Three-Step Interview

Step 1: A interviews B. Step 2: B interviews A. Step 3: Both pair up with another pair; each person reports what their partner said. Introduces reported speech naturally and holds students accountable for listening.

Procedure

1. Groups of 4 split into pairs.
2. Step 1 — A interviews B (3 min): A asks questions from a list (or free); B answers. A listens carefully — the report comes later.
3. Step 2 — B interviews A (3 min): roles reverse.
4. Step 3 — Report to the group: pairs re-merge into the group of 4.
   • A summarises what B said (in third person): "B told me that she travelled to Japan last year..."
   • B summarises A. C summarises D. D summarises C.
5. Each report = 30–60 seconds.

Prompt Types

• Introductions: What's one surprising fact about you?
• Opinion: What's something most people love that you don't?
• Experience: Tell me about the best teacher you've had.
• Future: What's one thing you plan to do this year?
• Unit-linked: any topic from the current unit.

Why It Works

• Listening has a purpose: the interviewer knows they'll have to report, so they listen for content.
• Reported speech emerges naturally: the report phase is pure indirect-speech practice without being framed as a grammar drill.
• Trust builds: being reported on accurately is a small act of respect.

Variations

• Three-Step Interview → Pairs Compare: after the report round, pairs discuss what was similar vs surprising across the group.
• Interview with note cards: interviewer gets 3 prescribed question cards; helps structure for lower levels.
• Double interview: round 1, A interviews B. Round 2, A interviews C. Report both. Higher listening load.

Tips

• Limit the interview to 3 minutes per direction. Longer and the reporter loses content.
• Before the report phase, give 30 seconds of silent reconstruction — students mentally rehearse their summary.
• Use early in term to break ice; late in term to review a topic from different personal angles.