Secret Role Plays

Role plays where every student has a secret. Each person opens their own card on their own device and sees only their part: the situation, their goal, some ideas and useful phrases. Some cards have a secret that the others do not know. Make your own role play in a couple of minutes, or use one of our ready-made sets for pairs and groups.

Make a role play

Ready-made role plays

Try one

Ideas for using it

Speaking with a purpose. Every student has a goal, so they have a reason to talk, ask questions and listen.
Secrets create the fun. A hidden fact (the neighbour plays the drums, the doctor is really a vet) gives the class something to discover, hide or argue about.
Diplomatic English. One student has to say something difficult politely while the other reacts naturally. Swap roles and repeat.
Everyday problems. Hotel rooms, faulty laptops and late orders: a customer and a person who has to solve it.
Group debates and meetings. Court cases, balloon debates and budget meetings get a whole group talking, with one person chairing.
Language for the task. Add useful phrases to each role and students have the language ready. Ask them to try to use three of them.
Feedback afterwards. Listen in, note good language and mistakes, and go through them as a class when the role play ends.
Online lessons. Send each student their own link to the same role play, or ask them to open it and choose a role in a breakout room.

How it works

Send students the link to the role play, or open it on a shared screen.
If there is a shared situation, everyone reads it first.
Each student chooses a role and taps the card to see only their part.
Students prepare for a few minutes, then start talking. They swap roles and try again if there is time.

Roles with a secret show it on the card. Only the student who opens that role sees it.

Tips for good role plays

Give each role a clear goal. "Get the room" or "Don't hurt their feelings" works better than "talk about the room".
Keep the situation short. Two or three sentences is enough. Students add the details themselves.
Make the roles want different things. Opposite goals keep the conversation going.
Use secrets sparingly. One or two good ones per role play are better than one for every role.
Add ideas and phrases. Lower levels especially need a few phrases to get started.
Choose the right size. Pairs for quick practice, 4 to 6 roles for a whole class.

Make your own

Write the situation for each role, add a goal, optional ideas and phrases, and a secret if you like. You can create anything from two roles to six, then share one link with your class.

Make a role play