GENERATING QUESTIONS

Generating Questions while reading is a strategy that can improve students’ comprehension
of texts. Initially, teachers can model for students when and how readers ask themselves
questions as they read. Students will learn that good readers are constantly questioning
while engaged with texts. You can use this strategy before students are expected to do the
reading tasks in their coursebooks. They can do it individually or in pairs – it depends on your
students’ needs.

HOW TO DO IT

1. Let students work in pairs.

2. Let each pair work on one paragraph and ask them to generate questions concerning
this particular part of the text while reading on their own.
3. When they are ready, ask them to exchange with their questions so that each pair
receives a new set of questions concerning certain paragraphs.
4. In their pairs they read the paragraph the questions are about and answer them
orally.
5. When they are ready, they exchange again and do it one more time with a new
paragraph. They do the same till all the sets of questions have been discussed.

BENEFITS

1. It helps students to recall information, focus on important aspects of a problem being

posed in the text.
2. It also helps students to make connections to background knowledge and read
actively.
3. It makes them responsible for preparing the questions their classmates are going to
answer, which in turn promotes autonomy and makes the reading task an enjoyable
and rewarding experience.