Teaching with Dialogues

Modeling

Modeling is an excellent way to introduce a dialogue. Usually it involves students
simply listening to the dialogue on tape or CD. Sometimes the dialogue can be
performed by two native speakers. The purpose of the modeling is to develop
students' listening skills and prepare them for the new phrases and vocabulary
they might encounter.

Practice for Pronunciation

This requires that students repeat the dialogue (in phrases) after the teacher/tape/CD. The teacher can listen and ask students individually or as a group to focus on particular sounds they need extra work on.

Use variety in teaching pronunciation

It is important that pronunciation does not become monotonous and boring. If students are having problems with a particular sound, suggest that they work on it outside of class. For variety, try to focus periodically on other aspects of pronunciation such as stress, intonation, and reduction.

Paired Practice

Allowing students to practice the dialogue in pairs enables them to incorporate new words and phrases with the give and take of conversation.

Read, Look up and Say

An effective method for teaching dialogues is the Read, Look up, and Say
technique. This involves three parts.

1) Have students simply read the dialogue aloud with a partner.

2) Have students read the dialogue silently, pausing to look up and
say each line in turn without referring to the written text.

3) Have students turn papers over and repeat the dialogue as best
they can from memory. Encourage the remembering of concepts
rather than memorization of lines.