Strategy 2, from Solid English (p49) describes the different ways of seeking information in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal culture.

In western non-Aboriginal culture children become used to being questioned directly from a very early age. Aboriginal children do not have this same experience, in fact, they often don't know how to answer a direct question - they may not know what is expected of them. The passage provides examples of alternative ways of asking questions.

This strategy might be recommended for:

• a teacher who claims that her students don't respond to her questions;
• a teacher who assumes that her students don't know anything because they don't answer questions in class;
• a teacher who wants to understand Aboriginal communication patterns better;
• a teacher who wants to encourage participation.