Informal Conversation

Learners memorise and practise dialogues, progressing from scripted to personalised conversation.

Procedure

1. Listen to the dialogue while reading the script.
2. Practise in pairs, reading from the script.
3. New pairs -- practise same parts, working toward memorisation.
4. New pairs -- switch roles.
5. Practise on at least 2 other days without the script (aim for 5 occasions, ~10 total repetitions).
6. Make small content changes to personalise the dialogue.

Tips

• Use the Q, SA+EI strategy: answer questions with a Short Answer + Extra Information (fact, feeling, or question). This keeps conversations going and lets the speaker steer direction.
• Provide support for weaker learners: cue sheets, first 2-3 words of each line on the board, or a third student as prompter.
• Spaced repetition across days is the single most important factor for retention.