Focusing on role-plays

(collected by Yordana Hristozova)

I. Theoretical issues:

1. Definition of a role-play

Role- playing

From Wikipedia:  

“In role-playing, participants adopt and act out the role of characters, or parts, that may have personalities, motivations, and backgrounds different from their own. Role-playing, also known as RP to some, is like being in an improvisational drama or free-form theater, in which the participants are the actors who are playing parts, and the audience.

People use the phrase "role-playing" in at least three distinct ways:

• to refer to the playing of roles generally such as in a theater, or educational setting;
• to refer to a wide range of games including computer role-playing games, play-by-mail games and more;
• or to refer specifically to role-playing games.^[1]”

Role (performing arts)

From Wikipedia, :

The term rôle or role in the performing arts is usually taken to mean an actor's interpretation of a character written in a script that culminates in a unique performance of that character. So, for example, Shakespeare's character of King Lear remains timeless and unchanging as words on a page, but each new actor coming to the character creates a new role, a new expression of the possibilities in that character. Each actor brings his or her own sensibilities, physicality, emotional history and personality to a character to create a unique role. Consequently, no two roles can ever be the same. This is one of the features of performance that makes it compelling and 'alive'.

The term role is usually used of the dramatic arts but roles may be acted, sung or danced.

Not to be confused with the term Role-play which is the experimentation of character, and/or situations.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Role-playing

Definition of a role /if needed/

Role (wordweb dictionary) – 1. The actions and activities assigned to or required or expected of a person or group

"play its role"

2. An actor's portrayal of someone in a play

3. Normal or customary activity of a person in a particular social setting - "you can't do that in a university setting"-

2. Pedagogy and Learning Theory

1. A Role-play Simulation - Transformative Learning in complex dynamic social systems by Kate Fannon, an updated version here
[This is a very detailed report of Kate's experience with a role play simulation including lots of extracts from the role play simulation.]

http://www.roleplaysim.org/papers/default.asp?Topic=toc8

II.

1. Role Play Simulation for Teaching and Learning

http://www.roleplaysim.org/papers/

2. Popular role-plays for language learning:

http://www.eslflow.com/roleplaysdramatheatregames.html

For example: Identity presentations: A fun ID-ea!

http://www.geocities.com/EnchantedForest/Fountain/2131/funideaexplan.html

III. Additional recourses:

Sites for free on line role-plays:/if your students are fans of such things/

Sci-fi

http://anarchy-online.com

Fantasy:

http://www.dungeonrunners.com

Fishing Camp:

http:// fishingchamp.gamescampus.com

Car racing:

http://strikeracer.gpotato.com

and

http://www.conqueronline