How receptive are learners to role playing?

Abstract

ABSTRACT Title: A descriptive study of students' receptivity to role playing Author: Oya Katirci Thesis Chairperson: Dr. Teri Haas, MA TEFL Program Thesis Committee Members: Dr. Phyllis Lim, Ms. Bena Gul Peker, Bilkent University, MA TEFL Program This study sought to investigate the receptivity of learners to role playing. This study mainly aimed at learning if Turkish high school students agree with the researchers who have made many positive assumptions about role playing. The study was conducted with 12 students of the upper- intermediate EFL level at the Bilkent University Preparatory School (BUPS) in Ankara, Turkey. In this study, to determine the extent of students' receptivity to role playing, the researcher investigated five aspects of receptivity: How receptive are learners to their fellow learners? How receptive are learners to the teacher's way of teaching? How receptive are learners to the teaching materials? How receptive are learners to being successful? How receptive are learners to the idea of communicating with others? To identify students' receptivity, data gathered from three different sources- -observations, a students' questionnaire, and an interview with the teacher- -were triangulated. The emerging themes revealed that students are receptive to imaginative role play activities.