From Questions to Connection: Teaching Human-Centred Language in a Digital World

From Questions to Connection: Teaching Human-Centred Language in a Digital World

by Nathaniel Reed from ALT Training Online

In an age of increasing digital consumption and social isolation, Nathaniel Reed unpacks the relationship between questioning, human connection and learning. His impactful professional and personal accounts spotlight the importance of storytelling and building connections with our students to not only improve learning, but to support their overall wellbeing.

During my undergraduate days, while working at a small language school in Swansea, I asked a student a simple question: “What makes you feel at home?” She paused, smiled, and said, “When someone asks me how I really am.” I remember that moment clearly. In all the classrooms I’d taught in before–from Japan to Indonesia, South America to North Africa–the most powerful teaching moments always began with a question.

In a world increasingly shaped by screens and automated tools, we are surrounded by language that is fluent but often flat. AI can now write grammatically flawless essays and simulate casual conversation. Chatbots can offer polite customer service replies. But what AI still cannot do is pause, listen, respond with care, or ask a question that builds trust and connection.

As educators, we know that fluency isn’t just about words. It’s about when to speak, how to listen, and how to make someone feel heard. In the rush to adopt digital tools, it’s more important than ever to protect these human-centred aspects of language.

Why Questions Still Matter

Intentional, open-ended questions are one of the most flexible tools we have. They invite thinking and reflection, often bringing out the quiet voices in a room. A good question doesn’t require Wi-Fi or a device. It travels across classrooms, families, countries, and cultures.

In my own practice, I’ve seen learners open up in surprising ways when asked the right kind of question. Not the yes/no or textbook ones, but real ones: “What made you smile this week?” or “What is something good that happened yesterday?” These questions build not just speaking skills, but confidence and connection.

Even in tech-supported environments, questions offer a balance. AI can generate instant answers, but it cannot recreate the shared experience of exploring something unknown together. It cannot replace the moment a learner sees their idea valued in a real conversation.

From Silence to Stories

While volunteering with refugee learners in Swansea, I saw again how powerful a simple question can be. Learners who were hesitant to speak began to share small stories, personal memories, and hopes for the future. Sometimes, all it took was a thoughtful prompt and a safe space to share the answer.

In Japan, where I’ve taught for many years, I often encourage learners to take questions home– to ask their parents or grandparents something new and return to share what they’ve discovered. These small acts of questioning create bridges between language and life, building fluency that feels real, not rehearsed.

Making Space for Human Voices

The term “human-centred” has become common in education discussions, especially as AI becomes more embedded. But for me, human-centred teaching is not a buzzword–it’s a practice. It means creating space for learners to speak in their own voice, at their own pace, and to be genuinely listened to.

Here are a few ways to bring that into classrooms:

• Begin each week or class with a thoughtful question. Let learners speak from experience.
• Use sentence starters for those who need a scaffold, such as “One time I…” or “In my opinion…”
• Allow quiet prep time before speaking tasks, especially for anxious or neurodivergent learners.
• Encourage learners to create their own questions. Give them ownership of the dialogue.

These small strategies shift the focus from performance to presence. And in a time when many learners feel disconnected from language, from one another, and even from themselves, that kind of presence matters.

From Connection to Confidence

That student who smiled at a simple question spoke more confidently in that lesson than she had all term. And it wasn’t because she learned a new grammar rule. It was because she felt seen.

In a digital age where tools proliferate and attention is scarce, genuine connection is becoming a rare and valuable skill. As teachers, we have the opportunity to protect, nurture, and pass it on through something as simple and powerful as a question.

Let’s keep asking.

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About the Author:

Nathaniel Reed is an international English language educator with over 20 years of teaching experience across Japan, Indonesia, South America, and North Africa. His approach focuses on building confidence, curiosity, and real-world communication through meaningful questioning. Nathaniel is the founder of ALT Training Online and the author of Fluency Through Conversation, a question-based resource designed to support learners in finding their voice.

_{Notes: AI (Grammarly) was used as a proofreader in the production of this post.}