It is tempting to assume that students who sit silently through a tutorial have failed to prepare for the topic.  However, it could be the student has a preference for listening to others and learning from the ideas of tutors and peers, or in the case of overseas students, silence may signal language difficulties or unfamiliarity with the norms of academic interaction in Australia.

If a principal purpose of tutorials is to help students converse in the language of the discipline, they need to be encouraged to contribute.  To do this:  

·        Break the group into smaller groups or pairs on occasions to encourage all students to talk.  

·        Ask students to spend a few minutes writing down their ideas or questions and then compare their efforts with a neighbour.  This will give students a platform from which to participate. 

·        Try and arrange the seating so that either you or a talkative student sits opposite a quiet student.  Eye contact can often encourage interaction.