Speaking and Listening: Discussion and Group Talk

Talking together in Irish

One part of the course is not written down at all: it is assessed by how well you talk. You take part in a discussion, first on your own with the teacher about a topic you have researched, and then in a group with other students. Marks come not just from your Irish but from how you handle the talk itself: whether you listen, take your turn, build on what others say, and keep the conversation going. The good news is that these are habits you can practise. This module teaches the skills behind a strong discussion: preparing a topic, taking and giving turns, listening closely and responding, drawing quieter people in, and developing a point with a reason. It also gives you a handful of common Irish phrases for agreeing, disagreeing and asking what others think.

Discussion and group talk words

Learn these terms before the Irish phrases are matched up. They name the ideas used in this topic.

Match each discussion phrase to its meaning

A strong discussion against a weak one

Examiners can tell at once whether a group is really talking together or just taking turns to give speeches.

How do you include a quiet member?

In your group, one person has not spoken at all. What is the best way to include them?

• Ask them what they think, using Cad a cheapann tú
• Ignore them and carry on
• Talk even more yourself
• End the discussion early

Bring everyone in

The strongest speakers in a group are not the ones who say the most, but the ones who help the group say more. If you notice someone has been quiet, invite them with a warm question such as what do you think. If someone makes a good point, build on it before adding your own, so the talk grows instead of jumping about. If two people disagree, you can gently sum up both sides and move things on. All of this shows the examiner that you are shaping the talk, not just surviving it. Aim to leave every person in the group having said something worthwhile, and the whole group scores better for it. A speaker who lifts others is doing the highest kind of work in a group.

Pick what makes a good group discussion

Select every habit that makes a group discussion strong.

• Responding to what others actually said
• Inviting quieter members to speak
• Backing your points with reasons
• Talking as much as possible yourself
• Ignoring what other people say

Order how to take part in a discussion

Put the stages of taking part well in a discussion into a sensible order.

• Research the topic beforehand
• Listen to the first speaker
• Add your own point with a reason
• Invite a quiet member to speak
• Help sum up what the group decided

Complete the discussion facts

A conversation where people share and develop ideas together is a _____. Something you add to that talk, such as a point or a question, is a _____. Paying close attention to what others say, so that you can reply, is _____. Waiting for a gap instead of speaking over others is good _____-taking.

Tap the two ways to include others

Read these four things a speaker might do. Tap the TWO that help include other people.

• ask a quiet person what they think
• build on the point someone made
• talk over other people
• repeat only your own idea

A game of catch

A good group discussion is like a game of catch in a circle. When you have the ball you do something with it, then you throw it on so that someone else has a turn. Nobody stands there holding the ball forever, and nobody is left standing with their hands never used. The fun, and the skill, is in keeping the ball moving and making sure it reaches everyone. If one person hogs the ball, the game dies; if a throw is careless, it drops. Talk works the same way. You take an idea, add to it, then pass it on with a question or a look to the next person. Keep the ball in the air together, share it around, and the whole circle plays well.

The Gaeilge discussion run

Answer each one correctly to keep your lives. Choose the best answer.

Handle each discussion moment

Read each situation and choose the best move.

• Another student makes a point you agree with. What is the best response?
• You did not catch what a group member said. What should you do?
• You want to disagree with a point without being rude. What helps?

Build a discussion point

Choose the word for each gap to complete one point about good discussion.

Explain how to take part in a discussion

A friend is nervous about the Irish speaking assessment. Using what you have learned, explain how to take part well in a discussion.

• Explain the difference between the individual and the group discussion
• Explain why listening and responding matter as much as speaking
• Explain how to bring a quiet member into the talk
• Explain how to develop a point with a reason
• Give two Irish phrases that help in a discussion and say what they mean