Selection & Adaptation of Plays

SHAHIRA, THIYYA, SHARIFAH, LIYANA

GROUP 3

SELECTION &

ADAPTATION of

PLAYS

LGA 3104

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT to SELECT &

ADAPT THE SUITABLE PLAY for

CHILDREN?

children experience their ESL classroom as : a fun and safe environment

begin to understand the basics of performing it is time to introduce them to the real thing.

Choosing the right play is important age

language level of your students ensure that the lines spoken in the play are in keeping with the particular language areas you

are teaching at the time.

CRITERIA for SELECTION

& ADAPTATION

for PRIMARY SCHOOL

LEARNERS

short & repetitive

CRITERIA for SELECTION & ADAPTATION for PRIMARY SCHOOL LEARNERS

designed to involve the whole group

small or

big

CRITERIA for SELECTION & ADAPTATION for PRIMARY SCHOOL LEARNERS

combine fun and movement with language usage carefully planned to provide optimal speaking practice

in real life contexts.

CRITERIA for SELECTION & ADAPTATION for PRIMARY SCHOOL LEARNERS

CRITERIA for SELECTION & ADAPTATION for PRIMARY SCHOOL LEARNERS

Roles should be assigned according to your students' language ability levels. 

* Children who are more capable and more confident

more lines

*shyer children (limited vocabulary)

fewer linesrepeat lines

speak as part of a group.

Every play can be used for any number of children. 

 * In a one to one situation where : 

the teacher takes one role the pupils takes the other lines

CRITERIA for SELECTION & ADAPTATION for PRIMARY SCHOOL LEARNERS

The beauty of this is that if a child does not show up to rehearsal or even to the final

performance it does not bring the whole show to a halt.

Some of the lines in the play may be optional. Edit these freely to suit your needs,

based on the main idea.

CRITERIA for SELECTION & ADAPTATION for PRIMARY SCHOOL LEARNERS

Keep the script simple

* develop it further * modify it

How to get started with ESL plays?

How to get started with ESL plays?

help the children relax encourage them to use their imagination

help them become more confident

For all students, no matter what level they may be on, the emphasis should be on speaking, acting and movement, not on reading lines.

TESL 2

Pre-teach the vocabulary first.

   songs chant the words

stamp out the syllables act them out individually

( this is really fun when using words describing emotions and actions)

How to get started with ESL plays?

TESL 2

Now teach the key phrases

  practicing the lines in the play short sentences can also be practised in games

 (The idea is not to have individual children word-perfect in their 

own roles but to let the whole class experience using the sentences and vocabulary in context)

How to get started with ESL plays?

TESL 2

Rehearse

Only when all the children know the key words and lines of the play should you put together all

the elements of : *words

*expression *movement

Allow the children to use their own creativity in setting the scene, deciding on props, costumes etc.

How to get started with ESL plays?

TESL 2

Keep props simple

using the "less is more" principle

How to get started with ESL plays?

TESL 2

TECHNIQUES for SELECTING TEXT

& SCRIPT WRITING

Change the script of the playUse repetition

Simplify the scriptUse action throughout the scriptScripts are appropriate with the

levelStudents are familiar with the

script

TECHNIQUES for SELECTING TEXT & SCRIPT WRITING

TESL 2

Consider their prior knowledgeSentences and words are simple

Tends to remember actionsRelates with the syllabus and

curriculum specification Begin by using with yourself

Easy to rememberRelate the script with a specific topic

TECHNIQUES for SELECTING TEXT & SCRIPT WRITING

TESL 2

Theme of the play should be interesting and related to the

surrounding of the pupils.

Storyline of the script must be clear and easy to understand by the

pupils.

Script may contains some characters to be played by the pupils during the

play.

TESL 2

The script should not too long or too short.

Dialogues must be simple and easy to memorize by

the pupils.

Vocabulary used in the script should be simple.

TESL 2

Writing a playscript

TESL 2

Mel: Ooh its so cold out here, do you think it might rain?

Sid: (Shrugs his shoulders) Don’t know.

Mel: Not very talkative tonight are you? What’s up?

Sid: (Huffs and stretches legs out) Don’t know..

Mel: I was thinking about my holiday, (looks up to the sky) all that sun and luxury.

Sid: Don’t know what for, it isn't ever going to happen.

It is a dark, cold night and Mel and Sid are sitting on a green park bench. The street lights are dim and the sound of the traffic can just be heard in the background.

Setting of the scene

It is a dark, cold night and Mel and Sid are sitting on a green park bench. The street lights are dim and the sound of the traffic can just be heard in the background.

Mel: Ooh its so cold out here, do you think it might rain?Sid: (Shrugs his shoulders) Don't know.Mel: Not very talkative tonight are you? What’s up?Sid: (Huffs and stretches legs out) Don't know.Mel: I was thinking about my holiday, (looks up to the sky) all that sun and luxury.Sid: Don't know what for, it isn't ever going to happen. Characters, when they speak you don’t need speech marks!

TESL 2

It is a dark, cold night and Mel and Sid are sitting on a green park bench. The street lights are dim and the sound of the traffic can just be heard in the background.

Mel: Ooh its so cold out here, do you think it might rain?Sid: (Shrugs his shoulders) Don't know.Mel: Not very talkative tonight are you? What’s up?Sid: (Huffs and stretches legs out) Don't know.Mel: I was thinking about my holiday, (looks up to the sky) all that sun and luxury.Sid: Don't know what for, it isn't ever going to happen.

Stage directions, tell the actors what to do on stage.TESL 2

It is a dark, cold night and Mel and Sid are sitting on a green park bench. The street lights are dim and the sound of the traffic can just be heard in the background.Mel: Ooh its so cold out here, do you think it might rain?Sid: (Shrugs his shoulders) Don't know.Mel: Not very talkative tonight are you? What’s up?Sid: (Huffs and stretches legs out) Don't know.Mel: I was thinking about my holiday, (looks up to the sky) all that sun and luxury.Sid: Don't know what for, it isn't ever going to happen.

What the actors say. (Dialogue.) TESL 2

List of characters:

Mother: a fussy young lady, wearing an apron 

Red Riding Hood: a little girl who wears a red cloak with a hood. Kind and helpful.

Grandma: An old lady who is ill Wolf:Woodcutter:

TESL 2

Set the sceneIn the kitchen, Mother packing a basket on the kitchen table,

whilst Red Riding Hood puts on her cape.        Now the script (directions in brackets)Mother: (Firmly) Be sure to carry the basket carefully       

so as not to damage the cakes.RRH:    (Kindly) Of course mother, they are so         

prettily decorated. I wouldn’t want to spoil       them.Mother: You know the way? We’ve been so             

many times together, you should do.

Title

TESL 2

 RRH:    Yes, mother I know the way.Mother: Be sure to keep to the path now, don’t wander off and get 

lost.RRH:    No mother. I’ll keep to the path.Mother: And don’t talk to any strangers.RRH:    I won’t. (As an aside to the audience.) Not that there is ever 

any one in the woods.Mother: (Giving the basket to RRH and kissing her on the cheek)  

Do  be careful, and give Grandma my love won’t you. Tell her I’ll be along tomorrow to see that she’s alright.

RRH:   (With hand on door handle, turning to face mother)     I’ll be back before you know it. Bye!

Mother: Bye love! Take care! (Quietly to self) I do hope she’ll be O.K. I don’t like her being in those woods all alone. You never know what might happen.

TESL 2

SHAHIRA, THIYYA, SHARIFAH, LIYANA