Teaching English Through Drama Activities

1.Introduction

A.Why drama activities?
In my English class,I generally have about 50 students who possess different English abilities.
The varying ability levels cause me to think about a teaching method involves and motivates
all of my students.A chinese proverb says,"I hear and I forget,I listen and I remember,I do and
I understand.".Students learn English by doing in drama activities because they involve action.
Word assosiation with action make students have a better understanding of what they are learning.
And they are encouraged to speak English and develop creativities as well as experience certain
situations.Also by acting out,many students gain self-cinfidence in speaking English,and English
class becomes more interesting and active.

B.The Importance of drama activities in teaching English
1.Drama activities enable students to review the lesson through dramatization.Students consolidate
information and learning is made into activity.Also even a shy student can participate and take on a role.
2.Drama activities involve action.Acting out a play requires students' physical as well as mental
involvement.Moreover,drama provides a physical release from the constraints of having to sit in
a chair for 45 minutes.The numbness of the body can easily lead to the numbness of the mind,
especially in young students.Standing up and moving can make students active both physically and mentally.
3.Drama activities can unlock the students' own feelings empathy with the person or the situation.
They can stimulate students' imaginations and their lntellects.Practicing and preparing the play is
greatly rewarding, for the chances to think and speak in English are increased.
4.Drama activities are one solution to the problems of large classes,for pair and group work can cater
to any number of students.During the stage presentation,students are more likely to be attentive because of interest in the performance of their peers.

II Application

1.English classroom,English  nickname
Having an English name in English classroom and using it as much as possible gives students
an English mind-set.During the first week of English classes in March,students choose their own English name and use it in every class.
2.Brainstorming Play
This invloves building up a short situation from one word.
(cue word-word association-conversation with gesture-writing)
3.One-minute dramatization
In any textbook,there are many dialogue.However,some dialogues cannot evoke students interest.
I made the term,so that the students can make their own 'one-minute drama'.They add one or
two sentences before and after the dialogue.They can change some words in the dialogue if they want to do.At the same time,they insert some directions in Korean.I find having them write directions
in their mother tongue makes them more comfortable.When they are forced to speak and write only
in English,it can sometimes be a burden.
4.Read and Look up + Prompter
Students read their lines,fixing them in their mind,then looking up and saying them to their partner.
When using the read-and -look-up method in my class,one students is standing while the other is
sittting.Or sometimes both of them stand and talk using proper gesture.My students enjoyed doing this because it gives certain variety to English class.An alternative to use a prompter.In group of three( or four) with two of them trying out the dialogue and the third (and fourth) checking their dialogue and correcting errors.They can alternate their roles and continue in their own words.This fosters peer correction and co-operation.
5.Role-simulation
I tell students certain roles and the situation,and they try to assume their roles and improvise a dialogue.Body language or gestures are also used there.
6.Using dramatized Fairy Tale
Using authentic material is very helpful to the students because by practicing it,they can improve their fluency and learn the exact expressions suitable to the real situation.
7.Using Cartoons
Students like cartoons.Usually there are words there.I used the cartoons with open bubbles and let them imagine the situation and create a conversation.They can mimic the gestures in cartoons.
8.Textbook dramatization
In my English class,students write a play script and act it out at the end of certain lessons.In order to do this activity,I divide my students into groups.If possible,I give my students 3~5 minutes to plan and discuss and write their own script based on the lesson.For this,I made some basic rules:
Rule 1.it should be fun and interesting.
While one group is performing,the others are the audoience.If the play is not exciting,the audience don't listen or concentrate on it.Rule 1 was made so that wevery student would listen to what's happening in the other groups' play.
Rule 2.Each student in each group should say at least one line.
I made this rule so that every students can have the opportunity to speak in front of the class.Many students told me that they gained self confidence through this experience.
Rule 3.The performing time should be about 3 minutes but less than 5 minutes.
Rule 4.Then can use any genre-commercials,drama,game shows or comedy.
9.Enperiencing Cultural Differences
During th team-teaching session with a native instructor,my students wrote a play about the New Year's Day.The good thing of acting out in team-teaching was the students could understand the cultural differences 

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