Multilingual drama teaching activities

These films have been commissioned by Creative Multilingualism's Multilingual Performance Project (MPP) which aims to give teachers the tools they need to inject more creativity into their language learning classes. MPP may be able to help support you to put on a multilingual performance, whether it's a small scale role play or a full theatre production. We can also help establish a link between your school and a local theatre. Get in touch for more information.

Buzzy Bees (also known as Busy Bees)

This fun drama activity (also known as Busy Bees) doesn't need much space so could be played in a classroom. It can easily be adapted for different levels or languages and can be linked to what is being studied in class at the time (e.g. a certain topic of part of speech). It's a great way to test vocabulary.

Sevens

Sevens is a great warm up game and can help bring energy and focus into the room. It's very simple; participants only need to be able to count to 7 in the chosen language(s). It can also be adapted for more advanced groups if needed.

>

Illnesses and Injuries

This drama activity can be used in lots of different ways and at lots of different levels and abilities. It's always popular as people seem to love sharing stories of their illnesses and injuries. A great way to practise doctor / hospital vocabulary for MFL classes.

What Are You Doing?

This is a short, fun physical game which can be used to work on verbs ‒ it's a perfect way to practise the present continuous, but could be adapted to be used with other verb forms (future, past, conditional). It can be played using any language.

Would I lie to you?

This is a great game to get pupils to share stories and work collaboratively in teams. You can link the activity to a class topic and it can easily be adapted to different levels of language learning.

MFL and Creativity in Primary Schools

In this film the Multilingual Performance Project team introduce some simple ways to start introducing MFL in primary schools through drama and creative activities.

_____

The following teaching ideas are taken from a multilingual drama workshop held thanks to a collaboration between the Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages at the University of Oxford and the Oxford Playhouse. The workshop, led by Mezze Eade, Participation Director of the Oxford Playhouse, was part of a multilingual drama project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and facilitated by The Oxford Research Centre for Humanities (TORCH) with the aim of developing teachers’ drama skills to enhance their language teaching.

Anyone Who

This simple game would work well as an icebreaker, and it can be adapted to suit the language level of your class.

I Accuse

This game works well for smaller groups and helps to develop listening and projection skills. It can be easily modified to suit your teaching needs.

Jungle Jim

This is a fun and interactive drama game which can help to teach animals or numbers, or just be used as a good way to get your students moving.

Animal Splat

'Animal Splat' is a fun and active game which can be adapted to teach different vocabulary sets.

Late

Late is an energetic and fun game involving mime. It can be easily adapted to any language.

Two Truths, One Lie

This activity gives tips on how you can develop the game 'Two Truths, One Lie' into a storytelling exercise which can be adapted for different languages.