A class discussion can reward confidence in a language more than understanding of the subject.

Discussion rewards fluency. The person who speaks easily, in the room’s dialect, at the right pace, gets read as the person who understands, while someone with a firmer grasp and less confident delivery contributes less and is judged accordingly. Verbal ease and comprehension are separate and constantly conflated.

Where you run discussions, take written contributions too and slow the pace. If you are the confident speaker, leave gaps. And if you are not, writing your point down beforehand is a practical way to get it into the room intact.