Help me think of scenarios for my students to create dialogues about.

November 29, 2010 2:45 PM

Help me think of scenarios for my students to create dialogues about.

I teach high school English in France in small groups. I'm looking for prompts, scenarios, or conflicts that can be turned into 5-minute dialogues between partners or groups of three. Perhaps ones that are a little open-ended to allow for the students' creativity. Preferably using everyday, useful vocabulary. Thanks!

posted by la_rousse to Grab Bag (11 answers total)

Waiting for the train (bus, cab, whatever)
commiserating about bad weather
commenting on passersby
posted by Night_owl at 2:49 PM on November 29, 2010

One person owing the other money.
One person's behaviour resulting in the other's regret at doing at favor.
Two people spotting a $50 bill on the ground at the same time.
Witnessing someone slap their child or lover.
posted by dobbs at 3:02 PM on November 29, 2010

Interviewing for a roommate or job.
Favorite artists/authors/TV shows/food/etc.
Buying something/ordering food.
Travel plans.

We did most of those in my Spanish class and they were OK. They have room for being straight-laced or wacky hijinks depending on vocab/etc.
posted by NoraReed at 3:53 PM on November 29, 2010

Getting married
Asking for directions
Ordering a meal
Buying a hat
Selling insurance
Asking for a raise
Firing a bad employee
Hostage negotiation
Bank robbery
posted by meepmeow at 3:56 PM on November 29, 2010

Are you an English assistant? When I was, last year, I did a lesson with each class where I printed out stills from classic movies for the students to build dialogues around - reusing the same sheets across classes to save ink and paper. It went quite well with most groups, but there was usually one that just froze up and didn't produce much of anything. Perhaps it would have been different with another kind of prompt. Either way, here's a good source for pictures of that kind. Good luck!
posted by two or three cars parked under the stars at 4:22 PM on November 29, 2010 [1 favorite]

Explaining a common-place activity (i.e. shopping in a grocery store, going to the movies, borrowing a book from a library) to an alien.
posted by purlgurly at 5:14 PM on November 29, 2010

Also, kind of along the lines of what two or three cars... suggested, have them create an original scene based on some of their favourite movie or tv shows (my big Grade 10 French project involved us creating an original "Friends" episode).
posted by purlgurly at 5:18 PM on November 29, 2010

So, what should we do for dinner?
posted by amtho at 6:08 PM on November 29, 2010 [1 favorite]

Arguing about a major, deep, emotional wound that one character has inflicted on the other, while actually seeming to argue about something else all together, and seemingly in a polite way. (Subtext and conflict!)
posted by visual mechanic at 9:01 PM on November 29, 2010

Deciding where to go on holiday.
Disagreeing on some current local political issue or news item.
Do you like reality TV?
Designing a dream house
How much should the government subsidise higher education? Why?
Is sexism dead in modern France?
What would you like to do for a living when you finish your studies? Why?
posted by emilyw at 3:12 AM on November 30, 2010

Response by poster: in response to two or three cars.. yes I am an English assistant. Thank you everybody! This was a great brainstorming session.
posted by la_rousse at 9:07 AM on November 30, 2010