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Role Play
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Role Playing is an excellent way of encouraging children to use English words in particular contexts. For example, you might set up a shop, and ask individuals to come into your shop and purchase some items. It might be helpful to show a list of items which you sell on the board so that children can refer to it during their "shopping". If you do this as a whole-class activity, with individual children entering your shop while the others watch and listen, the whole class will learn (not just the "shopper"). You can also use the shopping context to discuss English money and numbers.
August 15, 2005
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Beginner Dialogue: Cooking
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Beginner Dialogue: Cooking
From Kenneth Beare,
Your Guide to English as 2nd Language.
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Cooking
(At a friend's house)
Carol: This is a lovely house!
Martha: Thank you. Carol, we call it home.
Carol: It's very close to work, isn't it?
Martha: Yes, it is. I always walk to work - even when it rains!
Carol: I usually take the bus. It takes so long!
Martha: How long does it take?
Carol: Oh, it takes about 20 minutes.
Martha: That is a long time. Well, have some cake.
Carol: (taking a bite of some cake) this is delicious! Do you bake all of your own cakes?
Martha: Yes, I usually bake something at the weekend. I like having sweets in the house.
Carol: You're a wonderful cook!
Martha: Thank you, it's nothing really.
Carol: I never cook. I'm just hopeless. My husband, David, usually does all the cooking.
Martha: Do you often go out to eat?
Carol: Yes, when he doesn't have time to cook, we go out to eat somewhere.
Martha: There are some wonderful restaurants in the city.
Carol: Too many! You can eat at a different restaurant every day. Monday - Chinese, Tuesday - Italian, Wednesday - Mexican, on and on ...
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Multiple Choice Questions
1. How does Carol get to work?
By car
By bus
On foot
2. How does Martha get to work?
By car
By bus
On foot
3. When does Martha bake cakes?
Every day
At weekends
She doesn't bake cakes.
4. How often does Carol cook?
Every day
At weekends
She doesn't cook.
5. Carol thinks ______.
There aren't enough restaurants in town.
There are a lot of restaurants in town.
Martha is an awful cook.
January 16, 2005
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Advanced Dialogue: Waiting for a Friend
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Waiting
(husband and wife waiting at 'Joe's Bar and Grill' - later waiter)
Husband: We've been waiting for more than 30 minutes!
Wife: Terry, are you sure you read the directions correctly?
Husband: Do you think I made a mistake?! I'm sure he said Joe's Bar and Grill.
Wife: I wish you had brought the directions with you.
Husband: Well if you hadn't lost them, I would have brought them!
Wife: Now, now, let's not get into that. I told you I put them on the shelf in the hall.
Husband: It's no use worrying about that now. Anyway, what will we be doing this time tomorrow? I'm so excited about getting away on holiday.
Wife: So am I. Just think, this time tomorrow we'll be lying on the beach soaking up the sun.
Husband: No, I'll be sitting at the bar enjoying my Gin and Tonic and reading a good book.
Wife: It's going to be wonderful, isn't it? It's been so long since we last got away.
Husband: Yes ... I wish he were here. I'm getting hungry!
Wife: Why don't you ask that man for help.
Husband: OK (goes up to the man behind the counter) Excuse me, we've been waiting for over a half an hour for a friend. Have you seen anyone looking for somebody?
Waiter: No, I'm afraid I haven't.
Husband: I just don't understand. Our friend is never late.
Waiter: Well, maybe he's at Joe's Pub.
Husband: Joe's Pub?
Waiter: Yes, there's also a Joe's Pub in town. People mix us up all the time!
Husband: Do you think you could give a ring and see if he's there?
Waiter: Certainly, no problem. What's his name?
Husband: Alex.
Waiter: (telephoning) Yes, this is Joe's Bar and Grill. Is there an Alex waiting there? .... (he waits for the other person to ask for Alex) Yes, great. Thanks. Good bye.
Husband: He's there, isn't he?
Waiter: Yes, he's there and he's been waiting for half an hour.
Husband: Oh, no! He's at Joe's Pub! Is there a taxi nearby?
Waiter: Yes, on the corner opposite the church.
Husband: Let's go!
Wife: I wish you had brought those directions!
------
Multiple Choice Questions
1. The husband _____
forgot the directions.
would have brought the directions if she hadn't lost them.
never had the directions.
2. What will they be doing tomorrow at this time?
Having dinner with their friends.
Be on holiday.
Be at work.
3. How long have they been waiting?
Not long
For more than a half an hour
For a few minutes
4. Their friend is:
often late.
sometimes late.
never late.
5. Where's their friend?
At Joe's Pub
At Joe's Bar and Grill
At Joe's house
6. Where are they?
At Joe's Pub
At Joe's Bar and Grill
At Joe's house
Waiting
(husband and wife waiting at 'Joe's Bar and Grill' - later waiter)
Husband: We've been waiting for more than 30 minutes!
Wife: Terry, are you sure you read the directions correctly?
Husband: Do you think I made a mistake?! I'm sure he said Joe's Bar and Grill.
Wife: I wish you had brought the directions with you.
Husband: Well if you hadn't lost them, I would have brought them!
Wife: Now, now, let's not get into that. I told you I put them on the shelf in the hall.
Husband: It's no use worrying about that now. Anyway, what will be doing this time tomorrow? I'm so excited about getting away on holiday.
Wife: So am I. Just think, this time tomorrow we'll be lying on the beach soaking up the sun.
Husband: No, I'll be sitting at the bar enjoying my Gin and Tonic and reading a good book.
Wife: It's going to be wonderful, isn't it? It's been so long since we last got away.
Husband: Yes ... I wish he were here. I'm getting hungry!
Wife: Why don't you ask that man for help.
Husband: OK (goes up to the man behind the counter) Excuse me, we've been waiting for over a half an hour for a friend. Have you seen anyone looking for somebody?
Waiter: No, I'm afraid I haven't.
Husband: I just don't understand our friend is never late.
Waiter: Well, maybe he's at Joe's Pub.
Husband: Joe's Pub?
Waiter: Yes, there's also a Joe's Pub in town. People mix us up all the time!
Husband: Do you think you could give a ring and see if he's there?
Waiter: Certainly, no problem. What's his name?
Husband: Alex.
Waiter: (telephoning) Yes, this is Joe's Bar and Grill. Is there an Alex waiting there? .... (he waits for the other person to ask for Alex) Yes, great. Thanks. Good bye.
Husband: He's there, isn't he?
Waiter: Yes, he's there and he's been waiting for half an hour.
Husband: Oh, no! He's at Joe's Pub! Is there a taxi nearby?
Waiter: Yes, on the corner opposite the church.
Husband: Let's go!
Wife: I wish you had brought those directions!
------
Multiple Choice Questions
1. The husband _____
forgot the directions.
would have brought the directions if she hadn't lost them.
never had the directions.
2. What will they be doing tomorrow at this time?
Having dinner with their friends.
Be on holiday.
Be at work.
3. How long have they been waiting?
Not long
For more than a half an hour
For a few minutes
4. Their friend is:
often late.
sometimes late.
never late.
5. Where's their friend?
At Joe's Pub
At Joe's Bar and Grill
At Joe's house
6. Where are they?
At Joe's Pub
At Joe's Bar and Grill
At Joe's house
Waiting
(husband and wife waiting at 'Joe's Bar and Grill' - later waiter)
Husband: We've been waiting for more than 30 minutes!
Wife: Terry, are you sure you read the directions correctly?
Husband: Do you think I made a mistake?! I'm sure he said Joe's Bar and Grill.
Wife: I wish you had brought the directions with you.
Husband: Well if you hadn't lost them, I would have brought them!
Wife: Now, now, let's not get into that. I told you I put them on the shelf in the hall.
Husband: It's no use worrying about that now. Anyway, what will be doing this time tomorrow? I'm so excited about getting away on holiday.
Wife: So am I. Just think, this time tomorrow we'll be lying on the beach soaking up the sun.
Husband: No, I'll be sitting at the bar enjoying my Gin and Tonic and reading a good book.
Wife: It's going to be wonderful, isn't it? It's been so long since we last got away.
Husband: Yes ... I wish he were here. I'm getting hungry!
Wife: Why don't you ask that man for help.
Husband: OK (goes up to the man behind the counter) Excuse me, we've been waiting for over a half an hour for a friend. Have you seen anyone looking for somebody?
Waiter: No, I'm afraid I haven't.
Husband: I just don't understand our friend is never late.
Waiter: Well, maybe he's at Joe's Pub.
Husband: Joe's Pub?
Waiter: Yes, there's also a Joe's Pub in town. People mix us up all the time!
Husband: Do you think you could give a ring and see if he's there?
Waiter: Certainly, no problem. What's his name?
Husband: Alex.
Waiter: (telephoning) Yes, this is Joe's Bar and Grill. Is there an Alex waiting there? .... (he waits for the other person to ask for Alex) Yes, great. Thanks. Good bye.
Husband: He's there, isn't he?
Waiter: Yes, he's there and he's been waiting for half an hour.
Husband: Oh, no! He's at Joe's Pub! Is there a taxi nearby?
Waiter: Yes, on the corner opposite the church.
Husband: Let's go!
Wife: I wish you had brought those directions!
------
Multiple Choice Questions
1. The husband _____
forgot the directions.
would have brought the directions if she hadn't lost them.
never had the directions.
2. What will they be doing tomorrow at this time?
Having dinner with their friends.
Be on holiday.
Be at work.
3. How long have they been waiting?
Not long
For more than a half an hour
For a few minutes
4. Their friend is:
often late.
sometimes late.
never late.
5. Where's their friend?
At Joe's Pub
At Joe's Bar and Grill
At Joe's house
6. Where are they?
At Joe's Pub
At Joe's Bar and Grill
At Joe's house
From Kenneth Beare,
Your Guide to English as 2nd Language.
Source: http://esl.miningco.com/od/advancedreadingskills/a/d_waiting.htm
January 16, 2005
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Iprove Pairs
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Improv Pairs (with a trio thrown in)
The Believer: : you have converted to a wacky new religion. (make one up) You are now trying to persuade this friend/stranger/spouse to join this new religion. You'll have to work out the details with your partner as to your relationship. Try to save his or her soul.
The Doubter: your objective is to react to the statements and questions that the other actor is making. Stay skeptical at least in the beginning.
The Believer:: you have converted to a wacky new religion. (make one up) You are now trying to persuade this friend/stranger/spouse to join this new religion. You'll have to work out the details with your partner as to your relationship. Try to save his or her soul.
The Doubter: your objective is to react to the statements and questions that the other actor is making. Stay skeptical at least in the beginning.
Beware: You must try to prevent your friend from entering a bank and making a deposit. Your have to explain to him or her that the bank has been taken over by aliens or the living dead, or devils and that it will be his or her death to go in there.
Depositor: You are overdrawn at the bank. (your checking account is in minus territory) so you have to make a deposit. Don't forget that this is your friend talking to you. Be curious or mistrustful. You're on your lunch break and don't have all day.
Beware: You must try to prevent your friend from entering a bank and making a deposit. Your have to explain to him or her that the bank has been taken over by aliens or the living dead, or devils and that it will be his or her death to go in there.
Depositor: You are overdrawn at the bank. (your checking account is in minus territory) so you have to make a deposit. Don't forget that this is your friend talking to you. Be curious or mistrustful. You're on your lunch break and don't have all day.
Teacher: you must inform the student that he or she will fail your English class. Explain why this is so, include test results, absences, lack of participation etc. In other words the reasons why.
Student: After hearing the bad news, (and perhaps debating) you must plead your case as to why the professor should: give not give you an F.
Teacher: you must inform the student that he or she will fail your English class. Explain why this is so, include test results, absences, lack of participation etc. In other words the reasons why.
Student: After hearing the bad news, (and perhaps debating) you must plead your case as to why the professor should: give not give you an F.
The Waiter: you work at a restaurant. Act the part: try to serve the client as best you can.
The Annoying Client: do your best to be irritating.
Change your order, often. If you order fish, change your mind and order meat. Explain that you are allergic. Ask what is in the ingredients. Change tables.
do everything you can to prevent the waiter from ever waiting on you.
The Waiter: you work at a restaurant. Act the part: try to serve the client as best you can.<
The Annoying Client: do your best to be irritating.
Change your order, often. If you order fish, change your mind and order meat. Explain that you are allergic. Ask what is in the ingredients. Change tables.
do everything you can to prevent the waiter from ever waiting on you.
Parent: you bring you kid to the doctors office for the first time.. Normally it your spouse who has brought the child in for checkups and the likes. So this is new for you. Try to calm your child or make him behave.
Child: You do NOT like being here. Perhaps you are afraid/angry/sick of the doctor. Do your best so that things do not go smoothly. Be childish.
Doctor: Go through the motions of being a doctor. Use the stethoscope, ask the patient to breathe deeply, say ah, take his pulse. Converse with the parent and child.
Does it hurt if I touch you here etc. Do tests, have fun with it. culminating with giving a shot to the child.
Parent: you bring you kid to the doctors office for the first time. .Normally it your spouse who has brought the child in for checkups and the likes. So this is new for you. Try to calm your child or make him behave.
Child: You do NOT like being here. Perhaps you are afraid/angry/sick of the doctor. Do your best so that things do not go smoothly. Be childish.
Doctor: Go through the motions of being a doctor. Use the stethoscope, ask the patient to breathe deeply, say ah, take his pulse. Converse with the parent and child.
Does it hurt if I touch you here etc. Do tests, have fun with it. culminating with giving a shot to the child.
Parent: you bring you kid to the doctors office for the first time. Normally it your spouse who has brought the child in for checkups and the likes. So this is new for you. Try to calm your child or make him behave.
Child: You do NOT like being here. Perhaps you are afraid/angry/sick of the doctor. Do your best so that things do not go smoothly. Be childish.
Doctor: Go through the motions of being a doctor. Use the stethoscope, ask the patient to breathe deeply, say ah, take his pulse. Converse with the parent and child.
Does it hurt if I touch you here etc. Do tests, have fun with it. culminating with giving a shot to the child.
Teachers: you can cut out the square and place them face down to let the students choose their own partners. If this
is an ESL class perhaps giving your students some time to search for the appropriate vocabulary would be in order.
Ce texte © 2002-2003 Christopher Yukna - tous droits réservés
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christopher YUKNA
Advanced Learning Technologies Project Manager
Délégation aux Relations Internationales
Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines
158 cours Fauriel
42023 SAINT-ETIENNE Cedex 2
January 16, 2005
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Dramatic Dialogues
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This is a simple speaking activity you can utilise with any level, by simply varying the depth to which you exploit the students' responses. You simply take a selection of simple dialogues, such as
A: What is your name?
B: John Smith.
A: John Smith?
B: That’s right.
A: Ah. That explains everything.
You need about five or six for this to be successful. You could write them on the board if pushed for time, or elicit the conversations from the students as you go.
You then get the students to read them through in pairs, before deciding what the situation happens to be, and how the people might be feeling. You then do a feedback on the students ideas and focus on how each dialogue might sound. You then get the students to choose one dialogue and a situation and act it out, possibly extending it, while the other students guess what the situation is.
August 18, 2003
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The First Day Box
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This is a simple idea which is an entertaining alternative to the usual first day icebreaker activities. You take a box (I used an old photocopier paper box) and fill it with a selection of bits and pieces from your house that "say" something about you. For example I used a bottle opener (I like wine) an old guide book from Australia (I've been... etc) a coupl of Cds, a coupl of videos, my favourite book, a puncture repair kit (I like cycling) and one or two other things. It's very much up to you.
You then hand the box around the class without telling them the meaning of what's inside, and ask the students to take one or two items that look interesting. Then ask the students why they chose them, making sure that any vocabulary is covered. You then ask the students to deduce why these things are in the box. You then confirm their ideas (or otheriwse!) before moving onto the next stage.
Then take the now empty box and the students then imagine what they would put in the box. This can be tricky, so allow them a little freedom, for example, family, or in the case of one student, I had, they had their snowboard! The point is to show the students that they can say what they like, and to break down any "This is stupid" barriers.
The students then work in groups and pretend to actually take the objects out of the box. Encourage them to be silly - this is a potentially embarrassing activity for many students, so try and make the atmosphere as relaxed and friendly as possible.
July 7, 2003
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THE PHOTO ALBUM
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The Photo Album
Each student is given a piece of A4 paper. This is folded in half, and students draw a selection of squares and rectangles on it, representing photographs. This is then their “photo album”, with each rectangle representing a different picture.
Chris Chappell, Eastbourne, UK
An introduction to a discussion about advertising, a reading about cars, etc.
Students look at different car adverts taken from newspapers, magazines, etc. and discuss what the main selling point is in each case.
Katherine Musson, UK
April 11, 2003
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ASK AN EXPERT level: preintermediate
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In the class, brainstorm the students about what they know a lot about. Encourage them to be forthcoming. Then each student writes down “I am an expert …whatever” on a piece of paper. The students then either mingle around, asking each other questions about their classmates, or work in small groups.
NB – Also good for practising Question forms!
Chris Chappell, Eastbourne, UK
April 11, 2003
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THE FOUR CORNERS level: all
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Each student is given a piece of A4 paper and asked to fold it in half, then in half again. They then open their paper to reveal four sections. The students then have to draw a picture in each corner to illustrate themselves in some way. I usually demonstrate by drawing a pint of beer in one, a picture of a girl to represent my girlfriend, and so on. The point of drawing your own pictures is to make it clear that the quality of the pictures is not important. The students then have to explain their picture either to a partner, a small group or, if it is a small class, everybody.
Variations:
If the students are working in groups/pairs, you could get the groups/pairs to exchange pictures within the group, make new groups and explain the new picture to the new group.
You can specify what each student writes in the section (for example, Family, Hobbies, Ambitions, Hometown).
April 11, 2003
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