For years, I’ve used images in my classroom to support role-play activities. A simple picture of a restaurant, a TV studio, or a waiting room can already help learners step into a situation.

I realised back then, that just by changing the setting, made a huge difference in how learners approached this activity, and also had a great time, watching their classmates performance.

Recently, I’ve taken this a step further.

By adding movement and sound, the experience becomes far more immersive—and the difference in student engagement is immediate.

What is the goal?

The aim remains the same:

To help learners move away from focusing on their language performance and towards communicating within a context.

Images already help with this. But when you add motion and ambient sound, something shifts:

• the setting feels more real
• students engage more quickly
• and self-consciousness starts to fade

It’s no longer just a role-play—it becomes something closer to a shared experience.

The Chat Show Setting

One of the most recent setups I’ve used is a chat show.

The classroom arrangement is simple:

• a few chairs placed at the front
• a background projected behind
• students acting as guests

I use a four-minute video that includes:

• an introduction
• background music
• audience reactions (cheering, applause)

If more time is needed, the video can easily be replayed.

How it works

Students can:

• play themselves
• take on the role of a famous person
• or invent a completely random character

This last option is especially effective, as it helps learners step out of their comfort zone and reduces the fear of making mistakes.

Topics are flexible and can include:

• personal experiences
• opinions
• current events
• or imaginative scenarios

The volume of the ambient sound can be adjusted depending on the group.

What makes the difference?

The addition of sound and movement brings something extra.

Students:

• become more expressive
• interact more naturally
• and often forget they are speaking in a foreign language

In one session, students even had props—wigs and sunglasses—and fully embraced their roles. The level of engagement and enjoyment was remarkable.

Expanding the idea

This approach can be adapted to a wide range of contexts:

• a romantic restaurant
• a cinema
• a horror scene
• a tennis match

Each setting creates a different atmosphere, and that atmosphere influences how students communicate.

Here is the first background setting of what I’d like to become a series.

Chat show background