| As English language teaching professionals we're | | | | memorable movie scenes work best. Have learners |
| always on the lookout for new ideas and activities to | | | | take the roles of characters in the movie scene and |
| expand the repertoire of dynamics in our EFL class | | | | do the same lines as the original actors imitating |
| rooms. One area which could always use more | | | | accent, gestures, discourse, etc. Students can also put |
| attention is the use of drama. It's all around us and our | | | | their own personal "spin" or "interpretation" on the |
| learners in the media of television, radio, cinema, stories | | | | scene and dialogue for added interest. Encourage the |
| in the printed media and the internet. Everyone loves a | | | | use of the local variety of English for added impact. |
| good story. So why not then incorporate more drama | | | | Here are some famous line starting scene |
| into our class rooms? Here are some interesting ways | | | | suggestions:o Dirty Harry - "Go ahead, make my |
| you could initiate Drama into an EFL class or new | | | | day."o The Terminator: "I'll be back."o The Godfather, |
| drama group. | | | | Don Corleone: "We're going to make him an offer he |
| Role Play activities from the learner text books | | | | can't refuse." |
| If you're using a course book such as Interchange, | | | | You get the idea. Just expand to use the full scenes |
| American Channel, Headway, Cutting Edge, First Class, | | | | surrounding these famous lines. For maximum punch, |
| etc. you can have the learners start out by "acting out" | | | | have the learners get into "costume" as well as |
| dialogues from their text books. Additional scenes to | | | | character. When learners at the university where I |
| cover what happened before and after the dialogue | | | | teach did a play in which the Devil bargained with |
| can be created and added for even more dimension. | | | | characters for their soul, the "Devil" made his pitch |
| Act Out video scenes | | | | dressed and painted in red. He even sported "horns" |
| If there is a video from the same course book series | | | | and a "tail" complete with a barb at the end. It sure |
| learners can act these out too. In this case also, | | | | worked for me. |
| additional before and after scenes can be created and | | | | You could get even more mileage from these activities |
| added to expand and deepen the role play context. Be | | | | and materials, if you videotape or audio-tape record |
| sure to use realia and props in the scene | | | | and use them for listening comprehension, |
| dramatizations to help the learners get "into character". | | | | error-correction exercises, pronunciation, language use |
| And by all means, be creative. If the dramas are | | | | or grammar practice activities. Other drama activities |
| recorded (video and/or audio you can easily | | | | are discussed in the article "How to Dramatize Your |
| demonstrate improvement in technique, speech, | | | | Foreign Language Teaching and Learning". Try some |
| language use, fluency, etc. to the students later on. | | | | of these ideas out for yourself. Please do feel free to |
| Use Scenes From Movies | | | | let me know about your progress and experiences. |
| Use dramatic scenes from movies and films as a | | | | Good luck. |
| basis for drama / dialogue practice. Famous, popular or | | | | |