That’s a good question!
Here 9 helpful tips compiled, for good questions:
1. Formulate briefly and concisely and avoid unnecessary filler words.
Negative example: I have the impression that I understood today’s lesson content.
Better example: I have understood today’s lesson content.
2. Ask only one piece of information per item/question.
Negative example: My teacher is good at explaining content and presenting it in an interesting way.
Better:
1) My teacher explains content well.
2) My teacher presents content in an interesting way.
3. Formulate in a simple and understandable way. Avoid nested sentences.
Negative example: In my class you can always find students who cheer someone up when he/she is feeling down. Better example: In my class you can always find someone to talk to about problems.
4. Take into account the language level of the participants (e.g. simple language).
Negative example: My teacher always responds to my individual needs.
Better: My teacher always gives me exactly as much help as I need at the moment.
5. Formulate vividly.
Negative example: The teacher teaches individualised.
Better like this:
1) My teacher gives me hints on how I can I can improve.
2) My teacher lets me choose between tasks of varying difficulty.
3) etc.
6. Always formulate positively – otherwise it is unnecessarily difficult to understand.
Negative example: Doing something wrong in class is not bad.
Better like this: I dare to make mistakes in class.
7. Formulate in a value-neutral way to not influence the participants answers. Do not imply any facts.
Negative example: The teacher supports me with my homework.
Better:
1) I regularly attend homework support (yes/no).
2) If yes, does the teacher help you with your homework?
8. In your questions/statements, address and name specific situations and time periods.
Negative example: I understood the lesson content.
Better example: I have understood today’s lesson content.
9. Formulate questions/statements that refer to the individual assessment instead of the we-perspective.
Negative example: My teacher gives homework that we can do well.
Better: My teacher gives homework that I can do well.