How to Encourage Judges to Give Verbal Feedback
In competitive environments where performance is assessed — such as Quran competitions, speech contests, or academic presentations — feedback plays a critical role in learning and improvement. While written scoring is often standard, verbal feedback can offer a more direct, personalised, and educational benefit. However, motivating or encouraging judges to consistently provide meaningful verbal feedback can present several challenges. This article explores practical strategies to encourage judges to offer verbal feedback, the value it adds for participants, and the systemic factors organisers can address to foster a culture of effective feedback.
The Value of Verbal Feedback
Verbal feedback delivers immediate, contextualised information that written scores alone may fail to convey. Instead of focusing purely on numerical evaluation, verbal comments can help participants understand:
- Specific areas of strength and weakness
- The reasoning behind the scores awarded
- Actionable suggestions for improvement
For Quran competition participants, this could mean receiving insight not just into tajweed accuracy or memorisation fidelity, but also rhythm, clarity, and emotional expression — elements often harder to communicate through score sheets alone.
Common Barriers to Providing Verbal Feedback
Before encouraging verbal feedback, it is essential to understand why judges may hesitate or avoid it. Some common reasons include:
- Lack of time due to a tightly packed event schedule
- Unclear expectations or absence of guidance on providing commentary
- Discomfort with speaking publicly or making evaluative comments in front of participants
- Concerns over demotivating participants with critical feedback
Addressing these concerns requires structural support, cultural shifts, and individual encouragement strategies.
Strategies to Encourage Verbal Feedback
1. Integrate Verbal Feedback into Judging Protocols
One of the most effective ways to encourage verbal feedback is to make it an official part of the judging process. This may include:
- Allotting dedicated time within the schedule specifically for feedback
- Requesting a brief comment after each performance or at the end of a session
- Outlining clear feedback expectations in the judging rubric or guidelines
For example, competitions could specify that judges should give one comment on strength and one area of improvement for each participant. This structure makes the requirement manageable and ensures consistency.
2. Provide Training and Resources
Judges are often experts in their field but may not be trained in delivering clear, concise verbal feedback. Offering targeted training can make a significant difference. Resources might include:
- Short workshops or briefings before the competition
- Sample scripts or demonstration videos showing effective feedback
- Written checklists or feedback formulae (e.g., “praise-improve-instruct”)
Training should focus on balancing constructive criticism with encouragement, using respectful and motivational language appropriate for a diverse audience.
3. Create a Supportive Feedback Culture
Event culture substantially influences judge behaviour. Organisers can highlight the importance of verbal feedback by:
- Recognising judges who provide insightful comments
- Sharing positive testimonials from participants who have benefited from spoken feedback
- Framing feedback as a critical teaching moment rather than just evaluation
When the delivery of verbal feedback is seen as a valued and respected part of the event, more judges are likely to engage without reservation.
4. Use Moderators or Facilitators
Some judges may be willing to share feedback but unsure how to do so concisely or clearly. Designating a facilitator to prompt or moderate verbal remarks can help:
- Keep comments focused and timely
- Standardise the process across judges
- Reduce the pressure on judges by steering the conversation
Moderators can ask questions such as: “Is there one aspect of tajweed that stood out?” or “Do you have one improvement suggestion for this recitation?” to direct attention and keep remarks productive.
5. Incorporate Participant-Requested Feedback
Offering participants the opportunity to ask for verbal feedback during or after the competition encourages judges to respond more personally. This could take the form of:
- Optional Q&A sessions at the end of each round
- Private follow-up sessions where judges meet individuals or small groups
- Written advance requests from participants indicating areas where they want feedback
When participants demonstrate active interest in hearing from judges, judges often feel more motivated and appreciated in sharing their perspectives.
6. Allow for Group Feedback When Individual is Not Possible
In larger competitions or time-constrained contexts, it may not be feasible to deliver feedback to each participant. As an alternative, judges can:
- Offer general observations at the end of a session
- Highlight common strengths and widespread performance issues
- Summarise key improvement tips for all participants collectively
This group-based approach still provides beneficial insight and promotes collective learning without placing excessive time demands on judges.
Practical Examples
Different types of events have used creative approaches to embed verbal feedback into their format:
- Youth debating tournaments: Often mandate a 2–3 minute verbal adjudication where judges explain their decision and offer remarks.
- Music competitions: Use a hybrid feedback system where written scorecards are complemented by a 1-minute verbal comment from the adjudicator.
- Quran memorisation contests: Some competitions allow judges to address all participants at the end of the day, summarising common improvement areas such as makharij clarity or rhythm control.
These examples illustrate that there is no single formula; rather, feedback approaches can be adapted to suit the competition’s goals, audience, and schedule.
Monitoring and Evaluation
Encouraging verbal feedback is only one part of the strategy — it is equally important to evaluate its effectiveness. Event organisers can:
- Survey participants on whether verbal feedback helped them improve
- Gather feedback from judges on the experience of giving comments
- Evaluate recordings or notes to ensure feedback remains respectful, concise, and informative
This process not only helps refine the format for future events but signals to judges and participants that feedback is taken seriously and valued within the competition framework.
Conclusion
Verbal feedback is a powerful educational tool that can significantly enhance the value of competitive performances, particularly in skill-based contests like Quran recitation or memorisation. Encouraging judges to provide it regularly requires thoughtful planning, clear expectations, supportive logistics, and cultural reinforcement. By taking steps such as integrating feedback into protocols, offering judge training, and fostering open communication channels, organisations can make verbal feedback a natural and enriching part of the competitive experience.
Ultimately, the goal is not just to evaluate performance, but to nurture growth — and verbal feedback is an indispensable part of that journey.
If you need help with your Quran competition platform or marking tools, email info@qurancompetitions.tech.