Exploring Learner’s Engagement and Attitude toward English Role-Play in Simulated Office Conversation

Abstract

In many English language classrooms, students often lack confidence and real-life exposure when practicing professional communication. This issue is especially relevant for students of Informatics Engineering who require practical and workplace-oriented learning materials to prepare for global industry demands. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of the role-play method in improving their English communication skills particularly in the context of simulated office conversations, while also examining the development of their cognitive aspects and perspectives during the activity. Data were collected through a survey of 52 students in INSTIKI campus who participated in English role-play sessions and were analyzed using a descriptive qualitative approach. The results indicate a significant improvement in students’ understanding of English language especially in professional workplace conversations. From a perspective point of view, students expressed enthusiasm and interest toward the role-play method despite initially feeling insecure and nervous about their English-speaking abilities. These findings suggest that role-play is an effective and applicative learning method to enhance students’ English-speaking proficiency. Therefore, it is recommended that role-play activities can be integrated into the English lecture syllabus, with expanded implementation in diverse workplace-oriented scenarios to meet students’ expectations and the demands of global industries.