“TALK SHOW TIME”: USING ROLE-PLAY INTERVIEWS TO ENHANCE SPONTANEOUS SPEAKING SKILLS IN THE EFL CLASSROOM

Abstract

This article presents Talk Show Time, a dynamic and interactive classroom activity designed to enhance spontaneous speaking skills in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. By adopting the roles of talk show hosts and guests with secret or fictional identities, students engage in real-time, unscripted dialogue that promotes fluency, creativity, and communicative competence. The activity encourages active listening, improvisation, and natural turn-taking while reducing anxiety through role-play. In addition to highlighting the pedagogical benefits, this article provides a clear, step-by-step procedure for implementing the activity effectively in diverse classroom contexts. Multiple variations including mystery guest interviews featuring celebrities or fictional characters are also included to support flexibility and sustained student engagement. Talk Show Time not only fosters meaningful interaction and confidence in speaking but also transforms the classroom into a vibrant space for authentic language use.