Teaching English through Drama/Theatre

Abstract

Over the years specialists of foreign/second language teaching around the world have been experimenting with various teaching tools and techniques to support variety of learning styles and get students involved in the learning process. Two of the approaches in language teaching; Educational Drama and Content-Based Instruction has long been a part of curriculum worldwide and proved to be valuable educational tools, not only in language pedagogy, but in many different areas and disciplines.In the frameworks of this paper, design and implementation of drama-based course with integrated skills and content-based elements is presented. The paper is divided into two main parts. The first part presents the related literature, both on Content-based and Drama-based instructions, the concepts of educational drama,content-based instruction,methods and techniques, and their use in English Language Teaching. Benefits, as well as pedagogical implications of the aforementioned approachesare presented and discussed in theoretical part.The second part is more of a practical nature. Design, implementation and evaluation of the course are presented. Course deliverables including course syllabus, course goals and objectives, assessment plan, learning plan, detailed lesson plans with practical exercises and materials, as well as final reflections on course and recommendations are also included in the second part. The course has been designed to offer alternatives to traditional forms of teaching in Armenia, as well as to provide Armenian EFL learners an opportunity to learn in less “artificial” and more authentic-like learning environment and thus enhance their communicative competence, as well as creativity, imagination and self-confidenceThe course was piloted with intermediate-level students at the Experimental English Classes of the American University of Armenia. The age of the students ranged between 12 and 16. The results of course evaluation showed that, overall, it was a successful course and met the goals and objectives set during the course design stage.