Ways to Avoid Answering a Question

👥 Step 1: Warm-Up Activity (Discussion & Brainstorming)

Activity:

1. Ask students: "Have you ever been asked a question you didn’t want to answer?"
2. Let them share their experiences and reasons why they avoided answering (e.g., privacy, discomfort, secrecy).

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🎯 Step 2: Introducing Common Strategies

Introduce polite ways to avoid answering:

✅ Redirecting → Changing the subject
✅ Deflecting → Giving a general or vague response
✅ Asking a Question Back → Putting the focus on the other person
✅ Using Humor → Lightly joking to shift attention
✅ Being Honest → Politely stating that you don’t want to answer

Example Sentences for Each Strategy:

1. Redirecting: "That’s interesting! But have you heard about..."
2. Deflecting: "I’m not sure about that. What do you think?"
3. Asking a Question Back: "Why do you ask?"
4. Using Humor: "If I told you, I’d have to make you my secret-keeper!"
5. Being Honest: "I’d rather not talk about it, hope you understand."

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📝 Step 3: Practice with Interactive Activities

🔹 Activity 1: Role-Play (Pair Work)

• One student asks a direct question (e.g., “How much money do you make?”).
• The other student must use one of the avoidance techniques.
• Swap roles and try different techniques.

🔹 Activity 2: Quick Responses Challenge (Game Format)

• The teacher asks personal or tricky questions randomly.
• Students must use one of the avoidance strategies within 5 seconds.
• Those who succeed continue playing; the last remaining student wins.

🔹 Activity 3: Real-Life Scenarios (Group Discussion)

• Divide students into small groups.
• Give each group a scenario (e.g., "Your friend asks why you didn’t invite them to a party.").
• Each group creates an appropriate response using an avoidance strategy.

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📌 Step 4: Reflection & Homework

• Discussion: Which technique do students find the most useful?
• Homework: Write five different responses to a personal question using different strategies.