Look at the following dialogue. Read through it, and ask the student to imagine that they have already presented and practised it. What role play activities could be based on this dialogue?
Angela: Good morning. I want to send a letter to Singapore.
Clerk: Yes- do you want to send it air mail or ordinary mail?
Angela: I think I’ll send it air mail. I want it to get there quickly. How much does it cost?
Clerk: To Singapore? That will be 30 pence, please.
Angela: (gives the clerk 50 pence). Here you are.
Clerk: Here is your stamp, and here’s 20 pence change.
Angela: Thank you. Where’s the postbox? It’s over there, by the door.
Plan a similar role play based on a dialogue or text in your textbook.
Demonstrate a role play activity based on the dialogue.
Write these prompts on the board to guide the role play:
Where?/ air mail/ ordinary mail?/ how much?/ post box/ thanks.
Talk as you write the prompts, to show what they mean, e.g.
Look- you should talk about these things.
First of all, say where you want to send the letter - to France, to Japan, to the next town?
Then - how do you want to send it?
By air mail or by ordinary mail? Next - how much it costs. Then ask about the post box. Where is it? As the end; of course. You must thank the clerk- so say “Thank you”.
Students go through the prompts one by one. Then improvise a conversation, using the prompts to help them.
The conversation should be similar but not exactly the same. They should think of new places, prices, etc., and the form of the questions and answers can be shorter than the presentation dialogue. It should just cover the main points indicated by the prompts.
There may be other dialogues based on the prompts. This activity could be as pair work involving more of the class. Students could be asked to practise the role play privately in pairs first, then asked to perform in front of the class.
If a text is chosen, it should have at least two characters so that it may be possible to improvise a conversation based on it like the one that was demonstrated.
Working together, students should plan a role play activity. Ask them to consider:
What short conversations should be developed, based on the dialogue or text or a situation;
What roles the students should take;
What prompts could be written on the board to guide the role play;