Decision Roleplay--Irene
Name: James Davis
Time Required: 45 minutes
Area(s) of Emphasis: Listening Reading Conversation

Students' Level of English: Intermediate Advanced
Materials Needed:
Copies of the handout below for each group.

Objective(s): Students will be able to:
practice listening and reading
articulate their thoughts in a guided discussion
write a response to a fictional character's problem

Procedure:
Students are divided into groups of six (or less). Each student is assigned a
role.

Copies of the handout are distributed and teacher reads aloud the problem as
students follow along.

Each person roleplays according to character and tells "Irene" what she should
do, while "Irene" or others may ask them to clarify what they mean or disagree
with them.

"Irene" then leaves the room and tries to come to a decision.

Others try to predict "Irene's" decision.

"Irene" returns to tell her decision and reasons to support it.

 
Decision Roleplay--Irene
Irene has a problem. She is very overweight. She can't help it. She loves to
eat. Her doctor and her husband have told her many times that she needs to lose
weight, but she just can't seem to do anything about it. Some of her friends
recommend Weight Watchers. Weight Watchers is famous throughout the country. It
offers a special diet program designed to help people lose weight. The cost is
reasonable and many famous people have had success with their program. She has
tried a diet program similar to Weight Watchers before, but she didn't have any
success. Every time she lost a little weight, she quickly gained it back. Last
week her sister recommended a psychologist. This psychologist specializes in
helping people with weight problems. He believes that the patient not only needs
to lose weight but needs to learn self-control so that they can keep the weight
off. The problem is that the psychologist is very expensive. Irene and her
husband are having money problems. Her husband works two jobs just to pay their
current bills. Irene needs to make a decision: should she try to lose weight
with a diet program again or should she see the psychologist?

Roles:
IreneIrene's husband Irene's doctor
            The psychologistA Weight Watchers Representative Irene's overweight
            friend
            Irene's sister
   

Each of you tell Irene what you think she should do. (Remember to give the
opinion of your role, not your own personal opinion). Irene or others may ask
you to clarify what you mean. They may also disagree with you. Irene will listen
to each person's opinion. Then we will stop. Irene will leave the room and the
group will try to predict Irene's answer. Then Irene will come back into the
room and tell her decision and why she decided that way.