Class and Public Discussions
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No doubt you find yourself arguing all the time at school, maybe over a poem with a classmate in an English course or perhaps with a teaching assistant whose interpretation of economic trends you’re sure is flat wrong. Or maybe you spoke up at a campus meeting against the administration’s enforcement of “free speech zones” — or wish you had. The fact is, lots of people are shy about joining class discussions or public debates, even those that interest them. They find such occasions intimidating. Perhaps they don’t want to tip their hands, or fear they know too little about a subject, or simply don’t like the give-and-take of spirited debate.
You can improve your participation in such situations by observing both effective and ineffective speakers. Watch how the participants who enliven a discussion stay on topic, add new information or ideas, and pay attention to all members of the group. Notice, too, that less successful speakers often can’t stop talking, somehow make all discussions about themselves, or just play the smart aleck when they don’t know much about a topic. Surely, you can do better.
You can start just by joining in on conversations whenever you can. If speaking is a problem, take it slow at first — a comment or two, something as simple as “That’s a really good idea!” or “I wonder how accurate this data is?” The more that you hear your own voice in discussions, the more comfortable you’ll be offering your opinions in detail. Here are some more tips:
Do the required reading in a class so that you know what you’re talking about. That alone will give you a leg up in most groups.
Listen carefully and purposefully, and jot down important points.
Speak briefly to the point under discussion so that your comments are relevant. Don’t do all the talking.
Ask questions about issues that bother you: others probably have the same thoughts.
Occasionally, summarize points that have already been made to make sure that everyone is “on the same page.” Keep the summary brief.
Respond to questions or comments by others in specific rather than vague terms.
Try to learn the names of people in a discussion, and then use them.
When you’re already a player in a discussion, invite others to join in.