Role Play

Role play is one of the most common and useful components of a conversation session because it puts language in its cultural context. Role plays can always be varied; thus, the possibilities are limitless. There are a variety of ways to initiate a role play. Students can be handed a role play card that outlines the scenario to be played out, or they can be assigned characters (genders, ages, and so forth) and then given a general topic to improvise. Whatever method is chosen, remember that anyone can be any age, any gender, and of any social position, so all possible interactions can be covered. 

Role Play I (Arabic)

Here the conversation partner brings a prop – cake – and students take turns acting out the proper way to accept hospitality in the target culture.

Role Play II (Pashto)

The conversation partner and student role play a formal greeting.

Role Play III (Pashto)

The conversation partner and student role play a formal greeting with the male conversation partner taking the role of a female.

Role Play IV (Pashto)

The conversation partner and student role play an informal greeting.

Role Play V (Persian)

Here the conversation partner describes the role play and initially lets the two students interact. Notice how he corrects them at the time of their errors rather than letting them go until the end and making a correction then. Students will learn more and be able to incorporate the correction into the role play if the correction is done immediately. Late in the role play, the conversation partner comes in, playing the part of a waiter.

Role Play VI (Turkish)

In this exercise, the conversation partner has given the students lines and they must combine the lines to make a logical role play.

Role Play VII (Turkish)

The conversation partner gives each student an information cards about a famous Turk. The students then have to take on the role of the person on their card and meet the other “people” while in character.

Role Play VIII (Turkish)

In this role play, students are practicing meeting each other and asking all questions that are appropriate during an initial meeting.