IMPROV ESL: THE EXPERT AND THE INTERPRETER

THE EXPERT AND THE INTERPRETER. In this improv activity, Mohammad, left, plays the role of the expert nuclear physicist. Instead of inventing a language, he is speaking in his native language of Arabic. Sephora, who is a French speaker from the Ivory Coast and doesn't understand Arabic, is translating his answers to the audience. (photo by classmate, Maria Urdaneta)

Welcome to IMPROV ESL at the Georgia Tech Language Institute (developed by Lesly Fredman and Ruth Schowalter)! Below is the "The Expert and the Interpreter"exercise that I, Ruth (the ESL instructor) did in class. This activity was developed in two stages with great success.

THE EXPERT AND THE INTERPRETER

STAGE 1: PRACTICE BEING AN EXPERT

The class chooses an area of expertise for the speaker. The speaker introduces him/herself as an expert in that field and asks for questions from the class. Part of the language goal for this exercise is for the speaker to practice receiving the questions graciously and making up answers on topics without sufficient knowledge of the content. The question-askers also must strive to be creative in the formation of their questions in order to stretch the skills of the "expert."

CATEGORIES FOR EXPERTS

Chicken farmer                                           English language teacher

Someone who races cars                         professional dancer

Flower arranger                                         lobsterman

Chef                                                               MARTA train driver

Dog trainer                                                  astrobiologist

Surfer                                                            weather forecaster

 

 

STAGE 2: INTERPRETING FOR AN EXPERT

 

Step 1: Choose topics of expertise….

Step 2: Two people who speak different languages will work together.

Step3: One person will the EXPERT and the other person will be the INTERPRETER. The EXPERT will speak in his/her language and the INTERPRETER will interpret.

Step 4: The audience will choose the topic of expertise.

Step 5: The INTERPRETER introduces the EXPERT. Then the audience asks the questions. The EXPERT can understand some English, but may need help of the INTERPRETER. They can confer.

Step 6: The EXPERT answers in his/her language and the INTERPRETER translates.

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FEEDBACK

At the conclusion of this improv exercise, I asked the students to tell me what skills that had learned. In addition to having a lot fun (is fun a skill?), these were some of their answers:

• The INTERPRETER had to focus and use intuition to work with the EXPERT.
• Both the EXPERT and INTERPRETER gained confidence by "making things up" for the audience.
• A lot of body language was used to express ideas (facial experessions and gestures).
• Got practice asking and answering questions.
• Used improv for the first time in their native languages.
• Used English in a new and exciting way.

 

Remember! Always make your partner look good!