gary anderson cambridge elt ‘a roomful of human beings’

Gary AndersonCambridge ELT

‘A roomful of human beings’

Drama techniques as communication

activities in language learning

Cambridge Handbooks for Language Teachers

Drama TechniquesA resource book of

communication activites for language

teachersThird Edition

byAlan Maley & Alan Duff

Cambridge Handbooks for Language Teachers

Third edition

• Added new/cut old activites

• Activites completely rewritten in new

series format

Aim Focus Level Time

Preparation Procedure Follow-on

Variation(s) Note(s)

Follow-on

+150 (ideas for) activities

Cambridge Handbooks for Language Teachers

Third edition

• Activites rewritten• Added new activites

• Reorganised structure: reordering activites

and adding chapters on Voice and Performance

Cambridge Handbooks for Language Teachers

• Getting ready

• Working with … x 8

• Into Performance

Integrates language skills in a natural wayIntegrates verbal & non-verbal aspects of

communicationDraws upon both cognitive and affective domainsContextualizes the language and brings the

classroom to lifeOffers opportunities for catering to learner

differencesTransfers responsibility for learning from teacher

to learners

Why use drama?

Fosters self-awareness, self-esteem, confidence and motivation

Sustains motivation through variety and expectancy generated by activities

Encourages open, exploratory style of learningPositively effects classroom dynamics and atmosphereOffers an enjoyable experienceLow-resource: ‘All you need is a roomful of human

beings.’

Why use drama?

Know thy…SchoolClass

Student…sSelf

Why not use drama?

Cambridge Handbooks for Language Teachers

• Words

• Sentences

• Scenes

Cambridge Handbooks for Language Teachers

Working with/from words• Back-writing (Actv 1.22)

• Favourite word (Actv 8.1)+

Breathing (Actv 4.3)The Great Conductor

Cambridge Handbooks for Language Teachers

Working with/from sentences• Elastic sentences (Actv 4.14)

• ‘Say Cheese!’ (Actv 2.3)+

Warming up the voice (Actv 4.4)The Mouth, Nose & Throat Doctor

andThinking about my voice (Actv 4.7)

Me and my voice

Cambridge Handbooks for Language Teachers

Working with/from scenes• Group orchestration of

texts (Actvs 4.17 & 4.11)• ‘Where did you get that

hat!?’ (Actv 5.9)• Mix & mingle (Actv

1.32)

A word is deadWhen it is said,

Some say.I say it just

Begins to liveThat day.

Emily Dickinson Complete Poems: Random House, 1924.

Drama techniques as communication

activities in language learning

Cambridge Handbooks for Language Teachers

Drama TechniquesA resource book of

communication activites for language

teachersThird Edition

byAlan Maley & Alan Duff

Gary AndersonCambridge ELT

ganderson@cup.fr

‘A roomful of human beings’