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This roleplay consists of students put into pairs who then create and act out their own conversation. Regarding the theme, the two roles are a farmer and a restaurant manager. The manager calls the farmer to order supplies. This teaching idea is fun because the students can be as creative as they want and it is meaningful because it can be used to practice speaking, repeating vocabulary and key phrases. 

Target group and Time

The roleplay role play can be performed by all participants regardless of English skills. They just need a partner on the same level for the roleplay to be on equal terms. The conversations can be adapted to the topic of the class. bring in other topics such as animal welfare, or if some produce is organic. (Do your chickens live outside? Are your potatoes organic?)  I would advise 3-6 minutes or 5-10 minutes (so that the pairs can switch roles once after half the time is up).

Learning objectives

The objective is for the students to practice their speaking skills. Students have to act the role they are playing and can be creative and spontaneous. They have to use the vocabulary of the theme and the standard terms for a phone call (e.g., how to begin and how to end a phone call). It is an easy enough task that the students shoudnshouldn't feel overwhelmed or uncomfortable.   There is no limit for how long or how short the students have to speak.

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The teacher explains the task, clarifies all questions and puts the children into pairs. Then the children should receive a help sheet with key phrases and useful vocabulary (see below) which they can use but don’t have to if they feel confident in their skills. The help sheet can also include a chart of the vocabulary with extra empty space so that the students can note down the words they know in other languages. The children should be reminded that they are supposed to only mostly speak in English and that they should stick to their roles. They should also know how much time they are given.

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The teacher should stay in the background and observe as students create their conversations using their own creative ideas without much outside help. Of course, the teacher should make sure that the atmosphere within the classroom is suitable and not too loud.

A Phone Call to the Farm

Beginning the Callcall

Restaurant Manager: Hello, this is … from … restaurant.

I would like to order some supplies.

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Restaurant Manager: I would like some …

Ending the Callcall

Dahlem Farmer: Is there anything else you need?

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• Have fun and enjoy the little play!
• If you speak another language besides German (in Germany) or English make use of itthem! Say Hello or Goodbye in an additional another language!
• Ask for details such as How much of each ingredient is needed? or What restaurant are you calling from? Is it that a Chinese (a Turkish, an Italian…) restaurant?

Vocabulary:

Including other languages: