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FLAVA Conference 2014 – Language Matters
Drama Techniques: A Powerful Tool in Language Learning
Dr. Mónica Mulholland, Ph.D.Department of Modern and Classical Languages
The Truth about Languages
KNOWLEDGE OF GRAMMAR
KNOWLEDGE OF VOCABULARY
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Foreign Language Teaching TRADITIONAL TEACHER CENTERED GRAMMAR & VOCABULARY
DRILLS MEMORIZATION STUDY FOR THE TEST FOCUS ON ACCURACY AT
THE EXPENSE OF A COMMUNICATIVE PURPOSE
CONTEMPORARY/FLIPPED STUDENT CENTERED COMMUNICATION RISK TAKING & SPONTANEITY DO SOMETHING IN THE
LANGUAGE FOCUS ON PERFORMANCE
Example of traditional teacher-student interaction
What is he doing?
An obvious question that encourages the production of a predictable answer.
The result?
BOREDOM & PAIN
Drama Techniques Are language teaching techniques derived from
acting training. Engage the whole person: body, voice, mind,
and emotions Boost self-confidence Draw on the imagination Promote interpersonal interaction and intra-
personal skills such as reflection and introspection
Relate to real life
Drama TechniquesGo beyond grammar and vocabulary to engage higher-order thinking skills such as problem solving and interpretation.
Crucial XXI Century Skills
Drama TechniquesIn using children’s games as an approach to drama training, one gets completely away from the concept of teaching someone a set of skills he or she does not possess, and knows does not possess, all of which produces anxiety. Through games, one goes back to the root processes of learning, which are generally associated with pleasure, and often delight, and which, in most cases, were free from anxiety. This method substitutes for the pain of learning the joy of re-discovery. With plenty of practice in this method, the actor or the actress is lead to the optimum use of his or her mind and body resources (Clive Barker).
Warm-up games The yarn web
A True-to-life Find Someone who…
The name-game
The Layers of the Onion
Lights, camera, action!
1. Roles2. Setting: place & time3. Props4. Actions5. Conflict???
Bibliography Barker, Clive, and Dick McCaw. Theatre Games: A New Approach to
Drama Training. London: Methuen Drama, 2010. Print. Bowen, Jose A. Teaching Naked: How Moving Technology Out of Your
College Classroom Will Improve Student Learning. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, a Wiley imprint, 2012. Print.
Jensen, Eric. Teaching with the Brain in Mind. Alexandria, Va: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 2005. Print.
Maley, Alan, and Alan Duff. Drama Techniques in Language Learning: A Resource Book of Communication Activities for Language Teachers. Cambridge: CUP, 1982. Print.
Winston, Joe. Second Language Learning Through Drama: Practical Techniques and Applications. London: Routledge, 2012. Print.
