Mary Lamas gave a presentation at the GRETA Annual Conference on using drama activities to teach English. Some key points included: - Drama activities help improve students' self-confidence, sociability, pronunciation, fluency, intonation, stress patterns, rhythm, and communication strategies while also conveying cultural aspects. - Drama can be integrated at any stage of learning to practice challenging grammar points or consolidate topic areas, and provides an opportunity for students to have fun. - Activities can take place anywhere, including the classroom, assembly hall, outdoors, or online, and can include short sketches, speeches, performances, or musicals. - Practicing pronunciation through activities like breathing exercises, working

1. ACT YOUR WORDS!
Mary Lamas
“Teaching English for Life”
GRETA Annual Conference
18 October 2013

2. OBJECTIVES
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To promote drama activities in class
To explain why & its advantages
To suggest when to integrate them
To give options as to where we can develop them
To offer examples as to what types of activities
we can do/ create
• To share my own experience as to how I’ve done
it!

3. Why?
• It helps self-confidence & sociability
• It enhances pronunciation (fluency,
intonation, stress patterns, rhythm)
• It develops communication strategies
• It conveys cultural aspects

4. When?
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At any stage of the learning process
To practise a challenging linguistic aspect
To consolidate a particular topic area
To have fun!!!

5. Where?
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Anywhere really!
Classroom vs assembly hall
Indoors vs outdoors
On the Internet! http://make.tv/en/

6. What?
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A short sketch
An individual speech
A proper performance
A musical!!!

7. How?
• Practising the different aspects of
pronunciation:
– Breathing: youtube.com
– Foreign sounds: BBC tips , National Theatre ,
Tonguetwisters
– Intonation: Q&As
– Rhythm & stress patterns: monologues

8. Imagination
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Wrap it up!
Uses of a… cloth
Keep a stray dog
Continue the story
Story dance
Bags more: explore , activities , drama

9. Spontaneity
• Mime exercises: universal emotions, sculpture
gallery, walks of life
• Sketch situations: the hitch-hiker…
• “Yes & No” expressions
• Conversation fillers

10. Culture
• Watch & discuss CLIPS from:
– Series
– Soap operas
 Act it out!
Explore BOOKS about the hidden rules of national
behaviour:
 grooming weather talk

11. • Questions??
THANK YOU!!!
marylamas.10@gmail.com