AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE USE OF ROLE-PLAY ACTIVITIES IN IMPROVING STUDENTS’ ENGLISH COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE AT LE QUY DON GIFTED HIGH SCHOOL

Abstract

Role-play, without a doubt, is an effective technique in acquiring communicative competence. This research explores role-play implementation in improving students’ English communicative competence at Le Quy Don Gifted High School with an aim to explore the situation of role-play application in English classes and examine students’ and English teachers’ perceptions on the use of role-play in English classes; to work out the benefits of role-play in improving student’s communicative competence as well as challenges involved in adopting it; and to propose some possible suggestions for boosting interests in English teaching and learning via role-play activities. In order to achieve the objectives, the study was designed with a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches. The study starts with some hypotheses set on the impacts of applying role-play in classes. These hypotheses were then verified with the data collected from observations, interviews and questionnaires. Positive and negative aspects of using role-play technique were discovered through the data analysis process. Finally, practical recommendations of the research were put forward to diminish the problems faced by English teachers and students when conducting role-play activities. The research endeavours to demonstrate the power of using role-play in enhancing communicative competence among students. As a student who has directly engaged in role-play activities and realized the potential benefits that this method could bring to classrooms, the researcher has a consuming desire that this method will be replicated in many more language settings for enhanced student communicative competence.