Education with a hook
David Fisher talks about his conference session and the role of drama in ELT.
What inspired your presentation topic, and why do you think it's important for English language teachers today?
All of my teacher-training involves taking lessons from the world of entertainment and applying them to the practice of language teaching. The topic of this session is an especially clear example of that as I will look at the idea of a hook, something special that can be added to make a song or a sketch, or a show, especially memorable or enjoyable. The same principle can be applied to lessons. There are things that you can do in your lessons that do not necessarily serve the immediate teaching aims, but which nonetheless help the wider teaching process by making the lesson unusual in some way.
Can you share a key takeaway from your session that teachers can immediately apply in their classrooms?
Yes, this session is full of practical tips and advice for making lessons fun and engaging. Beyond that the session will point to a general philosophy of focusing on the learner’s state of mind rather than the content that the teacher wants them to learn. People learn better when their minds are open and when there is a positive learning atmosphere in the class. It is easy for teachers to overlook this and push on desperately through the curriculum without taking measures to ensure that their group is continually motivated and happy to learn.
What are some common misconceptions about your area of expertise in ELT, and how do you address them?
The practice of drama in ELT is hugely undervalued and generally perceived as being low status compared to other areas of teaching methodology. It was trendy back in the late 1960s but since then it is seen as old-fashioned and always less relevant than whatever the latest trend is (now it is AI). In reality entertainment and teaching are very close to eachother and while teachers can learn useful things from other professions, they can learn especially useful things from entertainers because they are basically in the same business, standing in front of a group of people and guiding the program. Drama and theatre are actually the most powerful tools a teacher can have in their toolbox.
What can I do about it? Not too much in the face of the deep-rooted perceptions that people have, but I will keep preaching the virtues of drama in ELT and keep the practice of it alive with the educational theatre shows that I produce.
David Fisher is the founder and director of The Bear Educational Theatre in Prague. As well as being an English teacher, he has worked as a professional actor in theatre and film. He specialises in taking ideas from the world of entertainment and applying them to language teaching.
