Reported Speech: The Marriage Counselor (Speaking Activity) ESL

Skill Focus: Reported speech, speaking

ESL Level: Intermediate+

Time Required: 20-30 minutes

Materials: Copy of sheet for each student

Activity Download: reported-speech-counselor-roleplays.docx

Activity Description

First, in groups of three, students brainstorm problems that a newly married couple might have that could cause them to stop speaking to each other. Secondly, the three students are each assigned a role: husband, wife, or marriage counselor. The marriage counselor's role is to save the marriage. However, because the newlyweds aren't on speaking terms, everything the husband or wife says must go through the counselor, who must relay it to the other person using reported speech.

As a bonus, there are three role-plays for practicing reported speech on the second page that can be done in pairs.

Activity Preview - The Counselor (Page 1)

Note that the sample role-play uses the reporting verb 'said' followed by the present simple because the condition is still true now (E.g. "He said that you never take out the garbage."). Feel free to change this if you feel it will confuse your students.

My students really enjoyed this activity. We didn't have enough men in the class so we had to have some same-sex marriages, but they didn't seem to mind.

Here (above) are some additional role-plays to practice reported speech.

Have fun in your English classes!

- Matthew Barton of Englishcurrent.com (Copyright)