Teaching a Play

Edja

First year in teaching, and I have a 5th year class who are so lacking in interest or concern for their LC, that I dont know what to do.! I am taking them through "Dancing at Lughanasa" for their Single Text. But I have no real idea how to teach it so it drums up interest! Ordinary Level.

Would greatly appreciate any ideas you may have in actually how to teach a play (that doesn't involve Freeze Frame or anything like that, not that I am against them, far from it, but for an image-conscious pack of 15-16 yr olds, I really don't think that is there cup of tea!!)!:D

errr, I meant "their" cup of tea!!! (How embarrassing for an English Teacher)!!!

mhairesa

I'm no expert, I taught 5th year OL English last year for the first time. We did 'The Plough and the Stars'. Hard to get the class motivated in the beginning, but I assigned each student a role and read during class. It gave them ownership of the play. Even with some of the shyer students, while at first they resisted, we worked out parts with only small pieces of dialogue so everyone was happy!
We acted out all of the main scenes, which at first some were reluctant to do, but by the end they loved it. I think my enthusiasm rubbed off (even when it was sometimes feigned )

I made templates to be completed at the end of each scene that included scene summary, key moments and quotes. I found this helped the students to keep focused on the text and also insured they had study aids in their folders.

Hope any of this is useful!!!

Edja

Hey, thanks a million, that is a great help! I've been a bit reluctant with this lot to try any kind of acting out scenes etc as they are just not into it, and also I am not so good at being very enthusiastic, if you know what I mean!!!?

But the template idea is a great idea, hadn't thought of that! Mind if I steal it???:o:p

Thanks again