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Option A 
Ask the students to supply you with a short dialogue. For example, you could give them a 
topic and ask for volunteers to have a short conversation about it. This could be a journalist 
interviewing a politician or a famous artist, for example. Choose, or have your students 
choose the topic and people according to their interests. You should write the dialogue (or 
at least parts of it) on the board. As you write the quotation and punctuation marks, check 
with the class first. Where do they think those marks should go? Then, as a class, change 
all the quotes to reported speech.
Option B 
Use the dialogue below to practice reported speech. First, explain the scenario. Then write 
the dialogue on the board, and together as a class, change the dialogue to reported speech. 
You could choose a section of the dialogue if you don’t have a lot of room on the board.
The Scenario 
There is a reception for Professor Hazin, a respected author, who has just announced he 
will publish a new book. A student asks him a few questions for the student newspaper. 
Reporter: 
“What is the title of your book?” 
Mr. Hazin: 
“The title is The River at Midnight.” 
Reporter: 
“What is the topic?” 
Mr.Hazin: 
“The book is a collection of new poetry that I wrote last year.” 
Reporter: 
“Is this your first book?” 
Mr. Hazin: 
“It is my first book of poems. I have previously published two novels.” 
Reporter: 
“Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?” 
Mr. Hazin: 
“They should read a lot and write a lot – every day if possible.” 
Reporter: 
“Do you have anything else you’d like to say?” 
Mr. Hazin: 
“Yes. Please join me for some refreshments at the reception!” 

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Here are the sentences in reported speech: 
• The reporter asked Mr. Hazin what the title of his book was. 
• Mr. Hazin said the title of his book was The River at Midnight. 
• The reporter asked what the topic of the book was. 
• Mr. Hazin said it was a collection of new poetry that he had written last year. 
• The reporter asked if it was Mr. Hazin’s first book. 
• Mr. Hazin said it was his first book of poetry and that he had previously published 
two novels. 
• The reporter asked if Mr. Hazin had any advice for aspiring writers. 
• Mr. Hazin said to read and write a lot. Or Hazin said they should read and write a 
lot. 
• The reporter asked if Mr. Hazin had anything else he wanted to say.
• Mr. Haziz invited the reporter to join him for some refreshments at the reception.