EOI Goya English Department

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Speaking - Activities & Links

Dialogue 1 & some tips for good production and good interaction
Speaking Assignments / Tareas para monólogos y diálogos, by Michelle external link

Situation: Meeting someone on the plane to London/ NYC/ Toronto/ Sidney/ Johannesburg/ New Delhi.

Task: You are on the plane and you strike a conversation with the person sitting next to you.

Time: 4 or 5 minutes (about 2 min. each candidate in balanced interaction/turn-taking)

Candidate A
bullet Introduce yourself, start the conversation
bullet Explain what the purpose of your trip is (business trip)
bullet Talk about the city or what you would like to do in the city
bullet Try to see if you can meet Candidate B in that city to go out for a drink

Some ideas on language functions you can use: introducing yourself, giving information, asking for info, describing, making proposals/suggestions, giving reasons, checking if the other person understands you.

Candidate B
bullet Wait for the other person to start the conversation
bullet Talk about why you're travelling there (a 7-day holiday)
bullet Talk about the city or what you'd like to do there - include you're going to visit a friend

Some ideas on language functions you can use: introducing yourself, giving information, asking for info, describing, making proposals/suggestions, giving reasons, checking if the other person understands you.

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Some Tips for good interaction
Suggested by Michelle

bullet Oral texts also have a beginning, a development and an end. Like Lewis Carroll (1832 - 1898) said, "Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop" (from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland).

At the beginning of your conversation, try to include information which sets the outside listeners in the situation you are in (e.g. Candidate A: What a bumpy flight! Hello, my name is ... Candidate B: Pleased to meet you...).
During the conversation, try to include the points you wish/need to mention in an interactive way (balanced interaction): present one point, allow the other candidate to comment, then listen to the other candidate's point, comment, then present your new point...
Before the end of the time you have for your dialogue, remember to start the ending! e.g. you can give each other your contact information and start closing the conversation.

Find some extra support at the Talking People website: Speaking External Link, Writing External Link.

bullet Turn-taking is fundamental. If your partner doesn't speak, invite him/her to speak. If you feel you are not allowed to speak, use your English to say you want to say something.

bullet Develop your communicative strategies. Imagine different scenarios where you could face communication problems and need to overcome them! What can you say if you don't understand your partner? If you cannot find the right word? If you want to try to say what you were saying in a different and more effective way? What can you say if you wish to speak? If you want to invite someone to speak? If you are all running out of time and need to say good-bye or make a decision? etc.

Find some extra support at the Talking People website: Communicative Strategies External Link.