English I Through ESOL - The School District of Palm Beach County

Beginning Presenting Activities
Dialog
Objective: Write a short dialog of 4-6 lines between two familiar characters.
Procedure: A dialog can be between 2 historical characters, 2 fictional characters in a story,
novel, play, etc. or between 2 imaginary characters such as a germ and a white blood cell. The
topic of the dialog should be related to the subject being studied, and the grammar and
vocabulary used in the dialog should reflect the grammar and vocabulary focus of the unit.
Model each line of the dialog, having the entire class repeat after you. Then, say each line and
call on whole teams to repeat the line. Then say each line and call on individual students to
repeat the line. Practice dialog lines using the whole class, a whole team, and individuals until
students can know the lines of the dialog. Example:
Character A: These items are expensive. We are not selling very many.
Character B: We need to sell more of them.
Character A: But, then the price will decrease!
Character B: But, we will still get more money because the volume will increase.
Character A: We do not have enough money to make more than we do now.
Character B: Then we will borrow some money by issuing bonds.
Option 1: You take the part of A and the class takes the part of B. Then you take part B and the
class takes A. Then work with whole teams and you, then individuals and you, then groups and
groups, then individuals and individuals. Move back and forth among these combinations until
you think the majority have adequate intonation, stress, and pronunciation. Option 2: Erase two
words at random from each line during repetition. Then erase two more, two more, and so on
until there are no words left on the board. Option 3: Each group chooses a member to
represent them by presenting the dialog with a member from another group in front of the class.
If the representative can say his/her lines correctly then the group gets a point. Option 4: Have
each group rewrite the dialog from memory. Groups are to use one piece of paper and one
pencil or pen only. Each member takes a turn writing a line of the dialog. Other team members
can offer help but they cannot write it for the individual whose turn it is to write. Collect the paper
and grade it. Each member of the team gets the same grade.
Romeo and Juliet: Lesson 5: Dialog Activity:
Paris:
Romeo:
Paris:
Romeo:
Paris:
Romeo:
Romeo, stop what you are doing!
Good, gentle sir, I am a desperate man. Do not stand in my way.
You villain! I am arresting you!
By heaven, I have more regard for your life than I do for my own. Go.
Stop talking nonsense. I am arresting you as an outlaw here!
I warned you! Now it is too late!
English I Through ESOL: Romeo and Juliet
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