How to Teach Rhetorical Questions for ESL
The subtlety of rhetorical questions can be difficult for non-native English speakers to grasp. Rhetorical questions may be best taught to advanced-intermediate to advanced students. Rhetorical questions can be used in a variety of situations to make a statement or to show a little humor. However, students should be careful when using rhetorical questions, as not everyone appreciates rhetorical question sarcasm. This could be especially important to business students whose jobs may depend on the business relationships they form.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Put a cartoon or comic on the board or overhead that utilizes a rhetorical question. This demonstrates without words that rhetorical questions are not necessarily meant to be taken literally. The picture can also demonstrate a situation in which a rhetorical question may be used without you, as the teacher, needing to spell it out with words. If you cannot find a comic or cartoon to use, draw one yourself. It might be of a baby sitting next to an open refrigerator with its contents spilled on the floor. The mother could be standing behind the baby, saying, "Were you hungry?"
-
2
Ask students to talk about the picture. Tell them to describe the situation. Ask them if they see anything funny about the picture.
-
-
3
Provide other instances where rhetorical questions could be used. Ask students to think of situations where they might be used. Explain "sarcasm" to students and point out that rhetorical questions are often used with sarcasm to make a statement. Also explain that rhetorical questions are not meant to be answered.
-
4
Ask the students to tell you other rhetorical questions they know of, like "Are you out of your mind?" or "Do 'ya think?" Write them on the board, and discuss situations in which they might be used.
-
1
References
Resources
- Photo Credit question mark image by amlet from Fotolia.com
