Sáng kiến kinh nghiệm Using Role-plays in Teaching Speaking

 Using role-plays in teaching speaking by CHL
 Sở GD- ĐT Đồng Nai
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 Using Role-plays in 
 Teaching Speaking
 1 Using role-plays in teaching speaking by CHL
sketch out various scenarios, and go over extra or special vocabulary, ask them to discuss 
how they will act, think about the character and plan what they will say. For example, what 
are possible responses/replies for the angry neighbor? 
- The teacher, as facilitator of the role-play must support students in their role, i.e. they 'are' 
in the backyard arguing over the fence. Don't do anything to interrupt the pretend 
environment. Leave grammar correction to the end. Correcting students in the middle of an 
argument interrupts the pretend environment. Make notes and do a debriefing after. 
- Exaggeration is good! Encourage students to exaggerate their actions, opinions and 
movements. Exaggeration helps students immerse themselves in the role. 
- Stage a rehearsal first. Have students practice their role in small groups with coaching from 
the other students. 
- While the role-play or debate is in progress, have other students suggest vocabulary first, 
and act as backup if they do not know. 
Role-plays are unpredictable which makes them both a valuable learning tool and at the same 
time difficult to manage. Sketch out the various routes the role-play can take from the initial 
scenario. This will give you some idea what to expect and avoid any surprises. 
Role-plays can range from 30 minutes to one hour. 
III. Steps in carrying out role-plays: 
1. Outside the classroom:
_ Choosing the topic, based on the topic of the lesson or the main grammar point of that 
lesson.
_ Preparing materials, especially role-play cards (Teachers can make up the cards 
themselves, or search for them on the Internet)
2. Inside the classroom:
_ Providing students with enough language to be used in their role-plays.
_ Setting up the scene for role-plays.
IV. Sample lesson plans:
 Unit 1: Friendship (English 11) 
 Version 1
 Finding a Perfect Roommate/Flatmate Role-play
 3 Using role-plays in teaching speaking by CHL
 Would you like to live there? Why or why not? – Discuss
After going through all six ads, choose the best one for you and explain why.
The Perfect Flatmate
What kind of person is good to live with? Why?
Ranking Exercise:
In groups, students circle the ideal qualities of roommates using the Ranking Exercise 
Vocabulary Sheet and then rank them in order of importance. 
5. Role-play 
Set-up:
The class is divided into two groups:
Group 1: These students have a room for rent at their house because a roommate has just 
moved out. They will need a Room for Rent Role Card and a Room for Rent Activity Sheet.
Group 2: These students have a friend who is looking for a place to live. They will need a 
Friends Looking for a Place to Live Role Card and a Students with Friends Needing a Room 
Activity Sheet.
The students should be given some time to read their role cards, ask questions about 
vocabulary and then write down the concerns (from the role cards) into the table headings 
(on the activity sheets).
Divide the class chairs into two lines facing each other (or if you like, have an inner circle 
and outer circle). One line is for students with rooms to rent (Group 1)and the other line is 
for students who have friends who need a place to live (Group 2). 
Group 1 students approach group 2 students and ask them if the group 2 students know 
anybody who needs a place to live. Group 2 students tell them they have a friend who is 
looking for a place. Group 2 will then ask questions to make sure that their friend will be 
happy in the shared accommodation. Group 1 students then ask questions about the friend to 
make sure that the friend is compatible. 
Wrap up
Students discuss which friends were compatible with which houses. 
 5 Using role-plays in teaching speaking by CHL
Unfurnished Bdrm with own bthrm Looking to share luxury large unit 5 
avail. in 3brm furnished townhouse mins to University. Will have own 
to share with working female. bathroom, security parking and pool. 
Looking for someone to take over I am a 21 student and would like to 
lease in late April. Townhouse has share with female around my own 
converted garage, which could be age. Must be clean and reliable. Rent 
used as storage. Pool and BBQ area $160 p.w. $480 Bond. Please give 
in complex. $140/week me a call Vanessa 0416678485
When trying to find a compatible roommate, 
what qualities are the most important for 
you? Circle the qualities of your ideal 
roommate. Finally, in groups, rank them 
below. (1 being the most important and 12 
being least important).
 messy (is a slob)
 good cook can’t cook
 outgoing shy
 easygoing argumentative/high strung 
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Concerns (Questions to Ask) Concerns (Questions to Ask)
 (1)Are pets ok? (She has a dog) (1)Will it be Ok if he practices the drums 
 (2)Are the other roommates friendly from time to time? (He plays in a 
 outgoing people? (Her last roommate band).
 was a bore so she moved out). (2)Are there any cats or dogs at the 
 (3)Does anybody smoke? (She’s apartment? (He’s allergic to animal 
 allergic to cigarette smoke). hair)
 (4)How much is the rent? (3)How much is the rent? 
 (5)How far is the apartment from the (4)How far is the apartment from the 
 school? school?
 (5)Are the other roommates easy to get 
 along with? 
Your friend Brenda is looking for a place to Your friend John is looking for a place to 
live. live. 
Facts about Brenda Facts about John
She is a med student so she studies very He is very shy, so he doesn’t have many 
hard. She has a scholarship so she has no friends or go out a lot. He is clean. He is 
problems with money. She doesn’t drink. quiet. He smokes, but he rarely drinks. He 
She doesn’t smoke. She has a cat. She is has a job so he has lots of money.
very tidy. Concerns (Questions to Ask)
Concerns (Questions to Ask) (1)Is smoking allowed in the house?
 (1)Is it a quiet house? She’s a med (2)How much is the rent?
 student so she needs to study hard. (3)Are there any cats or dogs at the 
 (2)How much is the rent? apartment? (He’s allergic to animal 
 (3)Does anybody smoke? (She’s hair)
 allergic to cigarette smoke). (4)Is the apartment clean? (He is a bit of 
 (4)How far is the apartment from the a neat freak).
 school? (5)How far is the apartment from the 
 (5)Are pets ok? (She has a cat) school?
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 (2)How far is the apartment from the (1)How much is the rent?
 school? (2)How far is the apartment from the 
 (3)Are there any cats or dogs at the school?
 apartment? (She’s allergic to animal (3)Does anybody smoke? (He’s allergic 
 hair) to cigarette smoke).
 (4)Is smoking OK? (She is a smoker). (4)Is it OK if he practices his trumpet? 
 (5)Are the other roommates friendly (He’s a musician). 
 outgoing people? (Her last roommate (5)Are the other roommates easygoing? 
 was so boring she couldn’t stand it). (He would prefer to live with some 
 sociable, easygoing people)
 Students Looking for Someone to Share Housing
One of your roommates has recently moved One of your roommates has recently moved 
out so you need to find a new roommate. out so you need to find a new roommate. 
Facts about the current roommates: Facts about the current roommates:
The people living at the house now are The people living in the house are 
sociable, outgoing students at the easygoing. They like to make a lot of noise 
university. They have parties or go out on in the evening either playing guitars or 
the town at least once a week. There are no listening to music. There are no pets in the 
smokers at the house and no pets. The rent house. Everybody in the house smokes. 
is $300 per month. The house is about 10 They rarely drink. The rent is about $200.00 
minutes from the university by foot. and the house is about 20 minutes from the 
Concerns about potential roommate: university by subway.
 (1)Is _________ sociable? (They like to Concerns about potential roommate:
 have fun now and then). (1)Does _________ have a pet? (The 
 (2)Does _________ smoke? (One of the landlord doesn’t allow cats or dogs at 
 current roommates is allergic to the apartment).
 smoke). (2)Is _________ easy to get along with? 
 (3)Is _________ clean? (The last (The last roommate caused many 
 roommate was a slob). fights).
 (4)Can _________ afford to pay rent? (3)Is _________ a heavy drinker? (The 
 11 Using role-plays in teaching speaking by CHL
 Students Looking for Someone to Share Housing
One of your roommates has recently moved One of your roommates has recently moved 
out so you need to find a new roommate. out so you need to find a new roommate.
Facts about the current roommates: Facts about the current roommates:
The people living at the house now are This is a quiet house of mostly law and 
sociable, outgoing students at the university. engineering students. There are no pets and 
They like to do a lot things together such as no smokers. The roommates are mostly shy, 
go to the movies or cafes together. There are quiet guys without much of a social life. 
no smokers at the house and no pets. The The rent is $300.00 per month and the house 
rent is about $400.00. The house is about 5 is about 15 minutes from the university on 
minutes from the university on foot. foot.
Concerns about potential roommate: Concerns about potential roommate:
 (1)Does _________ drink a lot? (The last (1)Does _________ have a pet? (The 
 roommate was a drunk and caused a landlord doesn’t allow cats or dogs at 
 lot of problems). the apartment).
 (2)Does _________ have a pet? (The (2)Is _________ quiet? (The other 
 landlord doesn’t allow cats or dogs at roommates are serious students).
 the apartment). (3)Does _________ smoke? (One of the 
 (3)Is _________ clean? (The last current roommates is allergic to 
 roommate was a slob). smoke).
 (4)Does _________have enough money (4)Does _________ have enough money 
 to pay rent? (The rent is quite to pay rent? (The last roommate left 
 expensive). without paying the rent).
One of your roommates has recently moved One of your roommates has recently moved 
out so you need to find a new roommate. out so you need to find a new roommate.
Facts about the current roommates: Facts about the current roommates:
The people living at the house now are The people living in the house are 
sociable, outgoing students at the university. easygoing. They like to sit around and play 
They like to do a lot of things together such guitars and chat in the evening. They have 
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