Every element of teaching with Chatta is designed to empower both teachers and pupils. The combination of visual cues, teacher modelling, and breaking content into manageable chunks creates a structured yet flexible learning environment. But the real power of Chatta happens when pupils engage in partner work during a Chatta activity. This is where their understanding, confidence, and language skills truly begin to thrive.
Why Partner Work Matters
When pupils collaborate in pairs, they’re not just repeating information—they’re actively constructing meaning. Partner work encourages them to process, internalise, and articulate ideas in real time. This builds their ability to think on their feet, a skill that’s crucial for both academic and real-world communication. By speaking and listening to a peer, they gain confidence in their own voice and learn to adapt their language to different contexts.
The Role of the Chatta Board
Before diving into partner work, it’s essential to build the Chatta board as a class. This visual anchor provides a shared reference point, making the content accessible to all learners. A quick whole-class activity, like a “call out to fill in the blanks,” reinforces the teacher’s model and primes pupils for the language they’ll use. Hearing the model multiple times helps embed the vocabulary and structures, making it easier for pupils to retrieve and use them independently.
Structuring Partner Work
Once the Chatta board is completed, pupils move into pairs. It’s helpful to assign roles—Partner 1 and Partner 2, or A and B—to keep the activity focused and ensure both pupils have equal opportunities to speak. The key is to keep the pace brisk. Pupils should feel supported but challenged, with just 10 to 20 seconds to respond to each prompt. This prevents overthinking and encourages spontaneity, which is where real language development happens.
For example:
- Teacher: “Partner 1, tell your partner there’s been a serious incident at the zoo. Speak as a reporter—don’t mention the elephant yet!”
- Partner 2: “Explain that an elephant escaped!”
- Partner 1: “Tell your partner where it went.”
- Partner 2: “Describe what people in the town did when they saw it.”
- Partner 1: “Explain what the police did.”
- Partner 2: “How did the zookeeper help?”
This sequence can be completed in just a minute, making it a quick but highly effective activity. Repeating it with roles reversed or extending it to a full report further reinforces learning.
Why This Works
- Oral Composition: Pupils are practising the skill of turning thoughts into words, a foundational step in both speaking and writing. By speaking in a “writer’s voice,” they’re learning to structure their ideas coherently and use language purposefully.
- Confidence Building: The low-pressure, supportive environment of partner work allows pupils to take risks with language without fear of judgment. This builds their confidence and willingness to participate.
- Active Engagement: The fast-paced nature of the activity keeps pupils focused and engaged. They’re not just passively listening—they’re actively creating and responding.
- Reinforcement of Key Language: By noting a few key words or phrases on the board and encouraging pupils to “count” them during the activity, you’re reinforcing vocabulary in a meaningful way. Celebrating their use adds a layer of motivation and fun.
The Bigger Picture
Throughout a Chatta partner activity, pupils are doing more than just practising language—they’re developing essential cognitive and communication skills. They’re learning to listen, respond, and adapt their language in real time. With the scaffolding provided by the teacher’s modelling and the visual cues of the Chatta board, even reluctant speakers can find their voice.
This approach isn’t just about language development; it’s about empowering pupils to express themselves confidently and effectively. And that’s what makes Chatta such a powerful tool for learning.
