The Use of Drama in ELT - for Geltus Project

T H E U S E O F D R A M A I N E LT

D Ö N D Ü H . Ç E L E B İG A Z İ Ü N İ V E R S İ T E S İ

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MENU

1.1 What is Drama?

1.2 Why Use Drama in ELT

1.3 Pros and Cons of Using Drama in ELT

1.4 Disadvantages, but...

1.5 Suggestions

1.6 Conclusion

1.7 Any Question?

WHAT İS DRAMA?

W H AT D I D T H E Y S AY

Drama is doing. Drama is being. Drama is such a normal thing.

(Charlyn Wessels, 1987)

Drama heightened self-esteem, motivation, spontaneity,

increased capacity for empathy, and lowered sensitivity

to rejection. All these facilitate communication and

provide an appropriate psycholinguistic climate for

language learning. (Susan Stern, 1980)

As an educational tool, the use of drama fosters the

social, intellectual and the linguistic development of

the child (Dougill, 1987).

WHY USE DRAMA IN ELT?

To give learners an experience (dry-

run) of using the language for

genuine communication and real-life

purposes; and by generating a need

to speak

To make language learning an active,

motivating experience

WHY USE DRAMA IN ELT?

To help learners gain the confidence and

self-esteem needed to use the language

spontaneously

To bring the real world into the

classroom (problem-solving, research,

consulting dictionaries, real time & pace,

cross-curricular content)

WHY USE DRAMA IN ELT?

To emulate the way children naturally

acquire language through play, make-believe

and meaningful interaction

To make what is learned memorable through

direct experience and affect (emotions)for

learners with different learning styles

WHY USE DRAMA IN ELT?

To stimulate learners’ intellect and

imagination

To develop students’ ability to empathize

with others and thus become better

communicators

Helps learners acquire language by

focusing on the message they are

conveying, not the form of their utterances

PROS AND CONS OF DRAMA USING IN ELT

PROS Stimulates authentic

conversations

Is a fluency activity

Is suitable for consolidation

Creates sensitivity and a sense

of awareness

PROS

A break from routine

Prepare students for real life and

unpredictability

Increases motivation

CONS

Activity is artificial

Activities are difficult to monitor

Causes embarrassment

Encourages incorrect forms

CONSHas cultural bias

Teachers' fear of losing control

Spontaneity is lost

Timing lessons is difficult

Activities may not be suitable

for all levels

DİSADVANTAGES, BUT...

The above disadvantages however can be solved

if careful thought and planning could be given

before the activities are used in the classroom. The

teacher himself must be convinced of the effective

use of these activities if he wants to encourage

students to have a positive attitude towards these

novel ideas in language learning.

SUGGESTIONS FOR TEACHERS

Choose the right activity!

Give spesific feedback to your children!

Start small!

Control the classroom!

Let them participate your side

( Language )

CONCLUSION

The use of drama activities (role-play and

simulation) in TESL can be used as an innovative

method in language teaching. However, it should

not be used in isolation but should be used in an

integrated approach for language teaching. It

should not be treated as a 'last resort' when all

else fails. It should be part and parcel of the

communicative classroom methodology in

teaching English as a second language.

ANY QUESTION?

THANK YOU!