From Text to Context: Spontaneous Group Role Playing.

A familiar and effective way to provide classroom practice of foreign language skills in a meaningful context is role-playing. One variation, spontaneous group role-playing, offers a bridge between textbook dialogues and real-world dialogues. Especially appropriate for beginning and intermediate students, simultaneous group role-playing is a simulation of real-life activities in which students participate in large groups without rehearsal. This activity is intended as the culminating activity for a unit of study that has included drill and practice of specific vocabulary and structural items. Within the inherently loose structure that allows for creativity and improvisation, the activity also contains controls that direct students to speak about familiar topics, using known grammatical structures. These controls are provided by role cards that briefly outline the group situation, the individual role, and the conversations that students must initiate. The teacher-designed cards can be adapted to almost any textbook and accommodate varying levels of proficiency. After some initial surprise, students generally find such activities both engaging and challenging. A series of cards are presented and procedures for their use are explained. Suggestions for creation of cards are made. (MSE)