Three-step Interviews

The three-step interview takes the place of the traditional group discussion because each person in the group must produce and receive information. In the first two steps of this cooperative learning structure, students interact in pairs, interviewing each other about a topic. Then, in the third step, students take turns sharing what they have learned from their partners with the rest of the group.

This step promotes equal participation, where only one person in the whole group or class is talking at once. The three-step interview helps students develop listening and language skills while promoting individual accountability.

• Students share and apply different questioning strategies.
• Three-Step Interview creates simultaneous accountability.
• It helps students personalise their learning and listen to and appreciate the ideas and thinking of others.

1. Teacher to do the following:
2. provides the interview topic.
3. states the duration of the interview and provides think time.
4. provides an organiser for student notes (if needed).
5. Student pairs take turns interviewing each other and then report what they learn to another pair.
   • Step 1: Student A interviews Student B
   • Step 2: Student B interviews Student A
   • Step 3: Pairs up to form groups of four. Student A and B each summarise their partner’s responses for Student C and D, and vice versa.
6. Teacher brings the groups together for a large group debriefing.