Conversation Pairs

Resource Bank for Conversation Pairs: Graham, Carolyn. More Jazz Chants from Small Talk. New York: Oxford University Press, 1986. Contains model dialogues and conversation exercises for pairs and small groups. Activities can be performed to music or can be spoken in normal tone. For beginning to intermediate learners. Freeman, Daniel B. Speaking of Survivual. New York: Oxford University Press, 1982. Uses picture resources which can help jump-start conversation with beginners. Curriculum integrates literacy components but each unit contains conversation models and activities that would be useful to a conversation pair. Would suit high beginning to intermediate students. Jones, Leo and C. von Baeyer. Functions of American English: Communication Activities for the Classroom. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1983. Contains models and dialogue activities with opportunities to write. Mixes survival themes with emotional topics. Intended for classroom use but would work for pairs since most conversation follow and A/B format. Not for beginners; target audience is intermediate to advanced students. However, the activities could serve as templates for similar activities at other levels (with less vocabulary or of shorter duration). Kehe, David and Peggy Dustin Kehe. Conversation Strategies: Pair and Group Activities for Developing Communicative Competence. Brattleboro, VT: Pro Lingua Associates, 1994. Twenty four activities on a variety of topics from asking questions and making a phone call to conducting a formal meeting. Includes teacher introductions for each activity. Conversation activities are accompanied by writing activities, and text stresses a blend of literacy components. Can be used with intermediate students or above. This text would probably be the most useful to a conversation pairs program, provided student learning level is appropriate.