Activity C (optional activity)

Complex dialogue

Why choose this activity?

This kind of dialogue and its dialogue tips will be useful for intermediate ESL learners.

Use of handout and video

Materials and equipment

Handout 12.12: Drought?
Handout 12.13: Tutoring Ideas for Drought Dialogue
Video: Creating Learning Partners – Complex Dialogue
TV and VCR

Preparation

Copy handouts.
Cue video clip Complex Dialogue.

STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS

  1. Hand out the drought dialogue and the tutoring ideas that go along with it. Talk about it as an example of a complex dialogue more suited to intermediate speakers.
  2. Mention a few of the items on the page of tutoring ideas as examples of extra activities or concepts that can be looked at with dialogues. Point out that dialogues provide a useful place to practise stress and intonation so that the speaker uses all the nuances of the language to convey exactly what he wants to say. State that dialogues are structured conversation activities that provide a stepping stone to real conversations.
  3. View the video Complex Dialogue. Discuss the variety of ways that dialogues are used in the video.

Activity D

Small talk

Learners need to practise small talk in order to gain fluency in this essential skill and they need to learn about which topics are acceptable to Canadians.

Use of handout, talk

Materials and equipment

Handout 12.14: “News Flash” Activity

Preparation

Copy handout.