Three-Step Interview

Description Timing

The three-step interview is a cooperative learning structure that helps students

15-30 mins
develop listening and speaking language skills while promoting individual
accountability. In the first two steps of the three-step interview, students interact in
Language Domains
pairs, interviewing each other about a topic. Then, in the third step, students take
turns sharing what they have learned from their partners with another set of Listening ✓ Speaking ✓
partners.
Reading Writing
(adapted from Spencer Kagan)

Procedure Classroom Materials

Before strategy: ● Note taking template

1. Review directions and expectations. ● Strategy anchor chart

2. Model strategy with one student.

3. Have students write down prompt.

During strategy:
1. Group students in fours, number off, and divide into pairs.
2. S1 interviews S2 and S3 interviews S4. The interviewer takes notes.
3. Students reverse roles and repeat step 2.
4. Students regroup.
5. All students share what they learned about their partners.

After strategy:
1. Prompt various students to share final idea with whole group.
2. Note taking template is collected and reviewed.

Scaffolds

Substantial → Moderate → Light

All light and moderate scaffolds plus...
● If possible, give directions in
home language
● Provide paragraph frame to
complete response
● Provide CLOZE guide to record
All light scaffolds plus...
● Use of paragraph frame to
complete response
● Provide sentence starters to
facilitate share-out
Ex. One thing my partner
● Model strategy
● Provide note-taking template
● Access to anchor charts with
sentence starters

Language Instructional Strategies: Three-Step Interview

 parter response shared with me…
● Allow for portions of
conversation to be completed in
home language
● Provide access to word bank
with visual supports

Keys to Success

● Give explicit directions about expectations for when students are moving around the room.
● Can be used as an entrance activity to introduce topic and activate prior knowledge; an in-between activity to
encourage students to analyze and understand topic in depth; and an exit task to review information.

ELD Standards

Interacting in Meaningful Ways

A. Collaborative
1. Exchanging information and ideas with others through oral collaborative discussions on a range of social
and academic topics

B. Interpretive
5. Listening actively to spoken English in a range of social and academic contexts

C. Productive
12. Selecting and applying varied and precise vocabulary and other language resources to effectively convey
ideas.

Learn More

● Teachhub.com - classroom management tips

Language Instructional Strategies: Three Step Interview