Thinking in English 379. Do You Know How to Ask Great Questions?
Mar 16, 2026
Practical tips for asking clearer, more useful questions in modern English communication. Short techniques for open, probing, funnel and follow-up questions. Advice on avoiding biased or leading questions and how culture and emotion shape inquiry. Notes on using questioning skills with online meetings, international teams and AI tools.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
University Questions That Confused Professors
- Tom recalls university lectures where long complex questions confused professors and wasted time.
- He describes students asking academic-sounding questions to appear smart, which often required clarification or missed the point.
Good Questions Create Value Not Waste
- Bad questions waste time while good questions create value by clarifying and opening conversation.
- Tom contrasts wasted time with good questions leading to clarity, better understanding, and improved outcomes.
Narrow Topics With Funnel And Iteration
- Use funnel and iterative questioning to narrow complex topics and improve answers step by step.
- Tom demonstrates: How has the project been going overall? Which part is most challenging? What caused that issue?