
Activity 3: The silent floor discussion
The teacher can show a topic to be discussed, writing it in large letters on a paper and putting it on the floor.
Students are asked to write down everything that comes in their mind; it can be a word associated with the one presented, a statement, a question, a doubt, a fact.
Students can also respond to something that has been written by somebody else before them, putting the paper attached to the first one related, giving counter-arguments, making links, answering to a question done or asking further questions.
More people can write at the same time.
The only rule is that no one speaks during the exercise.
After a given time for the exercise (it can be half-an-hour or more, depending on the reactiveness of the students), a verbal discussion should start, analysing what is written in the papers.