Conversional lesson is more interesting to the foreigners when they learn Chinese at first. Here I want to share some tips about the way of mastering the theme design of the conversation, distributing roles, controlling the speed and making comment.

The theme design in role play
The theme must be clear, and the content must be close to the life, so that it’s real and meaningful to the foreigners. For example, let students talk the theme of 上街买手机和坐地铁(shànɡ jiē mǎi shǒu jī hé zuò dì tiě). Students in the conversation can perform in the front of the class with facing other students and the audiences of teachers, in which students can feel they are the leading and teachers are supporting. Even though there is the grammar mistake or worry pronunciation, teachers should not interrupt the performing but pick it out after the conversation.

Distribution in role play
Teachers should distribute roles according to students. Example of 上街买手机(shànɡ jiē mǎi shǒu jī)will be explained clearly in the below. Scene as follows: in china, a foreigner wants to buy a telephone, and he asks the place and the way to two Chinese students. In this conversation, the teacher should distribute roles depending on the students’ ability. Firstly, student (A) with great comprehension ability is the foreigner, who can guide other two students to finish the performing. At the same time, teachers can encourage him to use more questions. Secondly, student (B), a more quite man, will show the way to the student (A) in a creative answer, that is to say, he can answer it freely on the control of the theme. Thirdly, student (C), who is not good at the comprehension, can answer it with simple and stylized sentences, and improve the conversational ability with the practice.

Speed controlling in role play
Conversation should be played at the half hour before the class finished, and it also be short, so that students can completed in 15’, 5-7’ to prepare, 5-10’ to play. Before distributing roles, the teacher should list out the language points and main words that students must grip in the conversation, and encourage students to use some new words and grammars. The intermediary student, with the help of the teacher, controls the speed, in order to finish the conversation in the set time.

Teacher’s comments in role play
After the conversation, the teacher must give the 1-2’ oral comments. No matter the performance, praises can be given, for the confidence is very important to the beginners. After the praise, teachers can pick out his mistakes in concretely, such as the mistakes of grammars and pronunciation. Teacher should say some suggestions in the tone of euphemism, such as 我觉得你应该这么说。。。(wǒ jué dé nǐ yīnɡ ɡāi zhè me shuō)or你这么说。。就好了(nǐ zhè me shuō 。 。 jiù hǎo le). In this way, students can feel the attention of teachers on them, so as to build them the sense of the master of the class, and make them realize the reality and importance of their actions.

Actually the role play is very popular in Chinese course, but not every Chinese teacher handles it very well. This article will be helpful to the Chinese teachers, esp the new Chinese teachers.