T E A C H E R S

N O T E S

9B Interpreter
Miguel ngel Almarza
Type of activity

Procedure

Role play/Simulation. Group work.

Aim
To practise reported speech.

Task

To simulate an act of communication between two

people that speak different languages with the
help of an interpreter.

Preparation
Make one copy of the worksheet for each group.
Cut up the role cards and hand them out to the
groups in a pile face down.

Timing
30 minutes

4
5

Introduce the activity by telling or asking the

students what it feels like to be in a foreign
country where you dont speak the language.
Elicit some of the most embarrassing or
difficult situations for the traveller.
Ask students to form groups of three. In each
group there are three roles:
police officer
foreigner
interpreter
If there are four students in a group, double
up the role of foreigner.
Explain that in each group the foreigner(s)
takes a role card at random from the pile. The
card describes a situation. They will have to
explain it to the police officer, who does not
speak English, via the interpreter.
If necessary, demonstrate one of the situations
with two students.
Make sure that they take turns to change roles
for the subsequent cards so that everyone gets
the chance to be the police officer, the
foreigner and the interpreter.

Follow up
Allow some time at the end of the group work to
role play some of the situations in front of the
whole class those that have worked best with
the smaller groups. (Make notes as you monitor
group work on particularly productive and
generative situations and groups for a final
demonstration.)

Notes & comments

It is important to let the students know that when
they act as police officers they do not understand
a word of English (they need the interpreter).
When they act as foreigners English is the only
language they are allowed to use. It is only when
they act as interpreters that they are bilingual.

I N S I D E O U T R e s o u rc e P a c k

9B Interpreter

............
You look like a famous soap star in the
country that you are visiting. Fans keep
taking you for this celebrity. You want a
quiet holiday and are fed up with people
stopping you in the street. You want to
know who you look like so much. Discuss
the possibility of police protection.

ouve been reported to the police for

having started a fight in a restaurant. In
fact you were attacked by one of the
waiters because you were complaining
about the bad service.

.........................................................................................................................................

Youve been caught shoplifting. This is

You saw a young man dropping a

really embarrassing for you. You had

never done anything like this before. You
are willing to pay a fine if this is the law.
You dont want a scandal. You are a
politician in your country.

suspicious-looking bag into a litter bin in

a touristy area. You followed him to his
car, where you saw him hide a gun.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

You are a futurologist and want to warn

Youve been overcharged by a taxi

the authorities of some approaching

natural disaster. You can feel in your body
that an earthquake or hurricane winds will
cause trouble. The place must be
evacuated in 24 hours.

driver on the way from the airport to your

hotel. You were not familiar with the
notes and paid the money that he asked
for. You now realize that it was definitely
too much.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Youve missed a travelling companion at

When you went to get your expensive

the airport. You think he or she has been

kidnapped. Youll have to give full details
and ask for help.

camera back from the hotel safe it had

gone. The hotel manager says he is not
responsible for stolen valuables left in the
hotel unless you show him your receipt.
Youve lost it.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Youve lost your credit card and

Youve had a car crash in a rented

travellers cheques and have only a little

cash left. Everybody you know that could
help you out from your country is on
holiday. Your bank does not answer your
phone calls.

vehicle. The car-hire company says you

have to pay for your hospital expenses
and damages to the car. You are sure you
signed for fully comprehensive insurance
when you hired the car.

............
Sue Kay & Vaughan Jones, 2000. Published by Macmillan Publishers Limited. This sheet may be photocopied and used within the class.

Photocopiable