How can you use drama to enhance language learning for your ESL students?

3 How to introduce drama activities

To introduce drama activities to your ESL students, you should start by explaining the purpose and benefits of drama and how it relates to language learning. Additionally, it is important to clarify the expectations and rules of conduct for the drama activities, such as respecting each other, listening carefully, and speaking clearly. To warm up your students, you can use icebreakers, games, or exercises that activate their prior knowledge, stimulate their imagination, and build their rapport. For instance, they can mime different actions, emotions, or professions, or form groups based on common words or categories. You should also model the drama activities yourself or with a co-teacher or student volunteer. This will help them understand how to use the language, gestures, and expressions appropriate for the drama activities and how to handle any difficulties or mistakes.

4 How to conduct drama activities

When conducting drama activities with your ESL students, you should provide clear instructions and guidance, and check students' understanding. To ensure your students are engaged in the activity, vary the types and formats of the activities, and give them some choice and autonomy. Sources of inspiration like pictures, songs, stories, or news articles can be used to create different modes of presentation such as pairs, groups, or whole class. Encourage your students to be creative, expressive, and collaborative by asking them to create their own characters, scenarios, or dialogues or adapt existing ones. Additionally, they can give and receive feedback from their peers or reflect on their own performance.

5 How to follow up drama activities

To follow up drama activities with your ESL students, you should review and consolidate the language and content covered. This can be done by asking your students to recall, summarize, or write down what they learned, or to complete exercises or quizzes that reinforce the target language. Celebrate and showcase your students' achievements and progress by praising them for their efforts and improvements, or rewarding them with certificates, badges, or stickers. You can also display or share their work, such as scripts, posters, or videos, with other students, teachers, or parents. Additionally, evaluate and reflect on the effectiveness and impact of the drama activities by asking your students to complete surveys, questionnaires, or journals that elicit their opinions, feelings, and suggestions. Analyze the data and feedback collected to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the drama activities as well as how to improve them in the future.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?