A classic cops n robbers speaking role play game. Great for practising questions in the past, reported speech and developing speaking fluency in a fun way. Zoom is the perfect platform for this activity as breakout rooms become perfect sound-proof "interview rooms".
Make it Purposeful
This activity is ideal for putting language into practice so before you begin, identify the language you want to focus on and do some practice activities (this may just mean something from the textbook).
For example, you might want students to use one of these question structures (depending on level):
Past continuous: What were you doing at half past 2? What were you doing at 3 O'clock?
Past Simple: Did you walk to the restaurant? Where did you go?
Indirect questions: Could you tell me how long it took you to get to the restaurant?
Setting the scene.
Split the students equally into 2 groups: Detectives and Thieves and explain the following scenario:
Thieves you work in.. (local shopping centre) in... (elicit shop).
At 2pm you went on your lunch break.
At 2.10 you were seen standing outside...(elicit name of bank).
At 2.15 a group of masked criminals robbed the bank.
You should have returned to your shop at 3. Instead, you came back at 7.
You returned 4 hours late wearing (elicit expensive brand) clothes and driving (elicit expensive cars).
We know you robbed (name of bank) and used the money to buy the (type) cars and (brand) clothes, but we can't send you to prison unless we prove it.
Preparing for the interviews
Suspects I'm going to put you together in a breakout room. Come up with a story which explains what you were doing between 2 and 7 and how you got the cars and the clothes.
Detectives, I'm going to put you together in a breakout room. Think of questions to ask the suspects. You will interview them separately and if you can find 3 differences in their answers I (the judge) will send them to prison. If you fail they will go free.
Before they go, ask which of these questions are best:
Where did you go? This is fine, but it's general and suspects will prepare for it.
What colour were the waiter's shoes? This question doesn't work, because the suspect can just say they don't know or can't remember.
Did you walk or take a taxi? This is a great question: Suspects would definitely know the answer but might not have prepared for it.
As the 2 groups prepare, go between them helping police to think of questions or warning suspects what to prepare for to make sure neither group has too big an advantage.
The Interviews
When the groups have prepared their stories (thieves) or questions (police). Bring them all together to explain the next step, which is:
Each suspect will be put in a breakout room with a detective for 3 minutes (-ish).
In that time, the detectives will ask as many questions as they can to find inconsistencies in the story.
After the 3 minutes are up police and suspects will be put back together to compare notes.
"Suspects, you have rights! You only have to answer questions with "did" in them" (or whatever the target language is).
Preparing for court
When the interviews are complete, bring everyone back to set your language expectations for the next step.
For B1 + groups, this is the perfect opportunity to recap reported speech. Here's how I do it:
Once I've introduced the basic structure, I put some examples in the chat box and have the students private message me the reported speech version. To keep it snappy I either set a time limit or accept the first X replies.
I give a point to the student's team (detectives or suspects) for every reasonable attempt (to encourage participation of students who are unsure) and 3 points if the attempt is correct (in the example image Chen gets 1 point for having a go and Lucia gets 3 for a correct answer).
Police go to break out room 1 to see if they can find 3 differences in their suspects answers.
Suspects go to break out room 2 to compare answers and discuss whether they think got away with it.
In court
Finally, bring everyone together, mute the suspects microphones and ask the police for their first piece of evidence. Then, mute the police and give suspects the opportunity to object before you (the judge) decide whether to accept it or not.
Repeat for each difference the police present, then pass judgement. If you accept 3 or more of the police' accusations, the suspects go to jail. If not, they stay free and can continue to enjoy their stolen riches!
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