A、There are too many students in the discussion. B、Some people don’t let other people talk. C、Questions to discuss are too easy.

M: Come in!
W: Er, excuse me, professor Serafin, are you busy?
M: No, Miss Van Pelt, I’ve always got time for you. There’re several things I want to talk to you about.
W: Oh, really?
M: Yes, er, it’s about your class attendance for one thing, you now. You have been missing several classes.
W: Oh, well, that’s kind of related to what I was going to ask you about, too.
M: Oh, what’s your excuse now? This is the second time you’ve been around.
W: Well, it’s not an excuse. But, er, a kind of get lost in the discussions in class.
M: That seems to be the idea. You’re always lost out there in space somewhere. You’ve got problems on your mind?
W: No. It’s just the way of the discussion. There are a couple of students in the class who dominate the conversation and they won’t let any other ideas come in. And the topics I think are very difficult and most of the students don’t understand.
M: Well, why do you have two hands?
W: Well, if I say something, especially this Janet woman, she usually interrupts me about half way through and finishes my sentence or tells me I am wrong.
M: All right. Maybe that’s the way we should have our conversation and discussions, you know. If she dominates, then of course, you’ve got to assert yourself.
W: Well, maybe I can learn to assert myself. But there are a few students in the class who must be very bright, who will never speak up in that kind of atmosphere.
M: I see. And what is your suggestion for me then?
W: Well, I know that you can’t tell her not to talk. But maybe, you could tell her the rest of us don’t know as much as she does and we need to have some practice in discussion.
M: I see. I agree with you there. Domination of the conversations in the classes is not one person’s privilege. But on the other hand, it’s quite necessary for you to be able to take the lead sometimes, you know.
W: Well, I’ll try to speak more and I hope that other students will also say something.
M: That’s the point. Everyone should grasp the chance to make himself understood.
W: I see.