This means that the leader's story should last about 12 minutes with each of the four students called upon speaking two minutes each. 5. During the next class, the teacher simply asks the Table Topics leader to come to the front of the class to begin the session. The goal of this organization is to give its members experience in making speeches, thinking on their feet, and feeling comfortable expressing themselves in front of a group. Students become more attentive and involved with the leader's story in that they have to be thinking of similar experiences they have had in case they are called upon to speak. This builds listening skills and discussion-participation skills.
Students feel responsible to the group, which increases motivation and class cohesiveness.
The teacher is not the focus of class attention and is better able to monitor student performance. These could then be reviewed after the Table Topics session. This activity is useful to students of English for Special Purposes since the atmosphere is that of a business meeting or conference at which they must give a formal speech or comment on a specific topic that has come up during the meeting. Since the Table Topics leader has no limits in creating his story, he can use the vocabulary and range of language he knows to tell his story. This is also true for the students called upon, given that the Table Topics leader asks questions which are general in nature.