration
Dominant Ideas
A 7-step intervision technique: the group together looks for dominant ideas in the presenter's situation and formulates alternatives.
Higher-order
30–45 min
Full steps after registration
Shuffle & Pick
Participants work in groups of 4 with a card deck: A presents, B chooses and asks the question, C answers, D checks and coaches.
Everyone joins inHigher-order
10–15 min
Full steps after registration
Flashcards
Participants create question cards and practise in pairs by asking and answering each other's questions.
Everyone joins inHigher-order
10–20 min
Full steps after registration
Read and Ask
Participant A reads aloud while participant B listens. B then asks a content question about the text. If the answer is wrong, A points to the correct passage in the text.
Everyone joins in
10–15 min5.0
Full steps after registration
1 goes, 3 stay
One participant visits another group to gather information and brings it back to their own team.
Changing groups
10–20 min
Full steps after registration
Jigsaw
The learning material is divided into four parts. Each team member becomes an expert in one part, shares knowledge in an expert group, and returns to their base group.
Everyone joins inChanging groupsCooperative learning
30–45 min
Full steps after registration
Gallery Walk
Each team displays their work and picks a guardian. The rest give verbal feedback; the guardian notes it all in the feedback form.
Higher-orderChanging groups
15–25 min
Full steps after registration
Placemat
Each participant writes their answer individually, shares it and together finds a consensus.
Everyone joins inHigher-orderChanging groups
10–30 min
Full steps after registration
Four Corners
Participants choose a corner that matches their answer to a statement. They move, exchange thoughts — and can change corners if persuaded.
Everyone joins in
3–5 min
Full steps after registration
Snowball (1-2-4-All)
Start individually, combine in pairs, merge in groups of four — and build shared insight step by step.
Everyone joins inHigher-orderChanging groups
20–35 min5.0
Knowledge Quiz
Teams answer questions in turn. The facilitator reveals the correct answer after each question.
10–20 min
Full steps after registration
Five Whys: root cause analysis
Root cause analysis: find the underlying cause of a problem by asking 'why?' five times in pairs. A Toyota technique.
Everyone joins inHigher-orderLean
10–15 min
Full steps after registration
Nine Whys: shared purpose
In pairs, discover the deeper shared purpose behind your collective effort. A Liberating Structure.
Everyone joins inLiberating Structures
10–15 min
Full steps after registration
Conversation Café
A calm, reflective conversation in a small fixed group (4–8) with a talking object — for a complex or sensitive topic. A Liberating Structure by Vicki Robin.
Everyone joins inLiberating Structures
30–45 min
Full steps after registration
World Café
A large conversation across many tables: after each round you move on and cross-pollinate ideas, then harvest common patterns together. Related to Liberating Structures. Developed by Juanita Brown & David Isaacs.
Higher-orderChanging groupsLiberating Structures
60–90 min
Full steps after registration
The worst plan
Flip it around: imagine how you'd ruin your goal, look in the mirror, and stop one thing. A playful reverse brainstorm. Making Space with TRIZ — a Liberating Structure.
Higher-orderLiberating Structures
Alone · Pair · Group · 15–30 min
Full steps after registration
Daily Scrum
A short daily stand-up: each person answers three questions in turn (done / next / blockers). Quick and timed. From Agile / Scrum.
Everyone joins inAgile / Scrum
5–15 min
Full steps after registration
Trio advice
Peer advice in groups of 3–5: one brings a real situation, the others think out loud as consultants. A Liberating Structure (Troika Consulting).
Everyone joins inHigher-orderLiberating Structures
30–45 min
Full steps after registration

More collections

All structures →Five-minute structures Short structures (up to 10 minutes)Structures for listening skills Structures for reading skills Structures with writing Learning in motion: structures with movement Retrieval practice structures Ice-breakers for class and team Energisers for class and team