Application of drama techniques (role play and games) in English-language teaching syllabus at pre-intermediate level

Abstract

ABSTRACT The major concern of this thesis is application of drama techniques in English language-teaching syllabus at pre- intermediate level. There is an attempt in this study to explain the useful lness of drama techniques in foreign- language teaching and learning, and the effectiveness of the techniques in developing learners' self-confidence in authentic real-life situations. A study was conducted to test the following hypotheses: Activities related to drama will increase student fluency in the target language. Specifically, students who are taught grammatical knowledge via drama techniques will be more competent in speaking skill at the end of the treatment. Zero Hypothesis (Ho hypothesis): Average grades obtained by the experimental and the control groups will be similar to each other in regard to pretest. Alternative Hypothesis: Subjects treated with drama techniques obtain higher marks than subjects treated with a classical method in terms of grammar and fluency in speaking. The study consisted of pretest, treatment, posttest and oral examination. There were 26 subjects - 13 in the experimental group and 13 in the control group - chosen from the Faculty of Agriculture (Food Sciences Department), at Çukurova University. The data analysis confirmed the hypotheses of drama techniques (role play and drama games) inforeign- language teaching due to the fact that the experimental group treated by the techniques received higher marks than the control group treated via classical method. The first chapter offers Background to the Study, Statement of the Problem, Aim and Scope of the Study, Hypotheses, and Definition of Terms related to this study. The second chapter gives detailed information about literature (General Definition of Drama, Drama in Education, Drama in the EFL Classroom, Drama Techniques in the EFL Classroom and Utilisation of chosen Drama Techniques) related to the study. The third chapter is the Method section, which consists of Overview, Research Design, Selection of Subjects, Instrumentation, and Treatment. The fourth chapter is the Data Analysis section. The fifth chapter contains the concluding statements and Suggestions for Further Research. 11