Using a Simulation in an ESL Classroom: A Descriptive Analysis

Abstract

The article describes a simulation that was used in an English as a second language class designed for Southeast Asian government officials enrolled in an English language and Canadian cultural immersion program. The two authors are teachers fromCanada who were seconded by the Regional English Language Centre in Singapore to teach in the 3-month, intensive English for International Communication Program. The teachers felt that simulations would enable students to integrate language and communication skills with the knowledge that they had gained concerning cultural aspects of Canadian society. This article describes a courtroom simulation and provides information concerning the preparations for the activity, the simulation itself, and the students’ responses to and perceptions of the activity. A questionnaire was circulated after the simulation, and the results obtained are also discussed. The authors conclude that simulations are a valuable and stimulating language learning tool.