Role plays made this happen: A giant voice roared out of the young woman many never even noticed was in the classroom. She gestured as if she were teaching a class on how to gesture. She moved with the definition of stage presence. Was this the same shy, quiet student who literally couldn’t bring herself to say, “Boo!” when we did a Halloween activity?
It would have gone viral on social media.
I probably should have scraped my jaw off the floor, but the floor was covered with dropped jaws because we were all amazed and enthralled. Even her partner stared almost bug-eyed at her as Zainab theatrically exited the room and then re-entered, now half her size with her eyes to the floor, and perched precariously on her chair. WHO WAS THAT?!
You know how there are some moments you just never forget? This was one of them. But this wasn’t a reminder to me about never underestimating my students. Nope…
This was about the power of role plays.
Speak or Die…Choose one.
Considering that most Americans fear public speaking more than they fear death, I think we can empathize with international students who freeze to their seats and barely mumble when they have to speak in a foreign language with all eyes on them.
I sometimes felt like getting my shy ones to speak was trying to coax a statue into doing stand-up comedy…not happening!
But role plays? Role plays have almost always been different. Once students understand that the audience is watching characters and not them, they loosen up a bit.
Sure, you’ll still have some who remain stiff and closemouthed. Here’s what I learned, assign them a character who is supposed to be stiff and awkward. They’ll play the part perfectly naturally and honestly earn the applause.
Once they survive that (and for them, it FEELS LIKE surviving), the next role play will be a bit easier. Eventually, they might even feel comfortable hamming it up a bit.
Make the time for role plays!
Role plays give students a chance to practice authentic English within a themed framework. Give them a topic that pertains to their life and watch how engrossed they become with getting the right vocabulary word and saying it with not just the correct pronunciation, but in the most appropriate manner. (Their favorite was sarcastically.)
Students who don’t bother with vocabulary lists will suddenly be memorizing and using relevant words. Students who memorize those lists but never use any of the words will find or make situations in which they can use them.
And then there’s vocabulary retention because using words in authentic contexts helps imprint the words on our students’ minds. That safe environment in our classroom allows our students to manipulate the English they know and the English they are learning in real-world scenarios.
All this makes it easier to tackle similar situations when they’re outside the classroom. The rehearsing and then the performance is just the practice they need to remember key vocabulary words for communicating in their real lives.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. You’re stuck doing test prep in your Intensive English Program. I get it. But we’re still teaching students who need survival English, right? So create vocabulary lists that could go well with a theme and challenge students to create role plays using them. This will help them remember the words because they are actively using them in context.
Later, when they encounter those same words on a test, in a text, or in a conversation, they’ll recall hearing or using the words in the role plays and remember what they mean.
English is not just a test. It’s life.
Role plays give our adult ESL students the tools they need to stand on their own feet (or even survive a trip to the dentist) and not rely so heavily on the translation provided by friends or spouses. I invite you to try out a free sample of a roleplay about neighbors—a topic sure to apply to every single adult student. Just subscribe below, and it’s yours!
Oh, and Zainab? I found out later that her brother was an actor in Saudi Arabia. Despite being from a very conservative part of a very conservative country, acting was in her blood. When she had the chance to throw off her culture’s mantle and be someone else, she did so with gusto!
That’s it from me. See you in the next post!
