Using 5W+H Questions to Create Longer, Better Conversations

“The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.”

–Albert Einstein (1879-1955), German physicist

What are the 5W+H questions? Who can use this technique? Where can English students use the 5W+H filter in daily conversations? When can they use this method? Why do many journalists and managers use the 5W+H filter in their work? How can the 5W+H filter keep conversations going?

Some English students will already be familiar with the idea of 5W/H as the general question words: Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How. This checklist approach encourages speakers to bring these questions directly back into the conversation. Can you guess how it works?

Filtering Questions

When you are asked a question, practice running the answer through the “5W/H Filter.” Make sure you answer at least two of the question words to provide details. Let’s look at an example of a typical casual conversation.

Nick: What did you do this weekend?

Nobu: I went shopping.

Nick: That’s good.

Nobu: …

Nick: See you later.

This short conversation might be pleasant, but it wasn’t too informative. Now let’s run the conversation through the 5W/H filter.

Question: “What did you do this weekend?”

Filter:

What: Went shopping

Who: With my sister

When: Saturday

Where: At the outlet

Why: We were looking for a present for our brother’s birthday.

How: We rode our bicycles.

Creating Compelling Conversations

With the filter in place, Nobu has several places to take the conversation. When Nobu chooses to share at least three of the filtered answers, it’s much more interesting and compelling. Likewise, Nick may then continue the conversation in several directions. For example:

Nick: What did you do this weekend?

Nobu: I went shopping at the outlet on Saturday with my sister. We were looking
for a present for our brother’s birthday.

Nick: Oh, really? How old will your brother be?

OR

Nick: How is the outlet? I haven’t been there yet.

OR

Nick: I didn’t know you had a sister! How many people are in your family?

By providing details, Nobu and Nick learn more and share more about their lives and activities. They can also maintain longer, better conversations. If they want, Nobu and Nick can cycle through the 5W/H filter again, and the two can talk for as long as they want! Thus, the good friends will learn more about each other and their friendship can
become even stronger.

Do you use the 5W/H filter in your daily exchanges? What are some other techniques to keep the conversation flowing?

For more activities, check out the Studying English unit from Creating Compelling Conversations, now on Teachers Pay Teachers!

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Eric H. Roth

Eric H. Roth teaches international graduate students the pleasures and perils of academic writing and public speaking in English at the University of Southern California (USC). He also consults English language schools on communicative methods to effectively teach English. Roth co-authored Compelling Conversations: Questions and Quotations on Timeless Topics in 2006 to help English language learners increase their English fluency. Recommended by English Teaching Professional magazine, the advanced ESL textbook has been used in over 50 countries in English classrooms and conversation clubs. Easy English Times, an adult literacy newspaper, has published a monthly column, “Instant Conversation Activities,” based on the book since 2008. The first specific version for a particular country, Vietnam, was published in 2011, followed by 2012's Compelling American Conversations. A title for Japanese learners, Compelling Conversations – Japan, was released in 2015, and a second edition of Compelling Conversations – Vietnam in 2016. Eric enjoys sharing reflections, resources, and teaching tips on this #ESL #EFL #ELT blog.