Tag: creativity

In their most simple form, a tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG) is a form of storytelling where an individual or group participates in a story that is in some way reactive to decisions that they make.

Perhaps one of the simplest versions that many of us have played are “pick a path” style stories, where at certain points we are given options to choice, or “pick”. These choices then lead to a different “path” for the story to take.

The appeal is obvious: YOU are effectively choosing how the story ends, not the author (although in the case of pick a path books, the number of potential endings is necessarily finite).

I have been thinking of how I could potentially implement tabletop roleplaying games into my teaching. Here are a few thought points before we embark any further:

• What are TTRPGs?
• Why would I consider using them in class or as an after-school programme?
• What are the potential benefits of using TTRPGs?
• Has there been any research on the pros and cons of using TTRPGs for language learning?
• What kind of challenges would I face running a game?
• What obstacles would students with lower level English abilities face?
• What do I hope to achieve by doing this?
• What kind of research could I contribute through running these games?