Summary in Reported Speech

Question

Hi teachers,This is a part of a text which in fact it is longer. Can I ask the students to write a summary out of it in reported speech, even though there are no sentences written in direct speech?Susan:Why do we have to walk to the station? And where is it?Tom:It’s just down that road … I think.Susan:You think Tom! Are you sure or not? Look! There’s a policeman! Ask him the way.Tom:All right Susan. Excuse me. Can you tell me the way to Victoria Station?Policeman:Yes of course. Walk down this road, take the first turning on the left. Then walk until you come to the river and …Tom:The river?Policeman:Yes. You can’t see very clearly from here, but it’s over there! When you come to it, there’s a bridge. Just walk across it. Follow the signs that say “to Victoria Station”. Tom:And is it very far? I mean, how long does it take to walk there?Policeman:About twenty minutes, if you walk quickly.Tom:Thank you very much.Policeman:Not at all.Thanks in advance

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Thinking SpainCan I ask the students to write out a summary ~~out~~ of it in reported speech, even though there are no sentences written in direct speech?

You can ask your students to stand on their heads and spit nickels if you want. You are the teacher, right?

Everything there is in the format of a play, which is all direct speech. This is exactly the same as when you listen to a conversation in real life -- at a party on Saturday night -- and then report it to your colleagues at work -- on Monday morning!

Asking your students to write a summary in reported speech is really no different from asking them simply to retell the conversation in their own words (i.e., without any direct quotes). Because it is so like many ordinary conversations, I think it's a good idea.

Neverthess, unless the students are fairly advanced, they're going to need a week to handle all that material! You might want to take that into consideration. You might want to break it into manageable pieces, depending on the level of your students.

CJ

Tenacious Learner · Answer

Good morning from Barcelona CJ,

"You can ask your students to stand on their heads and spit nickels if you want. You are the teacher, right?"

Well, yes I am , but not that bad, ha, ha, ha.

Thanks for the explanation.

"Neverthess, unless the students are fairly advanced, they're going to need a week to handle all that material! You might want to take that into consideration. You might want to break it into manageable pieces, depending on the level of your students".

Thanks for your concerning tofor them, but they have already done quite a few exercises on direct to reported speech and they have already done a few summaries from short conversations, so I guess they are ready for a longer one. I'll see if I'm mistaken or not.

CalifJim · Answer

Thinking Spainso I guess they are ready for a longer one.

Great! I hope they do well -- and make you look good!

CJ

PS. In the text of the post you are responding to, you can highlight any text and click on the "Quote" button if you want to transfer that material into a quote box within your response.

Tenacious Learner · Answer

I'll inform you about what my students did on the summary. It will be in about two months though.

I wanted to know how to do that and I was ashamed to ask.

Now I know it. Thanks a lot CJ.[Y]

Anonymous · Answer

He said:i work at bank

Summary in Reported Speech

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Related Questions

Susan:	Why do we have to walk to the station? And where is it?
Tom:	It’s just down that road … I think.
Susan:	You think Tom! Are you sure or not? Look! There’s a policeman! Ask him the way.
Tom:	All right Susan. Excuse me. Can you tell me the way to Victoria Station?
Policeman:	Yes of course. Walk down this road, take the first turning on the left. Then walk until you come to the river and …
Tom:	The river?
Policeman:	Yes. You can’t see very clearly from here, but it’s over there! When you come to it, there’s a bridge. Just walk across it. Follow the signs that say “to Victoria Station”.
Tom:	And is it very far? I mean, how long does it take to walk there?
Policeman:	About twenty minutes, if you walk quickly.
Tom:	Thank you very much.
Policeman:	Not at all. Thanks in advance