10 Methods to Incorporate Drama in the ESL Classroom
What does drama have to do with ESL?
Drama is about dialogue, about language, and interacting
with others in specific “scenes” with appropriate language
--all activities we as teachers try to get our students to engage in.
with others in specific “scenes” with appropriate language
--all activities we as teachers try to get our students to engage in.
Reasons for Incorporating Drama in the
ESL Classroom
Drama can be a valuable teaching tool. It gets students up
and moving around and interacting with each other. It’s
particularly appealing to kinesthetic learners but can be used
successfully for all learners. It also contextualizes language,
making real and three-dimensional that which is on the printed page.
and moving around and interacting with each other. It’s
particularly appealing to kinesthetic learners but can be used
successfully for all learners. It also contextualizes language,
making real and three-dimensional that which is on the printed page.
Students will improve the speaking and listening skills in performing
scenes and also their writing skills through such activities as
dialogue writing. Drama also teaches the “pragmatics” of
language, how we appropriately use language to get something
done, like make a request. Finally, drama promotes class
bonding: in drama classes, there is usually a great deal of comradery.
scenes and also their writing skills through such activities as
dialogue writing. Drama also teaches the “pragmatics” of
language, how we appropriately use language to get something
done, like make a request. Finally, drama promotes class
bonding: in drama classes, there is usually a great deal of comradery.
Methods for Incorporating Drama in the ESL Class
- 1Act out the DialogueOne of the easiest ways to incorporate drama in the classroom
is to have students act out the dialogue from their textbooks.
Simply pair them up, have them choose roles, then work
together to act out the dialogue, figuring out for themselves
the “blocking,” or stage movements. This is effective for a
beginning activity of incorporating drama in the classroom. - 2Perform Reader’s TheaterAnother good beginning exercise is to do Reader’s Theater.
Hand out copies of a short or one-act play, have students
choose roles, and then read the play from their seats without
acting it out. However, do encourage them to read dramatically,
modeling as necessary. - 3Act out the StoryIf students are reading a short story such as “The Chaser,”
about the man who buys a “love potion” for his unrequited
love, have students act out the story or part of the story,
working in groups and assigning roles and determining
the blocking. This is particularly effective with
“short-shorts”: brief, one-scene stories with limited characters. - 4Write the Dialogue for a SceneWatch a brief clip of a movie without the sound on. Have students
write the dialogue for it and act it out.
More Advanced Activities
- Once students have had some experience with the basics of character,
- dialogue, and stage movement, they can move on to some more
- advanced dramatics, involving more of students’ own creativity
- and critical thinking skills.
- 1Act out and Put Words to an EmotionGive students an emotion, such as “anger” or “fear”. Have
students, either singly or in groups, first act out that emotion
then put words to the emotion. - 2Give “Voice” to an Inanimate ObjectWhat would a stapler say if it could talk? Or an apple?
Have students write monologues with inanimate
objects as the character. A monologue is a short scene
with just one character talking, either addressing the
audience, God, or himself or herself. Hamlet’s “To Be
or Not to Be” soliloquy might also be termed a monologue,
for example.After writing them, students can read the monologues aloud. - 3Create a CharacterHave students develop a character, writing a one-page
profile on the character’s background, appearance, personality,
etc. Have them introduce the character to the class,
explaining what interests them about their character. - 4Write a MonologueUsing the character they’ve already developed, have students
write a monologue for that character then perform it. - 5Mime and DubbingHave students act out short scenes without dialogue. The rest
of the class then supplies the dialogue, developing the “script.” - 6ImprovisePut students in groups of two or three, and assign the characters
and the situation to the groups, perhaps using 3x5 index cards.
Give a time limit of two to three minutes per scene. Students
go from there, extemporaneously creating the dialogue and
movement themselves.
Drama is an effective tool that can be used to promote interaction and language skills in the
ESL classroom as well as create a class
bonding experience.
With careful planning, use of drama can enhance your English
classroom curriculum.
classroom curriculum.
