Elements of Drama in the EFL Classroom: Featuring ChatGPT as the Bogeyman
This online presentation-workshop aims to explore the potential of using
elements of structured Process Drama (PD) as a teaching approach in the Japanese
university EFL classroom. The session begins with a surprising fact about drama and
education, which highlights the importance of structured drama in exploring and
addressing social issues and themes in collaborative and creative ways in the L1
context. The presentation then draws parallels between the humanistic approach to
education and PD, which itself evolved from the 1960s Drama-in-Education (DiE)
movement. Within the context of SLA, the structure of a process drama framework and
its rationale for inclusion in the EFL classroom will be then briefly discussed.
The next discussion-based section of the session will use ChatGPT as the topic
for participants to learn about and experience five of the six stages of PD. This aims to
provide participants with the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of how
structured drama can be used to enhance intercultural language learning and explore
social issues/current affairs.
Bio
Eucharia Donnery (PhD) is a coordinator at the World Language Center, Soka
University, Tokyo. Her background is diverse and includes drama-based pedagogy in
Second Language Acquisition (SLA), Content Language Integrated Learning (CLIL),
Intercultural Communicative Competence (ICC), emerging AI technologies and
background in computer assisted language learning (CALL), gender studies, and the
humanistic approach to education. Other interests include reading, running, and Muay
Thai kickboxing.
The presentation will be April 20th 2024 from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm
This will be an online event (Zoom -Akita JALT members with be sent a Zoom link for the presentation)
All others who would like to join can Email Akita jalt at akita@jalt.org
