Page 18 - ELG2408 August Issue 491

SPECIAL FEATURE .

Learning by example

Using creativity and language to engage students in critical thinking.

Name: Job Martin Villafuerte Creating a casting call sheet: students were
Role: English teacher asked to list Filipino actors who could best
Country: Philippines portray the characters in a film adaptation of
Age group: 15 the novel.
Dramatization of an election campaign:
students were asked to re-enact the election
campaign of the governor in the story. They
made campaign posters, songs, and speeches!
Through their fantastic work in these
creative activities, we aimed to develop
critical and communicative abilities among
the students.

Job’s students design their casting call
sheet involving their favourite actors
As part of my teacher-designed
instructional material for Grade 10, my
students participated in a literature-based
lesson.
‘When We Are Answerable for Our
Actions’ is focused on the theme of Students’ election campaign posters
displayed proudly!
accountability among public servants and is
centered on an excerpt from the first Filipino Throughout the lesson, the students
novel written in the English language in 1921: experienced working on some thought- Job’s personal teaching materials and
‘A Child of Sorrow’ by Zoilo M. Galang. provoking and fun activities which included: the inspiration for the classwork

Hand-in-hand

Helping students with communication in order to achieve greatness.

Name: Val Hennessy We recognised that when students are caught teachers, they throw themselves into creating,
Role: Director up in activities which require imagination and lose all inhibition in speaking and just get on
Country: UK creativity, they stop worrying about language with it!
Age group: 13+ issues; their need to communicate to achieve The resulting photos and short films are
the end goal overrides their fear of making astounding; the confidence engendered through
mistakes. drama allows even the shyest and lowest level
So what did we do? Well, we introduced students to shine; the articles produced by the
Creative Classes as part of all Junior English budding bloggers are funny, insightful and a
courses and as an option for adult groups. far cry from dry essays. The DJing is fun as it
These classes—Drama, Photography, Video- happens and, when used during parties and
making, Journalism/Blogging and DJing— BBQs, it adds an extra dimension.
mean our students have to work together in
English to accomplish the tasks.

Digital media creation is a big part of
engaging Val’s students in their learning
Many years ago, we decided that we needed The results have been extraordinary. Students
to encourage our students to use English in a use all the language they learn in their dedicated Working together in English to create
creative manner. language classes and, with minimal input from beautiful photos!
18 August 2024