Teacher Discussion Forums

Thanks so much for your advice and I am going to take it. I had been spending time worrying - what a waste of time and effort. I am going to go back to the tried and usually successful activities.

I teach intermediate level speakers aged 19-21 in a Chinese university. Any attempt to get discussion going is a dismal failure. Can anyone help me figure out why? I have success with role plays , story telling and response to individual questions so I know the capabilities of the students. I'm in m...