How to Use Role Play to Teach ESL
ESL learners are those learning English as a second language. ESL students may range from the casual business traveler to the new immigrant to those seeking university admission. There are many different ways to teach English. One of the most helpful teaching techniques is to have participants assume roles they may use in daily life. This can include ordering at a restaurant or buying a car. Role-playing asks ESL students to use what they have learned and apply their acquired vocabulary to real-life situations.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Restaurant menus
- Television
- Pictures of zoo animals
- Picture of airplane
Instructions
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Ask students to pretend they are going to eat at a restaurant. Use a desk as a dining table. Have one student pretend to be the waiter taking the order. Have two others pretend to be ordering a meal. Use copies of real menus for this task. The teacher should go over all vocabulary words that may pertain to this situation with the students first. You may want to bring in television to the room so that students can watch cooking programs or even restaurant commercials.
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Assign one student assume the role of a doctor and another the role of a patient. The doctor will ask the patient questions about what ails her. The participant assuming the role of the patient will tell the doctor about her symptoms. Ask students to make their complaint and questions very specific, such as a really bad migraine rather than a simple pain in their heads.
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Have students play the roles of parent and teacher at a parent teacher conference. One student can act as the parent of an elementary-aged child attempting to find out about her child's educational progress. The second can play the role of a third grade teacher.
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Ask students to pretend they're visiting a zoo with family. One student can act as the zookeeper. Another student can ask questions of the zookeeper. Place pictures of various exotic animals such as zebras and tigers on the blackboard to help students remember vocabulary.
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Draw or cut out a picture of an airplane. Have students assume the roles of traveler, taxi driver, airline reservationist, flight attendant and pilot. Different students may assume the role of the traveler as they travel through the airport.
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Tips & Warnings
Use props to help students get into their roles such as globes and maps. Bring a stethoscope for students playing a nurse. Bring in silverware and napkins for students who are visiting a restaurant. Students who are uncomfortable speaking in front of a class may be asked to draw upon situations from their own life to use in role playing. Have a student play the role of a new immigrant if she's an immigrant or that of a nurse if she's had medical training.
Be aware of cultural differences as you teach.
