Would the following be a suitable question? (3.10.7)

Question

Hi teachers,Contex: In Marta’s village a policeman stood at the door of her house.Would the following be a suitable question?Was there anybody standing at Marta's door?Thanks in advance.

Shawn79 · Accepted Answer

It's fine is you don't mind "yes" as the answer. I prefer who, what, when, where, why and how questions.

They require more than a yes or no answer.

Who was standing at Marta's door?
Where was the policeman standing?

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Hi Shawn,
Thank you for your suggestions.
Yes the answer is, 'Yes there was. A policeman.'
Isn't mine a bit more challenging for the students?

Remember, my questions are for a listening comprehension exercise.

TS

Shawn79 · Answer

Thinking SpainYes the answer is, 'Yes there was. A policeman.'

"Yes (there was)" is an answer to "was there...?"
"A policeman" is an answer to "who was...?"

After the listening portion, are your questions and answers oral? The reason for my suggestion is what happens if a student just answers you "yes" and doesn't tell you it was "a policeman." Do you follow-up with "who was it?" or is it a written question that they would get wrong if they failed to say more than just "yes".

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Shawn79After the listening portion, are your questions and answers oral? The reason for my suggestion is what happens if a student just answers you "yes" and doesn't tell you it was "a policeman." Do you follow-up with "who was it?" or is it a written question that they would get wrong if they failed to say more than just "yes".

Hi Shawn,
I give them the questions on a paper. They have to write the answers according to what they hear.
When they were at the beginners level, they got used to answer 'Yes/No Questions' with more that just, for example. 'Yes, there was.' or 'No, there wasn't.', so actually they go for more than that. So, I don't have to follow-up with more questions. 100% of the times, they go for it. Another thing is if all of them get the right one or not, but usually more than a couple of them do it. There are about 6-8 students per class.
Have I explained myself clearly on this one?

TS

Shawn79 · Answer

That's good to hear. I'm glad your students don't take the easy way out with short answers. Thanks for sharing and satisfying my curiosity. I think you do well with your questions and answers. <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Hi Shawn,
Thanks a lot to you for your words. You made my day!

I am quite sure that many of the teachers get tired with my questions. It must be very boring for them just to proof-read me.
But I am really grateful to all of them because despite what I've said they do it. I may sound too humble, but it not for me, it's for them.

Sleep well.
TS

Would the following be a suitable question? (3.10.7)

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