English Conversation Test Handout 02:

(Created — 12 July 2001: Last updated — 12 July 2001)

 

(Submission Week: The first class after Summer Vacation.)

 

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For this work, students will need to write a conversation for a group of between 2 and 4 people. Choose one of the five topics below to write your conversation. You need to write a conversation with a minimum of 72 words per student. For a group of 2 people the minimum number of words is 144 words, for 3 people it is 216, and for 4 people it is 288 words.

 

To write your chosen conversation, you will need to use your own knowledge of life in Japan, of what you have seen of life in the film, and, most of all your, imagination.

 

Please note: Students need to make effort to change their tone of voice to fit what they are saying. For example, to have a rising voice with a question, and a positive answer, and falling voice with a negative answer. Voices should also rise if what is said is good or is wanted, and fall if what is said is bad, or is not wanted. Also, as with the role play performance test, students should try to create the situation where you are talking, and bring props where these would be useful. You should try to sound as natural as possible in speaking.

 

 

Choose one of the following topics:

 

  1. You make a group and discuss with Pip about his life as an orphan. You discuss with him what could happen to children in Japan if both their parents die. Please tell Pip about the social welfare situation in Japan. For example, in Japan which relatives and public institutions become responsible for a child whose parents have died. Tell Pip what happens to the child if there are no relatives. Discuss with Pip also about his life with Joe and Mrs Joe. Please, also speak with Pip about some possible good, and some possible bad things of the way orphan children are treated in Japan. Ask him, if he thinks his situation is better or not, and why he thinks this. (For this, you can make groups of either 2, 3, or 4 students.)

    2.  

  2. Pip, when he is a boy, is coming to Japan for a one year homestay. This is soon after his sister, Mrs Joe died. You need to ask Pip about his life in Britain, and you need to tell him what you think he needs to know about his new life in your home in Japan. Draw a comparison between his life at home and his life in Japan. Also, Pip tells you why he has been sent to Japan for a homestay. (For a group of 2 people.)

    3.  

  3. You are sitting in your room, drinking something and eating some snack, playing some game, e.g., a card game, go, etc., and talking. Compare Pip’s home and environment with your own home and environment when you were the same age as Pip, under 14 years old. The environment is the area surrounding Pip’s house; the garden, the marshes, the old church, Miss Havisham’s house and her garden. The environment is the area where your house is. What do you think are the main differences between your and Pip’s home and environment? (For this you can make groups of 2 or 3 people.)

    4.  

  4. When the film begins you are introduced to many people. For example, to Pip, Joe, Mrs Joe, the convict, Miss Havesham, Estella, Uncle Pumblechook, and the young boy. But you are not told how the lives of these people came to be as they were. Please, make a group and discuss how you think some of the lives of some of these people came to be as they were. Why do you think that Pip became an orphan and came to live with his sister? Why do you think his sister is so very much older than him? Why did Joe and Mrs Joe get married? Why do they remain married, when they do not look happy and in love? How do you think the convict became a convict, and how long do you think he will be in jail (please note, the hulks were prisons for the worst and most dangerous criminals)? What about Miss Havisham and Estella. Please choose and talk about any four of the people above. (You can make groups of 3 — 4 for this one.)

    5.  

  5. Students can make a group and suggest their own topic. However, if you do this you must first visit my office and speak with me about your idea and choice before you begin to write this topic. (You can make a group of 2, 3 or 4 students.

 

In writing the conversation, you must use 10 words taken from you personal dictionaries. Also, you must use 6 of the following phrases from the handouts:

 

  1. in comparison with…
  2. Oh, you are welcome to it.
  3. be grateful for…
  4. well
  5. I should think not, indeed
  6. …indeed.
  7. Well, I never…
  8. …egh?
  9. the days have come and gone
  10. the days come and go
  11. They are particularly interested in or: I am particularly interested in she/he is particularly interested in
  12. What do you wish?
  13. It happened in the
  14. very well then
  15. have a promising career
  16. please answer my question…
  17. come into good fortune
  18. come into misfortune
  19. was adopted and brought up
  20. we shall save it till dinner time
  21. wreak revenge on

 

In your written conversation, please underline the words from your dictionaries and the phrases from the handouts. Please use your own imagination, and your own knowledge to write the conversation. Good luck, thank you for trying to do your best! If you make good effort, you will get great grades.

 

Please remember, copies of all of the handouts can be found on my university homepage. There is a link in the University Homepage.

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