Situational and role-play methods have become central elements of contemporary foreign language pedagogy, particularly in the domain of professionally-oriented language training. As global professional communication intensifies, learners are increasingly required to develop not only general communicative competence but also context-specific skills that reflect real-world tasks in specialized fields. This article examines the theoretical, methodological, and practical foundations of situational and role-play methods in teaching a professionally-oriented foreign language (PFL). The study provides a conceptual overview of the origins and evolution of role-play techniques, highlights their psychological and linguistic underpinnings, and analyzes their pedagogical advantages within an ESP/ESL framework. Special attention is given to the mechanisms through which role-playing enhances linguistic performance, motivation, and professional thinking. The article also investigates the relevance of role-play in preparing learners for authentic communication in domains such as border control, military affairs, business, medicine, engineering, and academic research. The findings underline the significance of experiential learning, simulation-based instruction, and authenticity of tasks in fostering communicative readiness and professional competence. This article contributes to methodological discourse by systematizing the principles, models, and theoretical interpretations of role-play as a pedagogical method in professionally-oriented foreign language instruction.