Why use drama activities?

Using drama and drama activities has clear advantages for language learning. It encourages children to speak and gives them the chance to communicate, even with limited language, using non-verbal communication, such as body movements and facial expressions. There are also a number of other factors which make a drama a very powerful tool in the language classroom. Try thinking about the ways in which reading a dialogue aloud from a textbook is different from acting out that same dialogue. You will find that the list is a long one. This is because drama involves children at many levels, through their bodies, minds, emotions, language, and social interaction.

            Source: PHILLIPS, S. Drama with children, Oxford.

Motivation

Dramatizing a text is very motivating and it is fun. In addition, the same activity can be done at different levels at the same time, which means that all the children can do it successfully. The end product, the performance, is clear and so children feel safe, and have a goal to work towards. Children are motivated if they know that one or two groups will be asked to show what they have done, or if they are being videoed or putting on a public performance.

            Source: PHILLIPS, S. Drama with children, Oxford.

The Enormous Turnip

The Enormous Turnip is a super simple story for children learning English as a second language.

Instead of using a book to read, we prefer flashcards where teachers or parents are free to adapt the language used according to the skills of children.