Another graphic manifestation of simulation exercises may be referred to as Role Games. Since I have discarded all live transmissions over our imbecile TV and watch only selected animated cartoons by Video-player together with my granddaughter I found a very good example in her favourite series “Masha and the Bear ” where this small girl Masha is quite reluctant to do what the adults foist on her but when they offer her some role to play – she is eager to perform it. There is a very good episode where Santa Claus entrusts her to dispatch all Christmas gifts to different animals in the wood but she agrees only after he passes his magic wand over her head and transforms her into a Fairy Snow Maid who always helps Santa Claus.

Now she is not merely a small disobedient girl – she has to play a role in all these procedures – this is just an example of a Role Game where all participants imitate everything exactly as it should be according to their role. As a quotation I can refer to a statement of Thomas Mann from his famous novel: “I can forgive any human error to a great actor but I will never forgive any actor error to an ordinary man”. It probably means that if you accept the commitment to perform your function properly, then you should play your role properly, without falsification.

This is just the reason why during my classes of Aviation English I always try to imitate and simulate their functions as close and true to real life facts as possible. It is very difficult due to many factors – even despite the fact that I have flown over many international airlines and know all the inner “cuisine” perfectly well I cannot always sound very convincing due to some human factors – they accept me as “a teacher”, not like an equal companion.

It is necessary but very difficult to live up to a role in the game you have chosen due to many factors. Familiarity breeds contempt – this refers to a situation when you pretend to be equal with your students. On the other hand, one cannot swim without plunging into the water and getting drenched. When one tries to keep his dignity as a teacher, it is very difficult to play. So you have to look for some compromise, some golden mean.

I think that this is a very good idea to choose some neutral topics and scenarios not concerned with professional activities. Even imitating some episodes from different fairy-tales and animated cartoons where everyone pretends to be what he chooses to be is better than a poor imitation of professional activities. Sometimes I use this technique – choosing various verbs from fairy tales episodes in order to stimulate my students’ imagination in description of actual and imaginary situations of their own.
It helps to activize their vocabulary and knowledge of Speech Patterns and Interactive Models.
Teacher/Trainer of Aviation English Alexander Khodovets