Halloween Drama Contest: A Didactic Approach to English Language Teaching in a non-Bilingual School

Main Article Content

Sandra Camelo
Andrea Sánchez
Milena Yanes

Abstract

This article presents an action research project developed in Mayor de San Bartolomé School in 2007, when the authors’ teaching practice took place. The observation of 38 eighth graders, between 13 and 14 years old, highlighted their lack of motivation towards the English class. In the coming semester after the observation, the drama activities carried out in the English class made the students more eager to participate in the class activities and to use this language to communicate with their peers. The Halloween Drama Contest consisted of drama activities along with reading comprehension, writing production, vocabulary exercises and phonetics practice. Students were asked to prepare scripts of six horror movies to be performed on Halloween.

Article Details

How to Cite
Camelo, S., Sánchez, A., & Yanes, M. (2008). Halloween Drama Contest: A Didactic Approach to English Language Teaching in a non-Bilingual School. HOW, 15(1), 83–105. Retrieved from https://www.howjournalcolombia.org/index.php/how/article/view/89
Section
Research Reports
Author Biographies

Sandra Camelo, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá

Sandra Camelo completed her bachelor’s in Modern Language Teaching from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in 2008. She has been a language teacher in Smart Training Society, Wall Street Institute, Interactive Language Training, and a translator in the NGO Horizontes Colombianos. She currently works as guide in the Gold Museum.

Andrea Sánchez, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá

Andrea Sánchez is a graduate of the Modern Language Teaching program of the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. She started her bachelor studies in 2003. She has worked as an English teacher in Wall Street Institute and Interactive Language Training.

Milena Yanes, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá

Milena Yanes completed her bachelor’s in Modern Language Teaching in the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. She has worked as language teacher in Passport Institute and Smart Training Society, where she also worked as a translator.

References

Beasley,W., Mortiz, N., & Chaffin, S. (Producers), & Gillespie, J. (Director). (1997). I know what you did last summer [Motion picture]. USA: Columbia Pictures.

Boardman, P.,& Lucchesi,G. (Producers),&Derrickson, S. (Director). (2005). The exorcism of Emily Rose [Motion picture]. USA: Screen Gems.

Cowie, R., & Hale, G. (Producers), & Myrick, D., & Sanchez, E. (Directors). (1999). The Blair witch project [Motion picture]. USA: Haxan Films.

Izard, B., & Izard, C. (1977). Play is the thing that brings it all together. Theory into Practice, 16 (3), 215-219. Retrieved August 8, 2007, from http://www.jstor.org/pss/1475608

Kennedy, K., Marshall, F., & Mendel, B. (Producers), & Night Shyamalan, M. (Director). (1999). The Sixth Sense [Motion picture]. USA: Barry Mendel Productions.

Kirkton, C. M. (1971). NCTE/ERIC summaries & sources: The play’s the thing: Theater and dramatic arts in secondary schools. The English Journal, 60 (4), 533-539. Retrieved August 8, 2007, from http://www.jstor.org/pss/813194

Konrad, C., & Woods, C. (Producers), & Craven, W. (Director). (1996). Scream [Motion picture]. USA: Dimension Films.

Lytle, C. (1943). When Shakespeare holds the stage: Learning through acting. The English Journal, 32(2), 86-88. Retrieved August 8, 2007, from http://www.jstor.org/pss/805977

Moffett, J. (1967). Drama: What is happening, the use of dramatic activities in the teaching of English. Champaign, Illinois: NCTE. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service N° ED017505)

Ronke, A. (2005). Wozu all das theater? Drama and theater as a method for foreign language teaching and learning in higher education in the United States. Retrieved from http://edocs.tu-berlin.de/diss/2005/ronke_astrid.pdf

Sterling, E. (1940). The play goes on. The English Journal, 29 (4), 324-326. Retrieved August 8, 2007, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/805941

Utt, K., Saxon, E., & Bozman, R. (Producers), & Demme, J. (Director). (1991). The silence of the lambs [Motion picture]. USA: Orion Pictures.

Veidemanis, G. (1962). Drama in the English classroom. The English Journal, 51(8), 544-551. Retrieved August 8, 2007, from http://www.jstor.org/pss/810420