Eliciting subject knowledge and ideas… Eliciting is a technique we can use to get learners thinking and saying what they know about a subject. It’s when we ask questions or give learners clues to get learners to say what they know about a subject rather than the teacher giving the explanation.
–Okay, tell me six words we can use to describe different forces.
– Write down as many facts as you can about water.
Eliciting is important because:
- it involves learners in the topic
- it allows learners to connect the topic of the lesson to what they already know
- it gives learners opportunities for language practice
- it can stimulate higher order thinking skills and creative thinking
- it allows teachers to find out what learners know so that they can build on it
- However, eliciting can sometimes be difficult for teachers and learners.