Workshop in German Drama

Abstract

This article presents a model for teaching a true four-skills second language course in German using student drama performance as the primary vehicle of instruction. Students in this workshop-style course learn to closely read literary German drama while enacting key scenes using authentic period acting techniques. Both the study of literary drama and the historical acting techniques with which they were performed offer students special access to important elements of German culture during notable eras while sharpening their mastery of advanced vocabulary and linguistic structure in German. The value of teaching drama through active learning, as well as the use of reflection in assessment are among the topics explored in this article. This article presents a model for teaching a true four-skills second language course in German using student drama performance as the primary vehicle of instruction. Students in this workshop-style course learn to closely read literary German drama while enacting key scenes using authentic period acting techniques. Both the study of literary drama and the historical acting techniques with which they were performed offer students special access to important elements of German culture during notable eras while sharpening their mastery of advanced vocabulary and linguistic structure in German. The value of teaching drama through active learning, as well as the use of reflection in assessment are among the topics explored in this article.