UPDATE APRIL 2021: This is for junior high scool.
I added record sheets I started using last year. The pattern we tried to follow was when the ALT visits the students listen to a model conversation, discuss it and then for a minute talk freely with a partner. They could use the model as a base, talk about anything or use the questions on the record sheet if they were struggling. Then when the ALT wasn't there they'd just do 1 minute of talking without the model dialogue. The first year one is completely new. It is based on the idea the students can recall some of what they learnt in elementary school. I'll be meeting with teachers and seeing if they want to go for it this year.
After talking they'd fill in the record sheet. Date, partner's name, could they keep the conversation going for a minute, how much did they look at the sample questions, and natural reactions. These were done with the typical triangle, circle and double circle meaning, needs work, good, really good. Finally write a note in Japanese about the converstation.
Generally I found three patterns typically happened.
Some teachers would always forget about small talk and I'd eventually stop reminding them and we'd stop doing it. I figured it just wasn't their thing.
Some teachers would only do it on the days the ALT came. These students could do it but very nervously and without much joy. Honestly I regretted introducing the idea to those teachers at all.
One or two teachers really got into and did small talk with every lesson. This kids really gained a lot of confidence. I was amazed.
SIDE NOTE:
I stopped bringing in dialogue examples. I found the teachers were too dependent on them and would just read off the paper. Not good for teaching the students to talk freely. Best to keep it natural even if you have nearly the same dialogue each time.
SMALL TALK THE ORIGINAL DETAILS
Near the beginning of each lesson with my 6th grade students and after the 1st term 5th grade students as well started with 'small talk'.
The ALT and the HRT will have a short conversation and the students listen.
Then the HRT will check their understanding of the conversation in Japanese. Also ask them to translate a few sentences back into English.
Then in pairs the students will have a one or two minute conversation similiar to the one they heard.
A variation has the students shuffle seats and have the conversation more than once with other students.
If their is a odd number of students the ALT makes a pair with one student. If there is an even number both ALT and HRT can make pairs with students.
I've also started using this at the beginning of my junior high lessons. So far I've just been using my elementary school scripts but I'll start adding junior high scripts over time.
I've included a bunch of scripts that I give to the HRT before the lesson. We we often repeat the same dialogue or a very similiar one after a month or so.
It is a great way to review what they've studied since there are no tests in elementary school.
The codes on the scripts are for HF (hi friends) and WC (we can). The scripts are suitable after the class has studied that unit.
I'll add more junior high scripts as the year goes on.