Choral speaking in P4C?

Helping pupils to gain the habit of careful listening in P4C is essential. If the listening isn’t strong, the dialogue won’t go anywhere. One way you can improve listening skills is to sometimes use choral speaking. Here are two moments when it works well in philosophy sessions:

1. Repeating big ideas / concepts

After some thinking time, ask pupils to do a round where they say just one word each – the big idea or concept which comes to mind after they experience the stimulus. After each pupil says their concept, everyone repeats it together.

For example, after looking at a puzzling picture stimulus:

Janey: Crowds

Everyone: Crowds!

Bilal: Family

Everyone: Family!

Zuzana: Fun?

Everyone: Fun!

and so on round the circle. (It doesn’t matter if some pupils say the same idea as others. In fact, that can be interesting in itself as a quick snapshot of what’s in people’s heads.)

2. Repeating questions

Pupils say their questions out loud, and everyone repeats them in unison. This gets participants thinking and listening to others at a critical moment.

For example:

Nicholas: Is it better to be alone or with others?

Everyone: Is it better to be alone or with others?

Sara: Is it possible to have too much fun?

Everyone: Is it possible to have too much fun?

Everyone listening, everyone speaking

This approach

• feels good for the speaker – they know everyone has heard what they said

• helps to keep everyone engaged and thinking

• removes any need for the teacher to repeat.