THE USE OF ROLE-PLAY IN ENHANCING STUDENTS' CONFIDENCE IN SPEAKING

Abstract

Role-play activities are interactive exercises where participants act out roles in specific scenarios to simulate real-life situations. They help develop communication, empathy, problem-solving, and social skills by encouraging creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration.  This study explores the effect of role-play activities on increasing students’ confidence in speaking English, focusing on sixth-semester students at Politeknik Tonggak Equator during the 2024/2025 academic year. Confidence issues in speaking often arise from fear of making mistakes, limited vocabulary, and lack of real-life communication practice. A qualitative descriptive method was applied, with data collected through open-ended questionnaires to gain insights into students’ perceptions and experiences. Thematic analysis showed that role-play helped reduce anxiety, encouraged spontaneous speaking, and improved fluency. Participants reported that role-play created a safe and engaging environment where they could experiment with language and gain speaking confidence. Findings indicate that role-play is a practical and effective teaching method to enhance both communicative competence and learners' self-assurance. Integrating role-play into regular speaking activities is recommended to support students' oral language development.