I’m bored!

Here’s an ESL role-play for first and second conditionals from my book of ESL skits for teens. This skit drills first and second conditionals, and I’m bored. Use it with any group from one to fifteen teens; however, alternate lines if you have a student one on one.

The skit

To open, teens are walking together; one kicks a tin, another turns in circles a couple of times. All are bored.

Group 1

Teen: What do you want to do today?
Teen: I don’t know, what do you want to do?
Teen: If it was hot we could go swimming.
Teen: But it’s not.
Teen: This place is so boring!
Teen: I’m so bored.

Students kick the tin again. Then, they go to a corner of the stage and hang out chatting, hands in pockets, looking bored. Meanwhile, as they head across the stage, a second group comes on talking.

Group 2

Teen: So, what do you want to do?
Teen: I don’t know, what do you want to do?
Teen: If we had our bikes, we could go cycling.
Teen: But we don’t.
Teen: There’s nothing to do!
Teen: I’m so bored.

Group 3 come on while group 2 go over to the side of the stage, where they mooch, hands in pockets, slumping against the wall.

Group 3

Teen: So, what do you want to do?
Teen: I don’t know, what do you want to do?
Teen: If we had a ball, we could play soccer.
Teen: But we don’t.
Teen: It’s so boring!
Teen: I’m so bored.

This group starts walking around in circles while group 1 comes center stage:

Group 1

Teen: So, what do you want to do?
Teen: I don’t know, what do you want to do?
Teen: If we had a ride, we could go to the comic shop.
Teen: But we don’t.
Teens: It’s so boring. There’s nothing to do.

Groups 2 and 3 now join the rest in the center, saying:

Group 2

Teen: I’m so bored.
Teen: If I hadn’t lost my keys, we could watch TV at home.
Teens: But you have.

Group 3

Teen: So, what do you want to do?
Teen: I don’t know, what do you want to do?

An adult, who knows the kids, comes on and walks past the kids while they are talking.

Teen: If we had money, we could go to the movies.
Teen: But we don’t.

The adult walking past stops to talk to them.

Adult: Hi ________. (name of teen) Hi ________. Hi kids.
Teens: Hello Mr. / Mrs. _______. (name of the adult)
Adult: If you want some money, you could earn it.

Groups 1,2 and 3

Teens: How?
Adult: If you babysit my kids, I’ll give you some money.
Teen: I’ll babysit for you!
The teen goes off with the adult.
Teen: If I wash my dad’s car, he’ll pay me.
S/he runs off.
Teen: If I weed my uncle’s garden, he’ll pay me.
S/he runs off
Teen: If I help my mom iron, she’ll pay me.
Teen: If I paint my neighbour’s fence, he’ll pay me.

Script ideas

To expand the script and insert more first and second conditionals, take a look at these alternative lines:

Each teen says a line with a job, as above. After that, the runs to a corner of the stage and mimes the job. After a while, all teens are scattered over the stage, each miming their task. After a moment, they all meet again in the center of the stage. Finally, they show each other the money they have earned.

Teen: Wow. Now we all have money.
Teen: We could go to the movies!
Teen: We could buy some comics!
Teen: We could go to the pool!
Teen: We could buy a football!
Teen: I could repair my bike!
Teen: We could get some pizzas.
Teen: We could make a picnic and take it to the river.
Teen: We could take our tents.
Teen: And make a campfire!
Teen: There’s so much to do!
Teen: And so little time to do it!

They high-five each other, join hands and take a bow.

Role-play resources

Naturally, this skit for first and second conditionals is inside my book of skits for teens. The first skit, Australia, comes with a fun lesson plan to guide teachers in preparing students for the role-play. My skit books are available in instant PDF format, which I think is the best format since it’s easy for you to print off what you need. However, if you prefer, both books are also in paperback and Kindle.

To sum up, I encourage you to try this method with your pupils. If you are teaching kids between 6 and 12, try my role-plays and skits for kids. Give your pupils the chance to learn English creatively and work on their fluency and confidence with speaking skills.

All the best, Shelley Ann Vernon, Teaching English Games

For more ideas on using skits with teens, try this post: role-plays in English.