1. The Audio-Lingual Method and Speech Development

S1: Good morning.
S2: Hello.
S1: How much are the tomatoes?
S2: 35 yen a kilo.
S1: Oh! That’s cheap! I’ll take three kilos.
S2: Good. That will be 105 yen.
S1: Here you are.
S2: And here’s your change. Thank you.
S1: Thank you! Goodbye.
S2: Goodbye.

In this dialogue, it is pretty evident that simple substitution can be had: tomatoes changed to pears, yen changed to euros, 35 changed to whatever price seems right. Students can also be encouraged to use different greetings and farewells that they know or have recently learned. This type of exchange can also be expanded by giving S1 a shopping list and S2 a list of prices. Add props and you have yourself a role play. The same type of exercise can be done for buying train tickets, sending a package by post, asking directions to a local monument, etc. The structure of the exchange should remain standard as a confidence builder, while the content of the exchange can be changed with simple substitution.

Improvisational dialogue practice, which naturally lead to more complex role play, offer a theme to students and allow them more freedom in using language. The presentation of these dialogues will necessarily be a little more complex as well.