We run a speaking activity in which students had to ask each other about school subjects and discuss.
What worked well?
There were fewer students than usual, because it was the last two days before going on vacations, which made it easier for us because we could pay attention to all of them and listen to all of their questions in a personalized way. Most of them participated in the activity but the ones who don't like speaking in English didn't.
What went wrong?
The classroom was really silent and some of the students did not follow instructions because they did not speak so much with each other. Instead they would write down the answers which wasn't the aim of the activity.
What would you change?
Find new ways to encourage and motivate students to participate properly in speaking activities. Teach students that they can learn from their mistakes.