Learning English Learning English through Dramathrough Drama

Professional Development Professional Development Workshop Workshop

Workshop leader: Stephen BoltonWorkshop leader: Stephen Bolton

English Language CentreEnglish Language Centre

City University of Hong KongCity University of Hong Kong

What is drama?What is drama?

The definition is as broad or as The definition is as broad or as narrow as a teacher wants to make narrow as a teacher wants to make it. For (language) classroom it. For (language) classroom purposes, drama can include:purposes, drama can include:

scripted dialoguesscripted dialoguesreadingreadinglisteninglisteningrecitingrecitingwritingwritingperformingperforming

role playsrole playssemi-scriptedsemi-scriptedunscriptedunscripted

improvisationimprovisationdrama gamesdrama games““Reader’s Theatre”Reader’s Theatre”““The Drama Project” (see Wessels, The Drama Project” (see Wessels,

1987)1987)

Drama and language skillsDrama and language skills

Speaking:Speaking:A huge range of opportunities to speakA huge range of opportunities to speakA “need to speak” (Wessels, p. 28)A “need to speak” (Wessels, p. 28)

Listening:Listening:To fellow participantsTo fellow participantsTo recorded samples of dramaTo recorded samples of drama

Drama and language skills Drama and language skills (contd)(contd)

Reading:Reading: Scripts (both text and stage directions)Scripts (both text and stage directions) Learning about plot, characterization, dramatic Learning about plot, characterization, dramatic

structure, how to prepare for a production…structure, how to prepare for a production… Writing:Writing:

Complete scriptsComplete scripts Character descriptionsCharacter descriptions Plot outlinesPlot outlines ““Rehearsal protocols” Rehearsal protocols”

Drama and language areasDrama and language areas

PhonologyPhonologyIntonation to express emotionIntonation to express emotionClarity of dictionClarity of dictionStress within sentencesStress within sentencesVocal powerVocal powerPacePacePitch rangePitch range

Drama and language areas Drama and language areas (contd)(contd)

VocabularyVocabularyWide-ranging possibilities (as wide as the Wide-ranging possibilities (as wide as the

range of areas of life that can be range of areas of life that can be dramatized)dramatized)

The language of human emotion, The language of human emotion, intentions, interactionsintentions, interactions

Descriptive language (Descriptive language (e.g.,e.g., in stage in stage directions) directions)

Meta-language of rehearsal, performance, Meta-language of rehearsal, performance, criticism (See Maley & Duff, 2005)criticism (See Maley & Duff, 2005)

Drama and language areas Drama and language areas (contd)(contd)

GrammarGrammar““The grammar of spoken English” (The grammar of spoken English” (E.g.E.g., ,

Carter & McCarthy)Carter & McCarthy)EllipsisEllipsisContractionsContractionsFragments Fragments

Some Advantages of Using Some Advantages of Using Drama in the Language Drama in the Language

ClassroomClassroom It provides opportunities for practising a It provides opportunities for practising a

wide variety of languagewide variety of language It draws on more than just the rational It draws on more than just the rational

side of the brainside of the brain It can be useful in overcoming shyness, It can be useful in overcoming shyness,

since students are speaking “in since students are speaking “in character”character”

It promotes cooperation and collaborationIt promotes cooperation and collaborationStudents usually enjoy itStudents usually enjoy it