Abstract
This chapter focuses on the elements of drama, framed around the process drama literature. It illustrates how the elements of drama can be revisited from an intercultural perspective, and possible implications for second language learning. These include intercultural characters and relationships; intercultural dramatic focus; intercultural dramatic tension, time and place, narrative, language and movement; intercultural mood and symbol; and intercultural meaning, and their relationship/s with the pre-text, in structuring process drama. The discussion is presented through a praxial approach that aims to bridge theory and practice. The chapter includes a drama structure, The Jugglers, a workshop reflecting on issues related to migrating to a new country and working with language learners who are new to drama.
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Workshop 3: The Jugglers
Workshop 3: The Jugglers
Description: This workshop explores issues related to migration, working with language learners new to drama.
Students’ Context—Inspiration for the Workshop: The Cultura e Accoglienza 2017 project, provided 30 adult asylum seekers and migrants in Padua (Italy) with access to the University of Padova’s library, the possibility to audit some modules, a tutor, and access to Italian (L2) classes. As part of this project, in collaboration with Fiona Dalziel, in 2017 we conducted a series of performative language workshops. This particular workshop (The Jugglers) was also open to international students. Participants were a group of male and female migrants from Nigeria, Cameroon and Gambia, as well as three international students from China and Germany. All were learning Italian (L2) at the University of Padua.
Pre-text: A participant’s story (with permission from the storyteller).
Educational Aims: Introducing the participants to basic elements of drama; introducing participants to intercultural awareness and reflection.
Level: A2 to B1 (CEFR).
Duration: Three hours.
This chapter has focused on the elements of drama, framed around the process drama literature. The core of the chapter illustrated how the elements of drama can be revisited from an intercultural perspective, and the implications this might have for second language learning. These include intercultural dramatic tension and the relationship between the pre-text and dramatic tension, in structuring process drama. The discussion was presented through a praxial approach that aims to bridge theory and practice. Yet, knowledge of the elements of drama—the coordinates to navigate the aesthetic dimension—is not sufficient; we also need an intuitive decision-making aptitude, to be able to interpret these coordinates in an ocean of possibilities. To address this question, we turn to the artistry of knowing-in-action.
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Piazzoli, E. (2018). The Elements of Drama: An Intercultural Perspective. In: Embodying Language in Action. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77962-1_4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77962-1_4
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