Teaching and D&D

[chatfouz]

Howdy yall,

I am an ESL teacher in China. I was asked by the school to start an ESL conversation class. I have had a few classes and the students are doing ok. But when asked what they woudl like to do, they said they want to have fun, do something different and creative, and no more worksheets.

While thinking this last night watching Big Bang Theory, I thought of RPG games as a great way to stimulate Conversation. Asian students are not known for being very creative, or forward. I was just curious if people have any real experience using these types of games in Asia?

I personally don't know anything about D&D, how it is played, rules, or how it works. I read the wikipedia page on it, so I get the general idea. But I really am not sure at all how I would use it, find a game, etc.

My question
1. personal experience using this in ESL?
2. Any of these games that might be easily adapted to Chinese students? Such as a Chinese theme, instead of fantasy? (I don't see the girls enjoying fantasy)
3. Is it complicated to learn D&D?
4. Are there any that are free? I can print, and laminate to my heart's desire. But the school is not going to pay money for the game. But they will pay for me to print anything. (sounds like bad business to me, but what do I know.)

 

[Gilladian]

I know there's someone active on these forums who uses DnD in his english language classes in Japan or Korea, don't remember which, and can't remember who... but you might do a search for threads about dnd and language skills to find him and PM him...

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Here ya go!

http://www.enworld.org/forum/media-...opics/276618-need-some-help-picking-game.html

http://www.enworld.org/forum/genera...icultural-multilingual-roleplaying-group.html

 

[Bluenose]

As for RPGs with a Chinese theme, there are a few. Qin: the Warring States is probably the closest to being "not-fantasy", though it includes Taoist magicians and various mythical demons/beasts if you wanted to use them. Weapons of the Gods and Feng Shui do magical martial artists, mostly. China is neglected in favour of Japan, largely, in English-language tabletop RPGs.