Scenario: A Journal for Performative Teaching, Learning, Research. Vol. I Issue 01
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Item Foreword(Department of German, University College Cork, 2007) Schewe, Manfred; Even, Susanne; Schewe, Manfred; Even, SusanneItem The use of drama activities in teaching German in a third-level classroom(Department of German, University College Cork, 2007) Borge, Sheree; Schewe, Manfred; Even, SusanneThis article discusses the use of drama activities in teaching German to various groups of students at Cork Institute of Technology in the academic year 2003/2004. The findings are based on action research and reflective practice. It describes the outcomes of the use of drama activities in the first-year classroom, and analyses what might have been done differently in order to achieve a more positive result. It also describes the more successful outcomes of the enactment of two dramatic activities by a second-year German class, and the use of a third drama activity with both second- and third-year students. The latter activity was created in collaboration with a colleague, and the latter’s participation and observations, as well as the students’ observations, formed an integral part of the analysis. The concluding part of the article makes suggestions for further research, and offers some advice to third-level teachers or lecturers who are interested in using drama in similar language classroom environments. This article discusses the use of drama activities in teaching German to various groups of students at Cork Institute of Technology in the academic year 2003/2004. The findings are based on action research and reflective practice. It describes the outcomes of the use of drama activities in the first-year classroom, and analyses what might have been done differently in order to achieve a more positive result. It also describes the more successful outcomes of the enactment of two dramatic activities by a second-year German class, and the use of a third drama activity with both second- and third-year students. The latter activity was created in collaboration with a colleague, and the latter’s participation and observations, as well as the students’ observations, formed an integral part of the analysis. The concluding part of the article makes suggestions for further research, and offers some advice to third-level teachers or lecturers who are interested in using drama in similar language classroom environments.Item And who says it doesn’t make sense? Drama in third-level language classrooms(Department of German, University College Cork, 2007) Weiss, Anna; Schewe, Manfred; Even, SusanneThis article examines possible implications of Drama in Education (DiE) used in the third-level language classroom. It is based on a series of lessons that I conducted with university students of German, an analysis of the students’ feedback and my own observations. I argue that the small number of publications on the use of DiE in university teaching should not be interpreted as a signal that drama pedagogy does not have a place at this level; on the contrary, this approach has potential that should be highlighted rather than overlooked. In the first part of the article, I will focus on the theoretical basis of DiE, namely central characteristics, implications for the language classroom, and practical issues regarding the practice of language teaching and learning through drama. In the second part, my practical work will be presented and discussed in more detail. This article examines possible implications of Drama in Education (DiE) used in the third-level language classroom. It is based on a series of lessons that I conducted with university students of German, an analysis of the students’ feedback and my own observations. I argue that the small number of publications on the use of DiE in university teaching should not be interpreted as a signal that drama pedagogy does not have a place at this level; on the contrary, this approach has potential that should be highlighted rather than overlooked. In the first part of the article, I will focus on the theoretical basis of DiE, namely central characteristics, implications for the language classroom, and practical issues regarding the practice of language teaching and learning through drama. In the second part, my practical work will be presented and discussed in more detail.Item “Show, don’t tell!”(Department of German, University College Cork, 2007) Matthias, Bettina; Schewe, Manfred; Even, SusanneWhile the field of drama and theater continues to inspire many foreign language teachers, improvisational theater has not received more than passing attention as a resource providing interesting warm-ups and games to be used periodically in our classroom. This article makes a case for using the format of an improvisational theater workshop in beginning foreign language teaching. The example of a three-week experimental workshop in January 2006 suggests that improvisational theater and systematic work with its basic directive ‘Show, don’t tell!’ encourage students to communicate in a foreign language environment before they may feel prepared to do so in the target language itself. Physical engagement with a situation opens up communicative possibilities, and it eventually enables students to overcome cognitive and psychological barriers to successfully move towards greater linguistic proficiency and communicative freedom. While the field of drama and theater continues to inspire many foreign language teachers, improvisational theater has not received more than passing attention as a resource providing interesting warm-ups and games to be used periodically in our classroom. This article makes a case for using the format of an improvisational theater workshop in beginning foreign language teaching. The example of a three-week experimental workshop in January 2006 suggests that improvisational theater and systematic work with its basic directive ‘Show, don’t tell!’ encourage students to communicate in a foreign language environment before they may feel prepared to do so in the target language itself. Physical engagement with a situation opens up communicative possibilities, and it eventually enables students to overcome cognitive and psychological barriers to successfully move towards greater linguistic proficiency and communicative freedom.Item Sansibar oder der wirkliche Grund(Department of German, University College Cork, 2007) Brisson, Ulrike; Schewe, Manfred; Even, SusanneThe subject of the investigation is a drama-in-education approach to improve students’ access to German language, literature, and culture. It is based on an action research project carried out at a fourth-year German language class at a US university. This essay constitutes a critical exploration of the drama activities as suggested in Manfred Schewe’s and Heinz Wilms’ book Sansibar. Texte lesen und inszenieren (1995). From the results of the project, the paper addresses questions regarding project-oriented or process-oriented drama, it offers hints and caveats for teachers using drama activities for the first time, and proposes activities that go beyond the suggestions by Schewe and Wilms. The subject of the investigation is a drama-in-education approach to improve students’ access to German language, literature, and culture. It is based on an action research project carried out at a fourth-year German language class at a US university. This essay constitutes a critical exploration of the drama activities as suggested in Manfred Schewe’s and Heinz Wilms’ book Sansibar. Texte lesen und inszenieren (1995). From the results of the project, the paper addresses questions regarding project-oriented or process-oriented drama, it offers hints and caveats for teachers using drama activities for the first time, and proposes activities that go beyond the suggestions by Schewe and Wilms.