Can drama be effective within the English classroom?

There are many benefits for the utilisation of drama within the classroom. Many students see these sorts of activities as an easy ride as they do not have to do any written work. But if they are not putting pen to paper, are they still learning? If utilised effectively by the teacher there is a solid argument for the benefit of drama within the English classroom.

Much of our English heritage is rooted in dramatics and has always, and still has, a substantial place within the English canon and within the classroom. The curriculum calls for a play to be studied within students’ education. But how can students have a true understanding of the play sat on their seat rather than performing and bringing the words to life, as was this not the purpose when initially written?

Drama does not have to be a full lesson either, there is many short drama activities that are of value to the students for any form of literature.  It can aid towards understanding and development.  Throughout my own experience I have found it to be of value, as these short activities such as freeze frames and hot seating aided towards understanding and helped students to stay on task as they are out of their seats for a short while and engaging and experiencing the text for themselves.

Does drama have a place within the English classroom? My personal response is absolutely, as long as the teacher has structured the lesson effectively to incorporate drama with clear aims, drama can certainly have a place within the English classroom and can help deliver an effective lesson.

What has Shakespeare done for me?

Shakespeare is an iconic figure within literature, so as a teacher of English I have come to have a real appreciation for Shakespeare and can truly enjoy the variety, drama and language of each individual play.

The challenge of the teacher is to initially engage their students with the text, if they are able to do this they have got the students' attention for the remainder of the play. Reflecting back upon my own education, my own connection with Shakespeare's work manifests itself within the classic play 'Romeo and Juliet'.  Widely known as his most famous play and regularly taught within schools, it can become a challenge for teachers to engage the students  with a text that they have had to deliver within their class for a number of years. However, the teacher I had during this time I studied 'Romeo and Juliet', very much wet my metaphorical taste buds for more of Shakespeare's plays. It can be a daunting task to engage a class with a Shakespeare play, as it is now seen as 'boring' by the youth of today, it does seem the appreciation for good literature is rapidly decreasing. Returning to my initial point the teacher engaged the class with the play with a number of drama lesson, as this was the intention for the play primarily. 

So what did Shakespeare do for me personally?

It gave me a real passion for English, as it merged the bond for me between literature and drama. It is this bond that was created not only gave me a real passion for Shakespeare as a literary figure within our heritage, but an appreciation for good literature. It is a passion that has followed on to my higher education and now into my teaching, as I can categorically say that planning and delivering lessons centered around a Shakespeare play provides me within immense enjoyment, and to transfer this passion into my students would provide me with a real sense of achievement.