Improv Role Plays for ESL Students by Diana Funtana

[In an effort to keep track of useful materials--so I can find it again when I need it--I'm collecting links to stuff that I've had good luck with using in class. I'm indexing it, along with my own materials, over here and here.

I used these activities by Diana Funtana in a lesson I did on Improv.  (See previous post.)  The lesson was designed to supplement the readings on Improv in the Lifestyle Intermediate textbook, but these Improve activities could be used in many different classrooms.

I modified Diana Funtana's format slightly, by putting a number of her suggestions onto the form of a card, and having the students pick a card. (At least in the beginning stages of the game.  Once they become more comfortable with the idea, then I encourage them to shout out their own ideas.)

The cards I typed up are on Google (drive, docs, pub), and pasted below.  (Every single one of them comes directly from Diana Funtana's ideas, but the formatting is mine.)  There are two versions, the first one with small type is so that the students can see all the situations on one sheet of (double-sided) paper, so that they can ask questions about any vocabulary or situations they don't understand.  The larger type version is to cut up into individual cards and shuffle.]

Relationship: boyfriend and girlfriend Situation: breaking up	Relationship: boyfriend and girlfriend Situation: proposing marriage	Relationship: boyfriend and girlfriend Situation: accusing one of cheating
Relationship: boyfriend and girlfriend Situation: deciding where to go on a date or holiday	Relationship: boyfriend and girlfriend Situation: meeting parents for the first time	Relationship: Husband and Wife Situation: discussing money problems
Relationship: Husband and Wife Situation: announcing pregnancy	Relationship: Husband and Wife Situation: complaining about working long hours	Relationship: Husband and Wife Situation: mother-in-law problems
Relationship: Husband and Wife Situation: celebrating an anniversary	Relationship: Husband and Wife Situation: having a newborn baby	Relationship: sister and brother Situation: having a fight
Relationship: sister and brother Situation: deciding what to buy mom for Christmas	Relationship: sister and brother Situation: asking to borrow something	Relationship: sister and brother Situation: complaining about something missing
Relationship: parent and child Situation: discussing problems at school	Relationship: parent and child Situation: getting grounded	Relationship: parent and child Situation: asking for money (or asking to borrow the car)
Relationship: parent and child Situation: planning a camping trip	Relationship: parent and child Situation: punishment for lying	Relationship: teacher and student Situation: late or missing homework
Relationship: teacher and student Situation: cheating on a test	Relationship: teacher and student Situation: sleeping in class	Relationship: teacher and student Situation: giving back an assignment or test
Relationship: doctor and patient Situation: a bad stomachache or headache	Relationship: doctor and patient Situation: receiving test results	Relationship: doctor and patient Situation: asking for medication
Relationship: doctor and patient Situation:  having a check-up	Relationship: 2 friends Situation: telling a secret	Relationship: 2 friends Situation: asking for advice
Relationship: 2 friends Situation: going to a movie	Relationship: 2 neighbors Situation: complaining about loud music	Relationship: 2 complete strangers Situation: asking personal question
Relationship: 2 complete strangers Situation: asking for directions	Relationship: 2 complete strangers Situation: offering help	Relationship: 2 complete strangers Situation: one thinks he knows the other person
Relationship: 2 complete strangers Situation: one is afraid of the other	Relationship:  server and customer Situation: complaining about bad service	Relationship: server and customer Situation: accusing someone of stealing
Relationship: interviewer and interviewee Situation: interviewing the president	Relationship: interviewer and interviewee Situation: interviewing an Olympic athlete	Relationship: interviewer and interviewee Situation: interviewing a race car driver
Relationship: interviewer and interviewee Situation: interviewing a rock or movie star	Relationship: interviewer and interviewee Situation: interviewing a famous writer or artist	Relationship: 2 roommates Situation: complaining about smoking
Relationship: 2 roommates Situation: complaining about messy room	Relationship: 2 roommates Situation: complaining about noise	Relationship: 2 roommates Situation: complaining about dirty bathroom
Relationship: 2 roommates Situation: planning a party	Relationship: 2 roommates Situation: paying the rent

Relationship: boyfriend and girlfriend Situation: breaking up	Relationship: boyfriend and girlfriend Situation: proposing marriage	Relationship: boyfriend and girlfriend Situation: accusing one of cheating
Relationship: boyfriend and girlfriend Situation: deciding where to go on a date or holiday	Relationship: boyfriend and girlfriend Situation: meeting parents for the first time	Relationship: Husband and Wife Situation: discussing money problems
Relationship: Husband and Wife Situation: announcing pregnancy	Relationship: Husband and Wife Situation: complaining about working long hours	Relationship: Husband and Wife Situation: mother-in-law problems
Relationship: Husband and Wife Situation: celebrating an anniversary	Relationship: Husband and Wife Situation: having a newborn baby	Relationship: sister and brother Situation: having a fight
Relationship: sister and brother Situation: deciding what to buy mom for Christmas	Relationship: sister and brother Situation: asking to borrow something	Relationship: sister and brother Situation: complaining about something missing
Relationship: parent and child Situation: discussing problems at school	Relationship: parent and child Situation: getting grounded	Relationship: parent and child Situation: asking for money (or asking to borrow the car)
Relationship: parent and child Situation: planning a camping trip	Relationship: parent and child Situation: punishment for lying	Relationship: teacher and student Situation: late or missing homework

Relationship: teacher and student Situation: cheating on a test	Relationship: teacher and student Situation: sleeping in class	Relationship: teacher and student Situation: giving back an assignment or test
Relationship: doctor and patient Situation: a bad stomachache or headache	Relationship: doctor and patient Situation: receiving test results	Relationship: doctor and patient Situation: asking for medication
Relationship: doctor and patient Situation:  having a check-up	Relationship: 2 friends Situation: telling a secret	Relationship: 2 friends Situation: asking for advice
Relationship: 2 friends Situation: going to a movie	Relationship: 2 neighbors Situation: complaining about loud music	Relationship: 2 complete strangers Situation: asking personal question
Relationship: 2 complete strangers Situation: asking for directions	Relationship: 2 complete strangers Situation: offering help	Relationship: 2 complete strangers Situation: one thinks he knows the other person
Relationship: 2 complete strangers Situation: one is afraid of the other	Relationship:  server and customer Situation: complaining about bad service	Relationship: server and customer Situation: accusing someone of stealing
Relationship: interviewer and interviewee Situation: interviewing the president	Relationship: interviewer and interviewee Situation: interviewing an Olympic athlete	Relationship: interviewer and interviewee Situation: interviewing a race car driver

Relationship: interviewer and interviewee Situation: interviewing a rock or movie star	Relationship: interviewer and interviewee Situation: interviewing a famous writer or artist	Relationship: 2 roommates Situation: complaining about smoking
Relationship: 2 roommates Situation: complaining about messy room	Relationship: 2 roommates Situation: complaining about noise	Relationship: 2 roommates Situation: complaining about dirty bathroom
Relationship: 2 roommates Situation: planning a party	Relationship: 2 roommates Situation: paying the rent