by Itxaso Astarloza
Have you ever had to fight against dragons in the classroom? No? Well, my students have.
Imagine your students immersed in this adventure, discussing their next move, negotiating who to sacrifice to the Dark Lord, and using problem-solving skills to decipher the passwords to disconnect the traps in the dungeon, all while speaking in English.
Role-playing games (RPGs), like the famous Dungeons & Dragons, can transform the classroom into a dynamic, engaging space where language learning happens naturally through storytelling, collaboration, and decision-making. Instead of rehearsing scripted dialogues, like the ones we might find in lots of textbooks, students use English in meaningful, spontaneous ways, improvising, and building confidence and fluency while having fun.
But how exactly can RPGs be used in ELT? And what makes them such an effective tool for language learning? Let’s explore how gamification and role-playing can turn language practice into an unforgettable adventure.
What are RPGs and how can they be useful?
Role-playing games (RPGs) are games in which each person portrays a specific character (self-created or prefabricated), acts the same way as their character would, and collaboratively navigates an imaginary setting or world. It is a fundamentally interactive storytelling activity. These games are based on interaction, decision making, and problem solving, where improvising is a must - along with a game master to organise what happens!
Initially, at least, the teacher should take the role of the game master - the director and conductor of the game. You can also take a more active role in the game, such as by playing a spirit or ghost to whom students can ask questions. This way, students actively engage in conversations, negotiate outcomes, and express themselves authentically - they have a real stake in the interaction, and thus will be motivated to speak with control and to mediate meaning.
Examples of RPG systems and rules are Dungeons & Dragons, GURPS, Call of Cthulhu - the list goes on, and I recommend those who are interested to do a spot of Googling when they reach the end of this article. However, these aren’t the only options you can find. There are plenty of RPG writers online who post one-shot adventures, campaigns, and more. There are also board games and card games that can introduce us to this world, like Sherlock Q, in which we need to put ourselves in the place of the investigator and solve a crime.
Practical Applications in ELT
Incorporating RPG elements into the classroom doesn’t require teachers to be expert game masters (I’m still learning and trying to improve my skills to become one!). Simple adaptations can transform lessons into immersive experiences. Here are some practical ideas:
- Character Creation Activity: Students design characters with unique traits, skills, and backstories, practising descriptive language (e.g., adjectives, comparatives, modal verbs). For example, ‘My character is braver than most but reluctant to take risks.’
- Interactive Scenarios: Groups role-play scenarios, such as negotiating a treasure map or planning a rescue mission, or even deciding who we are willing to sacrifice in order to continue! These activities practice functional language, such as making suggestions, offering help, or negotiating agreements and disagreements.
- Worldbuilding: Students collaboratively create a fictional setting, integrating storytelling with grammar and vocabulary practice. For instance, they might describe the geography, history, or cultures of their imaginary world.
- Quest-Based Learning: Break lessons into quests, each targeting specific language objectives. For example, a ‘quest’ might involve solving a riddle to practice question forms or gathering clues to reinforce past tenses. You can use this in your everyday lessons, but when applied to the RPG world you can use these types of riddles as the password to open a vault or a door.
Elements like dice rolls, decision-making trees, and maps can add an extra layer of excitement while reinforcing language use. I’d love to say that I like happy endings, but setting traps and encountering unexpected enemies is what adds a thrill to a good RPG story!
Addressing Potential Challenges
While RPGs offer numerous benefits, integrating them into lessons can pose challenges. Time constraints, classroom management, and students' unfamiliarity with RPGs may seem daunting obstacles at first. However, they can be overcome:
- Start Small: Begin with short, self-contained activities before transitioning to larger campaigns. Sow the seeds early, and reap the harvest later - if you start the year by teasing the introduction of an RPG, you’ll find that you can incorporate world-building elements into your lessons in the way I described earlier on, and then playing the RPG itself will seem like a massive reward for your students. Of course, there’s nothing stopping you from diving straight in with a one-shot “choose your own adventure” style RPG in which your duties as game master are all explained.
- Simplify the Mechanics: Some RPGs can be complicated to understand or to use in the classroom. Simplifications can help, though you’ll have to think through the consequences of any changes you make. Alternatively, start with something a little less demanding, like a board or card game with RPG elements.
- Adapt to Your Students: Tailor the content to suit the proficiency levels and interests of your learners. For instance, the teenagers I teach like to complain about every topic I’ve suggested, and then they are the ones who love these experiences the most. Also, grading the language according to the learners is vital.
My personal experience
The first time I tried using RPGs in the classroom it was as a kind of experiment - I had a sense of what I wanted to achieve, but I didn’t quite know how to bring the RPG alive for students whose first language was not the same as the target audience of the RPG. I spent some time planning - and later refining - my instructions, and made sure to be confident of my game master’s duties before we began.
The students responded well, and this is one of the things to have motivated me to bring RPGs into more lessons. One important aspect that I fully recommend, though, is to reflect on how the activity went - what the problems were, what the best moments were, and how to make sure that, next time, there would be fewer of the former and more of the latter!
You can tell when an activity clicks with your students - because they soon start asking to play again!
The second time we played, I wasn’t just the game master, I also portrayed the Spirit of Christmas, whom they could ask for advice. However, little did they know I was leading them to their doom, and they only realized moments before the campaign was over. This might seem like a terribly unfair thing for a teacher to do - but it was a memorable event, and one that they still talk about.
Conclusion
RPGs provide an innovative approach to language learning, blending creativity, collaboration, and authentic communication. I love RPGs, as you can tell - and so I have brought them into my classroom. Two questions naturally arise - first, whether you think they would work in your classroom as well; and second, whether you have a passion or hobby that you’ve never thought to bring into your lessons.
To finish this article, I’d like to encourage teachers on both counts - if RPGs aren’t your thing, perhaps there’s something you love that would work better for you. Until you roll the dice - you just won’t know!
Author Biography
Born and raised in the Basque Country, I’ve been an English language teacher since 2018 when I came back from New Zealand, and I did not know what to do with my career. I started teaching and discovered how truly passionate I am about this profession. I’m a CELTA-qualified teacher currently working towards the Trinity DipTESOL and interested in gamification and learning differences.