Teaching English through Drama – free resources and more!
In today’s cut-throat and ruthless society, it is important to pay attention to the efforts of those dedicated not necessarily to financial gain but to more meaningful gain. Andrew Woolner, artistic director of Yokohama Theatre Group (YTG), discusses how his company has evolved over the last decade, working with interns, and creating theater on a shoestring budget.
For more info on YTG: https://ytg.jp/
Sometimes my students lead the warm-up in class. This group is a speech class and one student, who has a singing background, led a collective vocal warm-up. It was so good I thought you might like to try it yourselves. Are you ready?
Theatre takes place onstage and behind-the-scenes and there can be many highs and lows to working on productions. Justin Davis, writer and actor of Black Stripe Theater (BST), shares, among other things, his experiences of bringing adaptations of classic stories to international schools.
For more info on BST: https://www.blackstripetheater.com
NATIONAL DAY. This is an impromptu speech activity, and a great way to improve fluency, test your nerve as you think up something on the spot, and gain confidence by speaking in front of others. Check it out!
Theatre is a way of life and a labor of love, yet worthwhile in the rewards it brings – personal satisfaction and fulfilment and collective nurturing and enrichment. In my second interview, Saya Suetsugu and Brian Berdanier, president and vice-president of Tokyo International Players (TIP), reveal what it is like to head the longest running English-speaking theatre group (since 1888).
For more info on TIP: https://www.tokyoplayers.org
This is a great persuasive speech task to improve to fluency and speech communication. Go for it!
Between March and July (2018) I took the time to speak to members of four theatre companies to learn more about their background, training, influences, experiences and reasons for creating theatre in Japan. One thing, I found that they all have in common is a love of theater and a passion to pursue it whatever the cost. In my first interview James Sutherland, artistic director of Center of International Theater Arts (CITA), gives insight into the challenges of finding an identity for his company and attracting audiences.
For more info on CITA, please visit www.internationalcita.com/en/
Hi everyone, my name is Chris, and I’m from London, but over the last 18 years I have been living and working in Tokyo teaching English and drama to a variety of ages and levels of students. I have taught elementary, junior, senior and university level and I have run several workshops for students and adults. What I have learned from this experience is that students want to use English in an active, creative and productive way. This website to documents some of my work and provides teachers with ideas for their own classrooms.
Please take a look at the ideas and activities on this site. The ‘Games’ sections contains games, old and new, for you to enjoy using in your classroom, and the ‘Beyond’ section contains ideas reflections on theatre and education in Japan and elsewhere. Pop in when you get a moment and check out any updates!
