We need to train our students to ask questions as well as give answers in order to become active independent learners. There are a number of techniques for doing this used in English teaching that can be applicable to the technical subject class:
� Having students formulate pre-reading questions. Students form questions which they expect to be answered from the lesson subject, heading or first paragraph of the text.
� Writing questions about text following reading or listening to the teacher. This can be followed up with a teacher role play using the questions. The teacher role play itself is the one type of spontaneous role play that has always been a successful technique in the Gulf. It is an ideal way of practicing questions. The converse activity, sometimes referred to as the �Hot Seat�, where the class asks questions to a specific student, also works well.
� The brainstorming of questions about a certain task - this works well with our students as a pair or group work competition to see which pair or group can devise the biggest number of useful questions.
� Having students devise and write their own test questions for their colleagues.
� Oral presentations of the technical lesson by the students following the original presentation by the technical instructor.
� Setting aside five minutes at the end of class for student to student questions and answers (about what they have studied in that lesson or workshop practical).
� Students prepare questions about the lesson in pairs. Then they exchange places with other students to form new pairs, and ask and answer questions.
� Question frames can be used, such as those below, to formulate questions in the technical theory classroom and workshop for use at the end of the lesson, for homework or for a follow-up lesson. The instructor can select relevant frames from this list and customize a worksheet for a particular lesson. These could ultimately be incorporated into the technical courseware and evaluation system along with the need to write questions as well as give answers.
Question Frames
The following type of question frames are useful with the above activities (students can use such frames with their technical study materials to help them form meaningful sentences):
Meanings of words and technical terms
1. What does ����..�mean?
2. What is������� in Arabic?
3. Can you give me another word for���������..?
4. Could you tell me what��������..means?
5. Could you explain the meaning of�����������������?
6. Could you explain the term���������..?
