Enhancing Students’ Pragmatic Competence through the Implementation of Role-play Activities

Abstract

This study explores the impact of role-play activities on pragmatic competence among ESL learners. Fifty-two first-year students majoring in English at the University of Languages and International Studies (ULIS) participated in the research. After screening, 52 high-intermediate students were selected as the study sample and divided into two mixed groups. Group A engaged in role-play activities, while Group B participated in conversation followed by free discussion techniques. Following the treatment, both groups underwent a similar posttest assessment. The results indicate a significant positive effect of role-play on increasing pragmatic competence among the participants. This study contributes to the understanding of the benefits of role-play in enhancing pragmatic language skills among ESL learners.