Descriptions Using an Identikit

Students role play in pairs, describing the face of a “robber”. The policeman must re-create the face that the informant is describing, feature by feature.

Preparation

Photocopy the sheets with the faces (ABCD) and cut along the dotted lines (Do not cut right across). Take two A4 size sheets of thick paper or cardboard to use as a front and back cover. Photocopy the vocabulary sheet (E) onto one of the sheets of cardboard. This will be the inside back cover and students can refer to it for vocabulary. Slip the four cut sheets between the cardboard cover sheets and staple along the left hand side to form a booklet. Make a class set of booklets.

Procedure

Each student has a booklet. Students form pairs facing each other, and take turns at being the policeman or the informer discussing the face of the thief. The informer holds the booklet so the policeman cannot see it and chooses a combination of facial features. The policeman says:
「どろうぼうのかお、どんなかお？」
The informer gives a full description of the thief, and the policeman tries to make up an identikit picture with his booklet that corresponds to the description. When the policeman’s identikit picture is complete, the students compare faces to confirm that the description was fully understood.

Variation

You can include colours in the descriptions by colouring in brown hair, blue eyes, red nose, etc.
You can thereby increase the number of sheets for the booklet, and possible descriptions.