Drama as a Tool for teaching English as a foreign language.
30 contact hours Course
Tutor: Patrick Vella
MA (Education Studies), MA (Theatre Directing), BA Hons (Perf. Arts), Cert. (Theatre Studies), LTCL (Applied Drama), TESOL (American Institute)
This course is open to anybody but has obvious appeal to Teachers and ESL professionals. It is the perfect course for TESOL/TEFL Graduates to jump-start or revitalize their careers. It is taught during the two weeks after the completion of every 4 - Week TESOL/TEFL course. If you select Package A, after completing your course you may want to stay on for 2 additional weeks and complete this course. If you opt for Package B, you may wish to do this course after you finish the 4 - Week TEFL course and commence your volunteer placement at the same time or you may wish to commence your volunteer placement after you finish this course, it is entirely up to you.
Using drama to teach English results in real communication involving ideas, emotions, feelings appropriateness and adaptability; in short an opportunity to use language in operation which is absent in a conventional language class. Such activities add to the teachers' repertoire of pedagogic strategies giving them a wider option of learner-centered activities to chose from for classroom teaching, thereby augmenting their efficiency in teaching English.
Benefits of Using Drama in the Language Classroom
Many a times the teaching of English language falls short of fulfilling its goals. Even after years of English teaching, the learners do not gain the confidence of using the language in and outside the class. Their output in the language is limited to writing run-of-the-mill answers for literature chapters and producing grammatically accurate, but, isolated sentences. Real communication involves ideas, emotions, feelings, appropriateness and adaptability. The conventional English class hardly gives the learners an opportunity to use language sin this manner and develop fluency in it. Thus, the main purpose of the language teaching course, i.e., developing skills in communication, is unfortunately,neglected.
An attractive alternative is teaching language through drama because it gives a context for listening and meaningful language production, forcing the learners to use their language resources and, thus, enhancing their linguistic abilities. It provides situations for reading and writing. It is very useful in teaching literary texts as it helps in analyzing plot, character and style. It also involves learners more positively and actively in the text.
Syllabus
1.Day one – Warmers
What are warmers, how to use them in a class room environment.
Introducing various warmers for adults and for children.
Using warmers as a leap to your lesson.
Simulations.
2.Day Two – Questioning in Role (Hot Seating) – Augusto Boal Method.
What is Hot Seating?
What is a Role?
Do you need to be an actor to play a role?
Introducing the book, Games for Actors and Non Actors by Augusto Boal.
3.Day Three – Using stimuli for an effective classroom
What is a stimulus?
Materials for stimulus.
Creating properties
Finding properties relevant to your lesson plan
Adapting to the occasion
Making props
4.Day Four – Mantle of the Expert
What is mantle of the expert?
Arranging the classroom to turn into an Invisible Stage
Invisible Acting – make believe!
Introducing Dorothy Heathcote and Brian Waye theories
5.Day Five – Using pieces of Costumes in Games
Introducing Drama Games –
Workshops for life!
Shadow Theatre and Puppetry in ESL
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY – FREE
Day Six – Teaching Practice using Drama and feedback
Day Seven – Teaching Practice using Drama and Feedback –
(Afternoon) Introducing Theatre in Education – Devising a show for your class.
Day eight – Rehearsals all day
Day Nine – Rehearsals all day
Day Ten – Show for children –
Afternoon – Course ends.
The cost for this course is 600 GBP
2. Teaching General Business English (20 hours)
This course is particularly suited to Island TEFL students that choose our package B volunteer placement offering and opt for volunteer placements exclusively in local resorts, hotels and other resorts or in addition to volunteer placements in local schools.
There tends to be a large demand for instructors of Business English in major cities and tourist resorts. It should come as no surprise that this is perhaps the most lucrative paying teaching segment within the TEFL industry.
By the end of this course you will have the proficiency and confidence that will enable you to seek out jobs and teach within the teaching Business English sector. Some teachers choose to specialise in this area but many others choose to teach in language centers and schools and are happy to boost their income by picking up short term Business English teaching contracts.
The course covers such topics as Business Writing, for emails, memos, faxes and letters. Business Communications, such as inter and intra company contact, speaking on the phone, placing orders, holding meetings and making effective presentations. Customer Service and Socializing in a business context.
The course is open to anybody. The schedule is flexible and will be arranged for you after you arrive for your Island TEFL training course. The normal cost for this course is only 190 GBP and you will receive a certificate of successful course completion. This is a very worthwhile investment in your future teaching career.
3. Thai language course
This course is open to anybody but preference will be given to Island TEFL students. If you are serious about learning how to speak Thai, this course is ideal. The schedule is flexible. For example you could do two hours every Saturday, or half an hour Monday through Friday. This course focuses on conversation but for the more advanced student, reading and writing courses can be arranged.
The cost is very reasonable and depends on how many people are in the group. The fees and schedule will be arranged for those who are interested after you arrive for your Island TEFL course.
