Express Yourself: Discussing English Quotations and Forming Opinions

“There is always hope when people are forced to listen to both sides.”

—John Steward Mill (1806-1873), British philosopher

How do we create compelling conversations? We ask more so we know more. Then we can share more. Sometimes we also hear or read other words by famous people, and we borrow those words.

Finding New Context and Perspectives – in English

Many people experience difficulties finding their voice, let alone finding it in another language.  That’s one reason sharing English quotations and proverbs remain so popular. They also model brevity, clarity, and sometimes wit. Our students can learn from some classic thinkers and writers – and often clarify their own feelings and thoughts too.

Another often overlooked advantage to adding English quotations to the ESL and EFL classrooms is they provide context to ideas and introduce important cultural figures. Cultural literacy remains a hidden barrier for many immigrants seeking academic success. These fluency-focused activities also help students prepare short responses to many standardized exams and more clearly express themselves, challenging students to discuss and respond to classic quotations works on multiple levels.

Forming Opinions

One such exercise – featured in the Compelling Conversations series since the beginning – is Discussing Quotations. Students are presented with curated quotations from different perspectives, cultures, and professions. Each quote succinctly communicates a clear point of view. I often pair dueling quotes, and try to place the quotes in dialogue with each other.  It makes students think a bit. Who wants to disagree with a classical philosopher? On the other hand, some famous folks have said some stupid things!

Beneath each quote, students are asked whether they agree or disagree with that point of view. Students soon add a “why” as they learn more about their classmates and their opinions. This communicative exercise allows ESL students to see wonderful languages of clear communication, assess multiple viewpoints, and builds critical thinking skills. It also helps English students articulate opinions and show their reasoning – in English.

Discussing Quotations in the Classroom

Here some teaching tips for using quotations to create discussions in your classroom that I have found effective with intermediate ESL and advanced ESL students:

• Divide the class into groups of three or four, ideally around a shared table.
• Have the students take turns reading the quotes aloud.
• Pay attention to the speaker. What do we know about this person?
• Why might they have said this quote?
• Discuss the quote together. Do you you agree or disagree with the quote?
• Give reasons to explain your answer.

Here is a sample Discussing Quotations from the Staying Healthy chapter from  Compelling Conversations – Vietnam. Feel free to try it out in your own English classroom!

Discussing Quotations

1. “The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future, not to anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.”

—Siddhartha Guatama (563–483 B.C.), Buddha, spiritual leader

Agree                                                                       Disagree

2. “The first duty of a physician is that he should do the sick no harm.”

—Hippocrates (460–380 B.C.), ancient Greek physician

Agree                                                                       Disagree

3. “It is part of the cure to wish to be cured.”

—Seneca the Younger (4 B.C.–65 A.D.), Roman philosopher/statesmen

Agree                                                                       Disagree

4. “Better use medicines at the outset than at the last moment.”

—Publilius Syrus (85–43 B.C.E.), Roman writer

Agree                                                                       Disagree

5. “A sound mind in a sound body is a short, but full description of a happy state in this world.”

—John Locke (1632–1704), English philosopher

Agree                                                                       Disagree

6. “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”

—Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790), American writer/publisher

Agree                                                                       Disagree

7. “You can’t lose weight by talking about it. You have to keep your mouth shut.”

—Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790), American writer/publisher

Agree                                                                       Disagree

8. “You can’t ignore the importance of a good digestion. The joy of life…depends on a sound stomach.”

—Joseph Conrad (1857–1924), Polish-born English author

Agree                                                                       Disagree

9. “The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don’t want, drink what you don’t like, and do what you’d rather not.”

—Mark Twain (1835–1910), American writer/humorist

Agree                                                                       Disagree

10. “Be careful about reading a health book. You may die of a misprint.”

—Mark Twain (1835–1910), American writer/humorist

Agree                                                                       Disagree

Please write another health quotation that you like and tell us why.

Following Up

Do you use quotations as a teaching tool in your English classroom? Have you found it to be effective?

For more classroom activities, check out our available lesson plans on Teachers Pay Teachers! 

Ask more. Know more. Share more.
Create Compelling Conversations.
Visit www.CompellingConversations.com

Eric

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 co-authors of the ELT fluency-focused Compelling Conversations series. 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, published a monthly column, “Instant Conversation Activities,” based on the book for over a decade. 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. "Creating Compelling Conversations: Reproducible Search and Share Activities for English Teachers" (2019) reflects his educational philosophy that students deserve a choice and a voice in their English classes. Eric enjoys sharing reflections, resources, and teaching tips on this blog. Many intelligent followers of many related hashtags - #ESL #EFL #ELF #CATESOL #TESOL #ELT - might find enjoy these posts.