Role PLay
What is a role play?
A role play is very similar to a skit, where students are putting themselves into someone else's shoes or staying in their own and putting themselves into an imaginary situation. It is an activity or strategy that helps with speaking skills. Role playing helps students interact with one another and develop a sense of communication outside of the classroom. Take for example, a role playing lesson at a restaurant. Students are able to become waiters/waitresses and guests. They learn what it is like to serve others and to be served. It extends students' speaking skills beyond the classroom. (Budden J., n.d.)
Why use a role playing strategy?-It is engaging
-It allows all students to play a role and express themselves - It provides situations outside of the classroom, which allows students to see the importance of learning certain skills - IT IS FUN! To make it fun, try adding in props! (Budden J., n.d.) |
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What are some benefits for ELL students?"The most important and beneficial listening and speaking that students will do is through interaction with the teacher, their fellow ELLs, and proficient English speakers within the sociocultural contexts of their classroom, school, and neighborhood."
It is very important for ELL students and all students to be able to find meaning in what they are learning. Students should have an understanding of why they are learning something and how it will benefit them in the "real-world". If students are learning how to ask questions and answer questions, what better way to bring the community and world situations into play with a role play! Students in a role play could ask and answer questions by doing a role play about a restaurant, grocery store, clothing store, etc. This is a great way to meet the needs of ELL students in a sheltered instruction model. (Wright, 2010). |
Teacher roles-Facilitator: As a facilitator, it would be beneficial to help those students who need help with language. ELL students may have a difficult time at parts of the role play. This is where you can support and scaffold their learning.
- Spectator: The role of a spectator is to watch the students perform their role play, take notes, and think about how you can take the information you gather from students and apply it to other lessons. This is not a position where you just sit back and simply watch, you still need to be engaged in the lesson and thinking about your students. - Participant: As a teacher, you can also participate in the role play! This may help students by scaffolding them towards independent role playing. It can also trigger more participation in the students because they are being guided towards active conversation and critical thinking. (Budden J., n.d.) |
Examples of Role Plays
ScienceIn the video below, the students took on a role play to explain what an antacid is. The students decided to play the roles of teacher and student.
SpecialistsSome other ways I thought of using a role play was in specialist times. For example, at the library, you could spend a day doing role plays on the dos and don'ts of being in the library. During gym class, the teacher could do a role play on certain rules and show the consequences of those rules. By incorporating role plays into these things, teachers are providing visuals along with their verbal statements, which will bring more meaning to students.
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Social StudiesA great way to incorporate a role play into Social Studies is through the study of people, places, and events. Role plays would help students develop a better understanding for those three things and would bring the information to life from the textbook. ELL students tend to like visuals and this would be a great way to pull information from the text and bring it to life.
ReadingIn the classroom, the students are working on speaking English. The curriculum for this lesson is to ask and answer questions. They are using a role play to teacher students how to ask and answer questions. The role play deals with a clothing store and a twist happens towards the end!
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References
Budden, J. (n.d.). Role-play. Retrieved September 25, 2015, from http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/article/role-play
Gonzalezledesmapaty. (2012, July 1). English students role play A1. Retrieved September 25, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roXy1b_ikjg
LISPrimaryWiki. (2012, September 30). Grade 5 ESL Classroom Language Role Plays. Retrieved September 25, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=2&v=rPMY2iK7rXg
Ragnar64. (2012, October 10). Korean Elementary Role Play #1 [Robbery] (With Subtitles). Retrieved September 25, 2015.
Sabunchi, L. (2013, December 14). Science roleplay. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
Wright, W. E. (2010). Foundations for teaching English language learners: Research, theory, policy, and practice. Philadelphia: Caslon Pub.
Gonzalezledesmapaty. (2012, July 1). English students role play A1. Retrieved September 25, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roXy1b_ikjg
LISPrimaryWiki. (2012, September 30). Grade 5 ESL Classroom Language Role Plays. Retrieved September 25, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=2&v=rPMY2iK7rXg
Ragnar64. (2012, October 10). Korean Elementary Role Play #1 [Robbery] (With Subtitles). Retrieved September 25, 2015.
Sabunchi, L. (2013, December 14). Science roleplay. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
Wright, W. E. (2010). Foundations for teaching English language learners: Research, theory, policy, and practice. Philadelphia: Caslon Pub.