When learning a second language in a classroom setting, it's common for students to be shy when it comes to having open discussions. Role-play activities are an effective way for English as a Second Language teachers to encourage students to speak English and interact in realistic situations during class.

Movie Scene Role Play
If you have access to a television and video player in your classroom, this activity is great for getting students excited about speaking and understanding English. Play a short scene from a favorite movie for students. Provide them with subtitles, so they can both hear and read along in English, and replay the scene several times as necessary. Give students a script if they need extra help remembering, and assign each one a character from the scene. Divide them into groups and have them act out the scenes. Encourage them to include physical and vocal expressions, as this will make the activity more fun and help them understand the flow of the language better.

Situation Role Play
Choose a specific situation for role play and include props, if possible. An example for younger students would be a shopping situation, in which students have fake money and set up tables around the room with different products (books, pencils, markers) to purchase. Divide the students into two groups: sellers and buyers. They can practice using phrases like "How much is it?" and "How many do you need?" as well as using the math involved with counting out change.

For older students, a business interview role play can get them to practice speaking skills while getting to know one another. Divide students into pairs, with one as the interviewer and one as the potential employee. The interviewer will practice asking questions while the employee will respond with true answers about his own background and job experience.

Auction Role Play
This role-play activity builds vocabulary and increases confidence. Give each student a product or item to "sell" to the class, like a book, a movie or something they would be interested in talking about. Each student takes turns standing in front of the class as the auctioneer. After describing their product to the class in as much detail as possible, students can take turns bidding on the product.