Creating Conversations: Using Scripts productively

I mentioned when I started working with ESL students that I thought some of their resources might also be useful for autistic individuals and vice versa. And though I had found a few connections, the first real solid link was founded yesterday.

I do oral practice with students whose native language is Mandarin but who plan to pursue graduate work in either America or the UK. These last two weeks, the students have been bringing in their own materials that they wish to read aloud, in whatever area they think they need the most help.

One of the areas where they really struggle is “social” or “conversational” English. Partially this is because these words are not taught in classrooms, but also because our culture dictates how we respond to certain situations. For example, in the United States, a customary conversation about greiving will go something like:

• Hey! What’s wrong?
• My pet Fido just died.
• Oh I’m so sorry! Is there anything I can do?
• No but thank you. Anyway, have you heard about the Steelers game?

Both an Aspie and someone unfamiliar with American culture might get stuck after line two. How do you respond to news like a Pet’s death. Saying “I’m so sorry” doesn’t come natually because it doesn’t make much sense. You didn’t cause the death, so what have you to apologize for? Then asking “Is there anything I can do?” seems an odd line because what could you really do? Beyond perhaps driving the person to the funeral, what else can really be offered?

But it is social custom to use these lines. When the news of a death is released, and those lines don’t follow it, the conversation stalls as the participants are both left confused and naked in this conversation not based in social formalities. When these lines are presented, the conversation can flow forward onto another topic.

But a foreign exchange student (or an Aspie) might not be aware of these social conventions, leading the conversations to always stall out.  For this reason, conversational phrase books are made. In the particular version my student was using (which I thought was ideal), a topic was given (we worked on sympathy and commiseration), and then 6 example conversations were given, consisting of 5-10 lines a piece, and representing both sides of the conversation. Then, after the example conversations, additional phrases which might occur or be useful were offered (for example, ‘Cheer Up’, ‘Don’t lose hope’, ‘Tomorrow is another day’)

I could see this book as serving two possible uses for autistics.

One, it could be read individually to gain familiarity with the way such conversations are held. Many people acquire these patterns from reading fiction novels, but many (though certainly not all) autistics do not enjoy reading fiction for various reasons. But with these phrase guides, it is possible to read the snippets of conversations that would be useful to incorporate into speech without wasting time on backstory and furthering the plot.

Additionally, these conversations could be used as scripts for role-play, either in a social group or with a parent or sibling. This way the individual is able to practice the conversational techniques as well as switching perspectives, without having to devote energy to develop the phrasing necessary for the conversation. Then in a real environment, hearing one of the phrases from this script could trigger the correct response.

The book my student was using was designed for individuals fluent for Mandarin. I am still looking for an English equivalent and wil update when I find one.