The importance of role playing

When children do role plays, they naturally become someone or something else. Role play stimulates their imagination, enhances their social development, encourages friendships, teaches children the importance of cooperative learning, teaches them to listen and take turns and increases empathy. They can also learn about other cultures and improve their language and movement skills, which is key to learning another language.

4th Year Primary had a great time doing their own role play in small groups of three. In the activity, two students were customers at a restaurant, diner or café, and they had to order from a menu using vocabulary from the unit and improving their manners by using would and wouldn't. Likewise, the third student was the waiter or waitress and had to make sure all their customers needs were met. The customers then got the chance to visit other restaurants and had to rate the service and the menu.

 It was an engaging activity that allowed students to incorporate the things learnt in Unit 3: Fantastic Food, into a realistic life situation. We will definitely be doing more role plays in the future!

Alessandra Bell

English Department