Literature Discussion Prompts for ESL Students

Strategies to Scaffold English Language Learners’ Book Discussions

Jun 23, 2009

Providing open-ended reading response prompts can help ESL students participate more fully in literature discussions and improve their comprehension.

It’s not uncommon to open a book discussion with the question, “So what did you think about the story?” However, that simple question can be intimidating for English language learners. The question is too broad, especially for ESL students who may still be thinking in their native language, and then having to translate their thoughts into English before speaking. Even students who are socially fluent and who understand the text with good comprehension, may lack the confidence to contribute to class discussions, especially if the topic requires sophisticated analysis.

Providing ESL students with an anchor chart listing open-ended literature response prompts can give them a scaffold upon which to try out their emerging English language. At the same time it helps deepen their comprehension of the story by encouraging them to make connections, ask relevant questions, make inferences about character motives, plot, or author’s meaning or purpose, predict outcomes, motives, or likely next steps, and express key ideas, concepts, and themes expressed by the author.

Examples of Literature Response Prompts

Literature response prompts should be open-ended, but focused on scaffolding comprehension. Some examples include:

Strategies for Getting the Most Out of Literature Discussion Prompts

Keep the list simple. The prompts suggested above can be adjusted for any age level, but introducing too many all at once can overwhelm students. Focus on key prompts that are developmentally appropriate.

Be explicit in teaching how to use the prompts. Choose one at a time, model how to use the prompt, and then give the students the opportunity to practice using that prompt. Let the students know that using this prompt is a strategy meant to help them feel more comfortable during book discussions.

Let students to help decide which are the most useful prompts. List those prompts on an anchor chart, then post that chart where it is easily accessible during group discussions.

Book discussions need not be intimidating for ESL students. A well-placed anchor chart listing a selection of literature response prompts that the students have learned to use provides a readily accessible reference tool for English language learners.

The copyright of the article Literature Discussion Prompts for ESL Students in ESL Programs/Lessons is owned by Margaret M. Williams. Permission to republish Literature Discussion Prompts for ESL Students in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.