The Use of Drama to Reduce Anxiety and Increase Confidence and Motivation towards Speaking English with Two Groups of English Language Learners

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to create and evaluate the effects of a creative drama curriculum for English Language Learners. It was hypothesized that drama would be helpful in lowering the affective filter--psychological attributes that can impede language acquisition. A group of third graders who had good comprehension of English, yet, were reluctant to speak, and a group of sixth and seventh graders with fledgling English skills participated in the study. Participants' response to the drama curriculum was measured by pretest-posttest, observations, and interviews with both participants and their teachers. Results of the study revealed that drama was successful in considerably reducing the third grade participants' anxiety and increasing their confidence and motivation towards speaking English. There was evidence of positive benefit of the drama with the sixth and seventh graders, but there was little change in participants' anxiety, confidence and motivation towards speaking English.