cheap Cheap Soccer Uniform The Benefits of using Drama with Kids Learning English_0 discount Tottenham Hotspur Soccer Jersey
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Introduction
It’s unlikely that anybody would disagree that discount Tottenham Hotspur Soccer Jersey probably the most efficient method to teach ESL kids would be to provide them with opportunities to learn English in the context of everyday situations using the emphasis on communicational Manchester City Soccer Jersey cheap abilities.
By discount Feyenoord Rotterdam Jersey the end of this write-up wholesale Sao Paulo Soccer Jersey I’m certain which cheap Dutch Soccer Jersey you will agree that drama will be the perfect technique to make use of to achieve this.
A few of the aspects we will probably be searching at include:
* Children’s natural proclivity for drama and some of the factors
* Why teachers are nevertheless hesitant to use this method of teaching
* The role drama can play in language learning
* The issue of motivating kids to learn and how wholesale Mexico Soccer Jersey drama can help
* Choosing suitable plays
* Some suggestions for preparation & performance
Drama and children – a winning Fluminense RJ Soccer Jersey discount combination
Anybody who has worked with young children knows that they learn chiefly by exploring their world utilizing their imagination and engaging in pretend play. The link between imaginative, or cheap AS Monaco Soccer Jersey pretend play, and language is particularly strong. Communicational and conversational abilities develop as children develop scenarios (“this is our house, and this will be the baby, she is just born and she has to sleep now”); assign roles and direct the action (“I’ll be Kid Long Sleeve Soccer Uniform cheap the mommy and I’m going shopping. You’re the daddy; you have to go to work!”) and slip “in and out of multiple roles” (“now its my turn to be the teacher “).
This imaginary play gives the child an understanding of the power of language and, by including others Dortmund Soccer Jersey wholesale in his games, he learns wholesale Germany Soccer Jersey that words make it possible for him to tell a story Flamengo Soccer Jersey wholesale or organize a game. Church, within the importance of pretend play, points out that this process plays an important part in helping the child “make the connection between spoken and written language” Acknowledging the importance of this aspect of a child’s development, most preschool and kindergarten classrooms include a dramatic play area where kids can act out their fantasies.
The combination of imagination and studying, however, need not wholesale FC Porto Soccer Jersey be confined to pre-school kids. For older children drama provides practical experience in communicating, both written and oral, gives them the opportunity to learn to work together, to develop tolerance and empathy as they begin to discount PSV Eindhoven Soccer Jersey see the world from different perspectives, and promotes active learning, enriching and reinforcing their more traditional school experiences. So, when it comes to teaching English as a second language, no matter the age of the student, drama and kids are still a winning combination.
Axing the arguments against
Despite its obvious advantages many Wolfsburg Soccer Jersey wholesale teachers Flamengo Soccer Jerseys are wary of trying to introduce drama in the Malaga CF Soccer Jerseys classroom. This is particularly so among the cheap Werder Bermen Soccer Jersey more traditional of us who feel that teaching cannot take place without a textbook in hand. These teachers, and many parents, see drama as ‘play’ and, as we all know, learning English is hard work! Yet one of the findings of a cheap Galatasaray Soccer Jersey three-year study Teaching Literacy through Art showed that including arts education increases Stuttgart Soccer Jersey fundamental literacy abilities in elementary school students. Students involved discount Dortmund Soccer Jersey in these programmes also “scored higher on �� expression, risk-taking, creativity, imagination and cooperative studying.”
Another common fear, particularly among younger and less experienced teachers is that of losing control of the class and many confuse the discount Benfica Soccer Jersey ‘busy buzz’ of involved children with rowdiness.
A further argument which I have frequently encountered is lack of time. “The curriculum is too full, there is not enough time to fit everything in, I couldn’t possibly add drama as well.” This argument is easily overcome when teachers realize that drama is not an addition, but a technique of teaching. Finally there are those retiring souls who exclaim, “I couldn’t possibly use drama, I can’t act!” Colleagues, it is the kids who are going to act, and they are experts!
Drama and language
But instead Manchester City Soccer Jersey wholesale of AC Milan Soccer Jersey wholesale lingering over the ‘why-not’ of drama, let’s look at the ‘why’, and, in particular, why we should use drama for teaching English. First of all, it’s authentic. Using drama enables children to use English appropriately in real conversations, expressing emotions West Ham United Soccer Jersey cheap and ideas and listening to the feelings and ideas of their peers. In other words, English is taught within the context in which it will probably be used, which is far removed from lists of vocabulary and work-sheets and which makes students aware of the language first and foremost as a means of communication.
This conversational use of cheap FC Porto Soccer Jersey language promotes fluency. While Kid Soccer Uniform wholesale studying a play, kids are encouraged to listen to, potentially read and then repeat their lines over a period of time. By repeating the words and phrases they become familiar with them and are able MLS Soccer Jersey wholesale to say them with increasing fluency. In addition, drama also Schalke 04 Soccer Jersey cheap teaches them to enunciate their Everton Soccer Jersey cheap words properly and Houston Dynamo Soccer Jerseys to project their voices when they speak, helping them to become clear and confident speakers. Using drama to teach English also helps to improve the understanding and retention of a cheap MLS Soccer Jersey word. By the time Women Soccer Jersey cheap a child has read, rehearsed and acted out a scene focusing on the word ‘frustrated’, for example, there is little likelihood of ever forgetting it. The same discount Toronto FC Soccer Jersey would not hold true if the word had been memorised by rote for a vocabulary test.
Obviously, then, the active participation required in a drama lesson involves not only the intellect but also children’s imagination and emotions. By encouraging self-expression, drama motivates children to make use of language confidently and creatively.
Finally, drama is an appropriate technique for teaching children with Scottish Soccer Jersey cheap different studying styles and at different levels Singapore LIONSXII Soccer Jersey discount of understanding. No one learns in exactly the same way, we all have different methods of processing information. By actively involving him in his own learning Manchester United Jersey process, dramatisation allows each child to absorb the language in his own way. Similarly, children whose language abilities are still very limited are given the opportunity to communicate utilizing nonverbal cues such as body movements and facial expressions.
Motivational Moves
As teachers we all know that trying to teach an unmotivated wholesale Kid Long Sleeve Soccer Uniform child is like hitting one’s head against a brick wall. With very young kids we seldom come across this cheap Hertha-BSC Soccer Jersey issue as most kindergarten and preschool kids are motivated by curiosity and love to explore new ideas. Sadly, Corinthians Soccer Jersey discount as Benfica Soccer Jersey cheap a child grows older, learning is often seen as a chore.
Let’s look at some of the factors kids become de-motivated and see whether the use of England Soccer Jersey drama could be discount England Soccer Jersey a factor in overcoming them. The child’s experience of success or failure has a significant effect on cheap Portugal Soccer Jersey his motivation to AS Monaco Soccer jersey cheap learn. If discount Uruguay Soccer Jersey children repeatedly fail, even when Bayern Munich Soccer Jersey cheap they Liverpool Soccer Jersey cheap have put a great deal of effort cheap Barcelona Soccer Jersey into their learning, they are inclined to approach future tasks with a negative attitude. Using drama as a teaching method and with the appropriate choice of play and roles, there is no reason why all kids cannot experience success.
The secret here is to make the task challenging, but achievable discount Cruz Azul Soccer Jersey for each child. Plays are perfect for this purpose, of handling mixed abilities, as you can give bigger parts to better students, thus keeping them motivated and challenged while making it significantly easier for the slower students by giving them fewer lines. In the meantime Soccer Jacket cheap all students will be benefiting from being present Club America Soccer Jersey cheap and hearing the English spoken over and over again.
The teacher’s own enthusiasm also goes a long way towards motivating a child. Anybody who has taught a classroom of children knows how quickly they pick up and reflect your moods. If you think your English Werder Bermen Soccer Jersey cheap grammar lesson is boring, so will they! By using drama as a teaching technique and allowing kids to experience language within the simulated reality of a play they will derive far more fun from the lesson and fun is always motivating.
In addition, chances are they will be considerably more motivated to make use of the language in Cheap Soccer Kits cheap similar situations in real life. Obviously then, drama techniques motivate kids to learn by breaking the monotony of the English class and lifting the tempo as kids discuss and act out their roles, learn what they are going to say and decide how they are going to say it.
Which leads to the third major factor concerning a lack of motivation, which will be the child’s need to belong. Watch an apathetic child National Soccer Jersey wholesale within the classroom come alive on the playing fields and play his heart out for his Spain Soccer Jersey cheap team. That is where he feels he fits in, his talents are respected and he is part of the team. Lumsden, in Student motivation to learn, points out that “if students experience the classroom as a caring, supportive place where there is a sense of belonging and everyone is valued and respected, they will tend to participate more fully in the process of learning”
In a drama lesson all kids are equally and actively involved, each role is essential for the successful performance of the play. cheap Club America Soccer Jersey A sense of belonging can be achieved here that is difficult to attain within the more traditional classroom setting. In a way, drama lessons are the playing fields of the classroom.
Another important motivational factor, related to success, is AS Monaco Soccer Jerseys self-confidence. As kids become familiar with their lines in a play, cheap USA Soccer Jersey they become more confident in their use of language. Even timid kids, who generally withdraw from group activities and are shy about talking English in front of their friends, will often come out of their shells when given a role which they are capable of handling. The shepherd’s role within the annual nativity play became synonymous with our shyest children at school. Here they could hide behind robes, headdress wholesale German Soccer Jersey and crooks. But the shepherds knew how important they were and, without fail, year after year, proudly led their sheep onto the stage.
Role-playing comes naturally to children, especially the younger ones and when playing a role they easily shed their shyness and inhibitions. As they discover that they can be anything, cheap Brazilian Soccer Jersey just by pretending, children grow in wholesale Spain Soccer Jersey self-esteem In fact the power of the persona is such that children who might otherwise be hesitant about speaking in West Ham United Soccer Jerseys public are often able to do so unselfconsciously when playing a part.
Finding suitable plays
Choose plays written especially for ESL classrooms. These are short and repetitive and designed to involve the Werder Bermen Soccer Jersey whole group, no matter how big or how small. They combine fun and movement with language usage carefully planned to provide optimal speaking practice in real life contexts. Roles should be assigned according to your Juventus Soccer Jersey wholesale students’ language ability levels. Kids who are more capable and more confident can be given discount Scottish Soccer Jersey parts with more lines, while shyer kids or those with a more limited vocabulary can have fewer lines to say, repeat lines said by other kids or discount Vancouver Whitecaps Jersey speak as part of a group.
It cheap Stuttgart Soccer Jersey goes without discount Dutch Soccer Jersey saying that, when necessary, the play should be adapted for your own situation. Keep Soccer Jersey cheap the script simple, but develop it further or discount Benfica Soccer Jersey modify it if your students’ proficiency or lack of proficiency in English requires it. Some of the lines within the play may be optional. Edit these freely to suit Club America Soccer Jersey your needs, based on LA Galaxy Soccer Jersey the main idea.
Suggestions for preparation and performance
Once you have decided on the play it’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty of rehearsals. While older and more capable students can be given copies of the Ajax Soccer Jersey play to read this is generally not advisable for younger and less Hertha-BSC Soccer Jerseys capable children. For all students, no matter what level they may be on, the emphasis should be Wolfsburg Soccer Jersey on speaking, acting and movement, not on reading wholesale MLS Soccer Jersey lines.
Pre-learn the vocabulary first. Use it in songs, on flash-cards, in games like Spolin’s circle Cruz Azul Soccer Jersey cheap game and those in 161 English Language Games for Kids; chant the words, stamp out the syllables, act them out individually – this is really fun when using words describing Bayern Munich Soccer Jersey emotions and actions.
Once the kids are familiar wholesale Benfica Soccer Jersey with the separate words let them start practicing the lines within the play. This, too, can be done as a game. The idea is not to have individual kids word-perfect in their own roles but to let the whole class experience utilizing the vocabulary in context.
Only when all the kids know the key words and lines of the play should you put together all the elements – words, expression and movement. Allow the kids to cheap Vancouver Whitecaps Jersey make Franch Soccer Jersey discount use of their own creativity in setting the NY Red Bulls Soccer Jersey discount scene, deciding on props, costumes etc. Remember that, as far as the last two are concerned, these should be kept very simple, using the ‘less is more’ principle, and they only need to be included within the final rehearsals.
You will find that if you give the children props too soon they will become very absorbed in them and take a lot of time arranging them and so forth instead of getting on with saying their lines! Therefore give out the props when the play cheap Thailand Soccer Short runs fluently. The addition of props is then a novel element to keep the children’s interest right wholesale Thailand soccer jersey through to the final performance.
Once all wholesale Club Tijuana Soccer Jersey your efforts have been rewarded Naples Soccer Jerseys and the children are able to run through their lines fluently, confidently and with the appropriate movements and expression, arrange at least one performance, even if it is only for the class next door! This is absolutely vital. Usually it’s possible to invite parents to Scottish Soccer Jersey discount arrive earlier to collect children from the last lesson of term if you give sufficient notice, or arrange a special time. One can often perform the play at the school, during assembly, or for a special performance. School heads are generally proud to show off to parents so even if you are Franch Soccer Jersey wholesale a visiting teacher running after-school classes the head of school still sees this as a plus that the school has to offer to prospective discount Atletico Madrid Soccer Jersey pupils and parents.
A tip regarding putting on the play: Don’t start the show with the play but instead have pupils sing a group song or two with actions, play some vocabulary games in front of the audience by way of a warm up and finish with the play. This helps the children get used discount Colorado Rapids Soccer Jersey to suddenly being in front of an discount MLS Soccer Jersey audience and will mean they are much, much less likely to freeze up with nerves when it comes to saying their lines.
Preparation of Toronto FC Soccer Jersey posters, invitations etc. could form the basis Germany Soccer Jersey cheap of another English lesson. If the prospective audience has limited English abilities perhaps a translation of the play could be made available to them. I was once asked for subtitles by a parent, which surprised me as the language in the play was so basic, but in fact afterwards I realized that it is polite and helpful to acknowledge the audience in this way.
Finally, wholesale Club America Soccer Jersey if at all possible, take a video of the play. Not only discount Thailand Soccer Short will the children love seeing themselves act, it will enable you to give them feedback later and will offer you with a benchmark against which further development can be determined.
Now all that remains would be to point you to some fantastic, funny, easy ESL skits and plays that wholesale Stuttgart Soccer Jersey are perfect Chelsea Soccer Jersey wholesale for use in class with beginners. Appropriate for kids in small groups betweent the ages of 4 to 12.
