Using Drama to Develop Communication Skills in the 21st Century Classroom

Abstract

The skills and knowledge which university and college students will need for the 21st century are unknowable. What is known is that flexibility, conceptual thinking, empathy, critical thinking and sophisticated communication skills are just some of the areas of expertise which need to be developed for the future. The following paper was delivered at The International Conference on Language Learning and Teaching in November 2015 in Dubai. The paper was delivered to university lecturers who are teaching students in English in L1 and L2 contexts in countries in Asia, Africa, Oceania, Europe and North America. It draws on the work of Augusto Boal, Dorothy Heathcote, Keith Johnstone, Cecily O’Neill, Constantin Stanislavski and Rudolf Laban to advocate the use of drama in the development of the communication skills which university and college students need for the 21st Century. The presentation explored the ways that drama can be used to effectively engage English L1 and ESL Learners to develop effective communication skills in everything from vocabulary work to speaking Skills to developing game simulations and computer programs.