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Role-play and
Drama:
Getting our students to speak
in English Laura E. García F.
“Language spoken or written with conviction and with a
true purpose and audience is the type of language teaches
are always looking for” (Robbie et al. 2001)
Drama is essential in the development of the child, enhancing cognitive, affective and motor development.
But, why should we, as English teachers, use it for language development?
1. Drama requires group work, so students learn from their peers new structures, words or expressions, whist bring out those they were unaware they knew by being so involved in the process and trying to be understood (because we expect them to communicate in English).
2. Instead of having to memorize or repeat unnatural set phrases, drama facilitates spontaneous learning in a more
contextualized environment. This way, the students learn how to use language as a cognitive instrument.
3. After dramatising a story, children will often find a related reading or writing activity more stimulating and achievable because they have acted out situations and have a greater understanding of the text.
How can we use drama inthe English classroom?
1. When working on a story text, using role-play to explore situations,
characters and emotions with improvisation2. Making and using puppets, masks and props. This will also encourage the more
reluctant speakers to participate 3. Using pretend telephones to
develop dialogues 5. Asking them to choose their favourite
story read in class and turn it into a play
Free images taken from the following websites:
• http://www.photorack.net• http://www.freedigitalphotos.net• http://www.ltscotland.org.uk
Thank you!