Speaking Formally:A peer activity: Role-Play

Player A

Objective

This activity is a role-play. It is designed to help you practice asking for information in a polite way.1. Work with another learner participating in the

course.2. Practise polite questions you learnt in the virtual

class of Week 1.

Information Interviews 1

One of the best ways to find out what a specific job is like is to talk with people who are currently working in this job. In fact, no-one else will give you a better idea of the real life experiences, challenges and opportunities of the job.

Picture by adabara licensed under CC0

Information Interviews 2

In an information interview, the roles are reversed. It is you who is asking questions to find out more about a career that you are interested in.

Picture by adabara licensed under CC0

Your Role

You are Player A.Your task is to conduct an

information interview.

Procedure

• In this role-play you are to interview somebody that works in your target professional field.

• You are interested in finding a job in this field and you want some information about the job.

Picture by AndGra licensed under CC0

This activity has four steps:

1Arrange a interview

with a learner

2Prepare questions 3Conduct

the interview

4Write a reflection

1Arrange a interview

with a learner

Write a

reflection

Arrange a Skype call with another

learner. This learner will be the

“experienced professional” in this

role-play.

Step 1

2Prepare questions

rite a reflection

A interview worksheet will help

you organize your information

interview.

Step 2

Information Interview GuideThank you very much for agreeing to talk with me today.

(you want to thank the person for agreeing to talk to you)

Could you please tell me what kind of education and training I would need for this kind of work?

(you want to ask about the education and training required for this type of work)

(you want to ask about the personal qualities needed to be successful in this kind of job)

(you want to ask about the most satisfying part of the job)

(you want to ask about the most challenging part of their job)

(you want to thank the person for helping you and for their time)

Reminder:

Three Types of Polite Questions

Yes/no – questions: if

Wh- questions: what, how

Wh – question: verb + ing (gerund)

3Conduct the

interview

Step 3

Conduct the interview.

Make sure that:

-you are prepared

-you are on time

-you are respectful and helpful

4Write a reflection

Write a short reflection on the

forum.

What did you learn from this

activity?

Step 4