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At IÉSEG, innovation in teaching is more than a value – it’s a daily practice. With the help and support of the CETI (IÉSEG Center for Educational and Technological Innovation), professors across all academic departments are continuously exploring new ways to make learning more dynamic, interactive, and relevant. For Caitriona BYRNE, English professor at IÉSEG, using popular films and TV shows as a basis for classroom activities is a powerful way to help students connect theory with real-world business contexts. By integrating experiential learning and role-play into her English for Business courses, she offers students a chance to practice their language skills while immersing themselves in realistic, challenging scenarios.

From Wall Street to the Classroom: Learning Business English Through Investment Simulation

Inspired by “The Wolf of Wall Street“, one of Caitriona Byrne’s flagship classroom games simulates the fast-paced world of stock trading. Students work in teams to invest in fictional companies, track market news over several rounds, and ultimately try to turn a profit.

Originally designed using paper-based tools, the game was recently enhanced in collaboration with the CETI, who transformed it into an interactive, multimedia experience. Now hosted in a centralized file with music, animations, and built-in instructions, the new format has made the game more engaging and easier to facilitate.

Through the game, students consolidate vocabulary related to numbers, percentages and financial presentations. It also helps develop soft skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, and decision-making—all in English.

“This kind of activity goes far beyond vocabulary acquisition – it places students in a real-world context where they act as investors, make strategic decisions, collaborate in teams, and solve problems”, Caitriona BYRNE says. “The version we developed with the CETI completely transformed the experience. By integrating interactivity, music, visuals, and centralized instructions, we turned a simple simulation into something immersive and playful. Students were fully engaged, crunching numbers, discussing outcomes, and really owning the process. When they tell me afterwards that they didn’t even notice time passing, I know the learning was meaningful. That’s exactly the kind of active, experiential learning I want to create“.

Pitch Perfect: Stimulating Innovation with a ‘Dragon’s Den’ Role-Play Challenge

Another activity draws inspiration from the long-running business show Dragon’s Den, where aspiring entrepreneurs pitch their innovations to a panel of investors. As part of a unit on innovation, students are asked to create and present their own product or service ideas, just as the contestants do on the show.
The updated version of the activity – soon to be tested with CETI’s support – uses numerous digital tools to make the experience smoother for the professors – and most important, more immersive and engaging for students.

“This activity is incredibly valuable,” says Caitriona BYRNE. “Students practice creativity, adapt their pitch to a professional audience, and apply their language skills in a meaningful way. When students pitch their own ideas, they’re not just using business English – they’re building confidence, learning to adapt, to convince, and to be creative. It’s a powerful way to prepare them for real-world communication, and they absolutely love it.”

Students vote on the best pitches, defend their choices, and learn to structure compelling, persuasive arguments. The activity builds toward future assessments while giving learners the freedom to explore and invent.

“They love pitching,” Caitriona BYRNE adds. “They’re not just students—they’re changemakers. Sometimes their ideas are wild, sometimes brilliant – but always creative. And we, as professors, learn from them too. It’s also a reminder that our role as educators is to give them the tools and space to express themselves and prepare for the demands of a global professional world.”

Whether it’s investing like a Wall Street trader or convincing a room of dragons, Caitriona BYRNE’s approach reflects a larger IÉSEG philosophy: that learning should be active, engaging, and connected to the world students aspire to enter. Through innovative use of multimedia, role-play, and real-world scenarios, courses like hers ensure that language learning goes far beyond vocabulary – it becomes a lived, empowering experience.