Mastering Reported Speech Through Student-Centered Dialogues and Interviews

Understanding and using reported speech is a fundamental skill that allows English language learners to effectively communicate past conversations or information relayed from other sources. This intermediate level lesson plan is designed to help ESL learners become adept at reporting speech, a crucial component in both written and spoken English.

Summary

This lesson plan centers around the concept of reported speech—also known as indirect speech—where students will learn to transform direct quotations into reported statements and vice versa. Adult learners will engage in exercises that include interpreting dialogues and reporting back the information in their own words, refining both their grammatical understanding and speaking skills in the process.

Lesson Focus

Students will gain a thorough grasp of reported speech through practice with various statements and dialogues. By the end of the lesson, they will be more confident in their ability to recount information and conversations, bolstering both their comprehension and production of English.

Lesson Content

Activity 1: Introduction to Reported Speech

Approximate Time Needed: 20 minutes

Objective: To introduce the concept of reported speech and the basic rules for converting direct speech into reported speech.

Materials: A set of sentences in direct speech, written on a whiteboard or projected on a screen. Examples can be found in standard ESL textbooks or created based on common conversational phrases.

Instructions:

Present a brief explanation and examples of direct and reported speech on the board.
Highlight the changes in pronouns, tenses, and time expressions when converting to reported speech.
Provide students with sentences in direct speech and guide them in transforming these into reported speech as a class.
Check for understanding and answer any questions before moving on to independent practice.

Activity 2: Converting Direct to Reported Speech

Approximate Time Needed: 30 minutes

Objective: To practice the skill of transforming direct speech sentences into reported speech.

Materials: A worksheet with a variety of sentences in direct speech - which can be sourced from an ESL workbook or created by the teacher—to be reported. Alternatively, use an online document that students can edit and submit.

Instructions:

Distribute the worksheet or share the online document with the students.
Have the students work individually to convert each direct speech sentence into reported speech.
Encourage students to be mindful of changes in verb tenses, pronouns, and time phrases.
Collect the responses and review the answers as a class, discussing common mistakes and how to avoid them.

Alternative to Activities 1 and 2: Flipped Classroom Model

Have students complete ALULA's course on reported speech at home. During the course, they will listen to conversations containing numerous examples of reported speech. Additionally, they will study the grammatical rules associated with reported speech and engage in practice by using reported speech while conversing with the AI-powered English tutor. By the time they return to class, they should have a basic understanding of the mechanics of reported speech and have gained experience in its application through practice. Then, in the first 10 minutes of the class, the teacher can address and clarify any questions that students might have. Subsequently, the lesson can proceed directly to Activity 3.

Activity 3: Reporting Dialogues

Approximate Time Needed: 30 minutes

Objective: To apply reported speech in the context of dialogues and improve listening comprehension.

Materials: Audio recordings of short dialogues or a list of dialogues for the teacher to read aloud. These can be created by the teacher or sourced from ALULA's intermediate lessons that focus on reported speech.

Instructions:

Play the audio recordings or read the dialogues aloud to the class.
Have the students listen carefully and take notes on the key points of the conversation.
In pairs, students will take turns reporting the dialogue they heard using reported speech.
Encourage them to use their notes to ensure accuracy and completeness in their reports.

Activity 4: Peer-to-Peer Interview

Approximate Time Needed: 30 minutes

Objective: To practice spoken production of reported speech in an interactive and engaging way.

Materials: None.

Instructions:

Split the class into pairs and have each student come up with three questions to ask their partner.
Students will take turns interviewing each other and taking notes on their partner's answers.
After the interviews, each student will report back to the class what their partner said using reported speech.

Wrap Up

In wrapping up this lesson plan, students will have gained valuable experience in transforming direct speech into reported speech and expressing it both in writing and orally. By repetitively practicing this essential skill, students will become more familiar and comfortable with the nuances of reported speech, ultimately improving their overall capabilities in English grammar and communication.

Further extending the benefits of this lesson, ALULA, an AI-powered English speaking app, can serve as an additional resource for students who want to practice their reported speech skills outside the classroom. With conversation exercises focused on specific grammar topics, learners can reinforce what they've learned by engaging with an AI English Tutor. This hands-on approach helps students review and consolidate their knowledge, ensuring they are well-prepared for future lessons and conversations in English.