Teaching English Through Drama

KNU Teacher Training 2013

M r Bri a n M a lo v a ny

Wednesday, January 23, 13

Reasons to Use Drama-Based Activities

Yes, Use Drama in the ESL Classroom!
It integrates a variety of language skills in a natural way Uses both verbal and non-verbal communication It contextualizes language, focusing on meaning It can bond the class together through meaningful group learning The responsibility of learning transfers from the teacher to the student

Wednesday, January 23, 13

Reasons to Use Drama-Based Activities

Use Drama in the ESL Classroom, But...
Not all students enjoy performing Can be very difficult if any students have a speech impediment Some students lack spontaneity Language focus can be vague and seem unserious Pronunciation issues can get in the way If you (the teacher) dont believe in it, no one will

Wednesday, January 23, 13

Reasons to Use Drama-Based Activities

Warm Up Activities: Verbal and/or Non-Verbal
(from the book Drama Techniques)

Pass the Clap/Clap Around the Circle Gobbledy-gook Back Writing Catch the Ball Telephone Freeze! Back-to-Back Trust Falls

Wednesday, January 23, 13

Reasons to Use Drama-Based Activities

Longer-Focus Class Activities
Role-Plays Dialogues Scenes/Scripts Working from Texts Miming Working with Visuals & Objects

Wednesday, January 23, 13

Reasons to Use Drama-Based Activities

Drama-Based Activities: Have the Students Create Their Own Material!
Write a Soap Opera Scene Think of a modern soap opera, and in groups of 3-4 write a short soap opera scene. There must be Characters with silly-sounding names A sudden, dramatic conflict An unexpected, but partial resolution of the conflict A short preview of the next installment The scene will be acted by your group once, and then by another group after you.

Wednesday, January 23, 13

Reasons to Use Drama-Based Activities

Write Political Speech In groups of 3-4, create short political speeches. You must also create Your political party Your election platform Your political positions, each with their own speech (each one does a speech for no more than 2-3 minutes President Vice-President (optional) Secretary of State Secretary of Silliness After the speeches, we vote for the best group, but you cant vote for your own!

Wednesday, January 23, 13

Reasons to Use Drama-Based Activities

Create a Game Show In groups of 4, create a TV game show. Use any TV game show as a model, but this one must have A host Contestants Competition of some sort A prize A focus on some aspect of English (grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, etc) A commercial break for a fake product After the game show, we vote for the best group, but you cant vote for your own!

Wednesday, January 23, 13

Gesture, Movement & Drama

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Combine gesture and movement with songs, poems, or chants, with drama, and with stories. TPR (total physical response )
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Teacher give commands, models them, students carry out commands Students acquire receptive language, especially vocabulary and grammar. TPR fits within comprehension-based approaches (e.g. Natural approach)

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Wednesday, January 23, 13

Dramatic activities
Children can be engaged in a lesson through drama more easily than through explanations or instruction.
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Commercially published skits and plays are available in magazines for children. Assign the children to role play Dramatic retellings of favorite fairy tales
e.g. Jazz Chant Fairy Tales (Graham 1988)
children

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little red riding hood Rumpelstiltskin The fisherman and his wife- suitable for

younger

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Readers theater
teacher can write script on a childrens book or purchase or get them on website or children read aloud a story, being the narrators, making up skits
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Wednesday, January 23, 13

Dramatic activities

http://esldrama.weebly.com/resources-improvisation.html

Wednesday, January 23, 13

Dramatic activities

http://www.childdrama.com/mainframe.html

Wednesday, January 23, 13