Happy spring! ALTTO hopes you are feeling refreshed and ready for a new school year in Japan. Nathaniel Reed, the founder of ALT Training Online, gives us valuable advice about asking our English learners the right questions. This is sneak peek of his new book, Fluency Through Conversation available on Amazon Japan.
Being an ALT (Assistant Language Teacher) in Japan is an exciting and ever-changing experience. One day, you’re in a small rural school where students are shy and hesitant to speak English; the next, you’re in an urban junior high school, where classes are bursting with energy—but getting students to talk beyond “I’m fine, thank you. And you?” is an uphill battle.
Most importantly, questions create engagement, which is critical when you only see students once a week (or less!).
The Power of Silly Questions
Not all questions have to be serious—silly questions can be a fantastic way to break the ice and build rapport. A funny or unexpected question can lower students’ anxiety, encourage natural reactions, and get them laughing before they even realize they’re speaking English. Try opening a conversation or classroom activity with questions like:
“Would you rather have banana fingers or spaghetti hair?”
“If you could be a superhero, what would your power and weakness be?”
“If you had to move to another country forever, where would you go?”
A silly start can make students more comfortable engaging in deeper conversations later on. Plus, humor creates a positive association with speaking English, which can make students more likely to participate in the future.
Tailoring Questions to Different Student Levels
Your question-asking strategy will depend on the age and level of your students.
Elementary School (Grades 3–6): Stick to simple, direct questions that focus on Do/Can/Are structures.
“Do you like soccer?”
“Can you swim?”
“Are you happy today?”
Junior High School (Grades 7–9): Push students toward more complex sentence structures like Do you want to…?, Have you ever…?, and What would you do if…?
“Do you want to go to Tokyo?”
“What would you do if you found a time machine?”
“If you had a superpower, what would it be?”
Senior High School (& University – maybe you’ll end up working in one) : Focus on discussion-based questions that encourage critical thinking.
“Do you think AI will take over human jobs?”
“What’s the best way to learn a foreign language?”
“If you could change one thing about Japan’s education system, what would it be?”
Classroom Activities to Get Students Asking & Answering Questions
Here are a few flexible activities that work across different age groups and grammar points:
Find Someone Who…
Best for: Elementary, Junior High, Senior High
Target Grammar: Yes/No questions, “Can you…?” “Have you ever…?”
How to play:
Give students a bingo-style grid with different statements (e.g., “Can ride a bike,” “Has a pet,” “Has been to Hokkaido”). They walk around the room and ask their classmates questions to find someone who matches each statement.
Variations include:
- Students have to get a ‘yes’ for all of the questions
- Students can only ask each person one question
- Leave one or two questions without a noun so students have to say their own words (this can help students personalise their questions for friends in the class)
Pro tip: In shy classes, students can write down answers instead of speaking!
Speed Interview
Best for: Junior High, Senior High
Target Grammar: “What would you do if…?” “What do you think about…?”
How to play:
Pair students up and give them 2 minutes to ask and answer questions. After time is up, they switch partners and repeat with a new question.
Variations include:
- students ask one question they wrote and fill the rest of the time asking follow up questions
- Allocate a certain amount of time to prepare questions
- Use one grammar point, for all questions, all: Can/Have you ever/Where etc. questions
Set a minimum number of follow up questions to ask.
Pro tip: Be patient! Thinking on your feet in another language can be tricky.
Question Ladders
Best for: Senior High, University
Target Grammar: Follow-up questions, deeper conversations
How to play:
Write a simple question on the board (e.g., “What’s your dream job?”). The next student must ask a follow-up question to keep the conversation going. The challenge? No repeating questions!
Variations include:
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- givng students board games with only some of the squares filled with questions and by themselves, or, in pairs/groups fill in and create an original game
- including actions like ‘touch something blue’, ‘compliment the teacher’
Pro tip: This is a great activity to transition from structured practice into free conversation.