ROLE PLAY DEBATE
RESOLVED: Role play should be regularly used as an eliciation
technique in Oral Proficiency Interviews (OPIs).
Take a position (pro or con) on the statement above. Brainstorm a
list of reasons why role play should or should not be used as a task
in language assessment contexts.
Some Pros and Cons of Using Role Play in Language Assessment
Pros
Cons
1. Provides context for eliciting
register variation.
2. Provides context for eliciting
questions.
3. Focus on meaning over form.
4. Manipulates inequality of power via
role assignments -> “get into it”
feeling.
5. Can be tailored/selected for Ss’
interests/goals.
6. Versatile - can be used with any TL
and virtually any topic.
7. Positive washback likely.
8. Can be tailored (up/down) in
complexity for various
proficiency levels.
9. Connection to real life - real kinds
of speech.
10. Doesn’t have to be artificial.
11. On-going task in classroom
assessment.
12. Student can “play himself.”
13. Students gain confidence in
speaking.
14. OK to give options.
1. Role play skill (ad-libbing) does not
equal language -> some people
can’t do it in L1.
2. Stressful - students may feel “put on
the spot”
3. The situation of the role play may be
familiar to test administrator, but
not to test taker.
4. Students may lack schemata to
complete the role play.
5. Students may have no experience/
affinity with context or topic.
6. Artificial in context.
7. Personality.
8. Cultural differences - students may
not feel OK to act out.
9. Scoring may be subjective.
10. Inter-rater reliability must be
established.
11. Can be impractical.
12. Real life vs. blanking out in role
play.