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Author: 上海歌德 Date: Sat, 10/11/2014 - 16:15 Tags: learn German

Goethe-Institute is worldwide famous for its communicative teaching methodology. No matter if implemented in an A1 course or higher level class, games such as " Roll the Dice" and pair work are an inseparable part of and play an important role in language learning. Students learn happily through games. However, in order to speak fluent German, those exercises are not enough.

I often wish my students to develop their creativity and use their imagination thoroughly by producing their own ideas in class, which can help them to know themselves better, show their own ability and challenge themselves as well. In addition, this always brings them great fun, as they can express themselves freely without being corrected.

I myself majored in literature. To me the protagonists and the heroes in great works of literature are a world, where people can explore themselves and find prototypes in the real life. Every one of us play a certain role in the society. Although I am a teacher, I could still imagine the life of others, for instance, the life of a taxi driver.

In order to help my students work on their own initiative, I always use a number of creative teaching methods, such as pantomime and role-play. In the role-play an authentic situation, which is closely related to daily life and gives students room to act freely, is simulated and students have to play a certain role in it. Meanwhile spontaneous reactions, answers and questions are required. At the beginning of A1 level, the dialogues are between customer and seller or shop assistant. Later it comes down to official authorities, for example, one should make an appointment in the office. In the higher level class, the dialogues will also be more complicated. Thus students should use a wide variety of vocabulary and express their ideas to more demanding topics, during which students react and reflect exactly like the role itself. This is a challenge for students, but it also provide them with a chance to take much imagination and experience the new role in a 10-15 minutes' dialogue. Just take me as an example, though I'm not a famous actress, I still devote myself to acting a role and enjoy that moment. In most cases, students are happy to take a role and create some pretty funny lines.

Besides role-play, I also make use of theatre technics in class. This is usually great fun for students, especially for those who are open-minded and lively. Once in class, after the groups having been divided, I asked each of them to think out a stressful situation in life and then discuss how to act it out in class. Then each group played their own scene and the audience had to understand and gave feedback, such as where did the story take place? What made the situation so stressful? That class was a great success and all the students were satisfied. We even discovered some talents for acting.

A role-playing game is kind of a talk-show, it requires students to have a good ability of self-expression. They take a role of a famous person or simply being an audience, not being controlled by the teacher anymore. They get excited during the game, for they can talk freely, express themselves thoroughly and experience a totally different life of others.

Everyone can act, no matter children or adults. New ideas and funny reactions can bring people happiness and improve the learning atmosphere.