Using Drama Techniques and Activities In The

Classroom

Why teacher use drama activities in the classroom?

1. To give learners an experience of using the language2. To make language learning an active motivating experience.3. To help learners gain the confidence and self esteem needed to use the language spontaneously4. To bring the real world into the classroom.5. To emulate the ways students naturally acquire language through play, make believe and meaningful interaction.

.6. To make what is learnt memorable through direct experience and affect (emotion)7. When students dramatize they use all the channels.8. To stimulate learners intellect and imagination.9. To develop students ability to empathize with others.10. Help learners acquire language by focusing on the message they are conveying.

Drama Techniques

Drama Games- starter activities/to warm up brains and

bodies.

Narrative – exploring the stages of a story, process or event

Character- exploring characters

Stylisation – freeze frames, slow motion, mime and sound

effect

Analogies- ‘to put it another way’

Dilemmas and options – demonstrating choice and opinion

Teacher in role and using props- teacher assume the role of

a fictional or real life character using real or imagined objects

to re-enact events.

Drama Activities

1. Mime

A non verbal presentation of an idea or story

through gestures , body movement and expressions.

Example: working in pairs or small group, students are given

topic to work on which are to form the basis of three

minutes mime.( an accident at the bus stop). 5 minutes are

allowed for preparing and rehearsing. Students perform their

mime intern and after each performance the teacher ask the

class to interpret what it has been.

2. Role Play

A method for exploring issues involved in complex

social situation.

Types of Role Play

1. Dramatic play

2. Story dramatization and socio drama

3. Seminar style presentation

4. Debates

5. interview

3. Stimulation

A stimulation activity is one where the

learners discuss a problem within a defined setting

in stimulation activities. The students are either playing

themselves or someone else.

Example : buying a ticket at a bus stop

4. Improvisation

As an unscripted , unrehearsal, spontaneous

set of action in response of minima directions from a

teacher, useful including of whom one is, where one is

and what one is doing there. Could involved the whole

class or in a small group.

Example: a situation at the market where some are the

buyers and some are the sellers.

5. Masks

Using masks to ‘feel’ the character. Pupils

potray themselves as the character without having to

‘become’ the character.

Example : wearing animals mask

Role of the Teacher

Teacher becomes a facilitator rather than an authority

or the source of knowledge. The class become more a

learners - centred rather than a teacher centred.

Preparing and planning activities:

• Gives clear instructions

• Provide ample time for pupils to practice

Thank you…