Mask and Gavel

Contents
Messages
Chris Lyons (Journal Editor) p. 3
Gordon Rees (Coordinator) p. 3
Feature Articles
Philip Head Student and Teacher Views on English
Language Speech Contests in Japan
p. 5
David Kluge Performance-Assisted Learning: A Proposal

p. 30
Gordon Rees What is Reader’s Theatre and can it be Used

Effectively in Large EFL Classes? p. 38
Jason White Andragogy in Action: Drama Techniques for

Adult Learning p. 53
In the Classroom
Mikaela Smith Connecting Reading to Speaking & Listening
Through Debate p. 69
Messages from the Editor and Coordinator
Chris Lyons (Editor)
It is my pleasure to introduce the sixth volume of the Mask & Gavel. This issue boasts a variety of
articles showcasing performance-assisted learning (PAL) and some techniques that can help bring
drama to the classroom. Philip Head leads our Featured Article section with a thorough study on
what contributes to student and teacher motivation for junior high school speech contests. Our next
paper by David Kluge describes what performance-assisted learning is, and works hard to dispel
some preconceived misconceptions about it by providing excellent resources any teacher can
incorporate into their classes. Continuing with PAL, Gordon Rees delivers a heartfelt article about
Reader’s Theatre, and details his own experience and method for using the activity in his own
teaching. Jason White then makes a strong case for using drama techniques with adult students,
and how it applies to andragogy and adult learning. Volume six then wraps up with Mikaela
Smith’s practical classroom debate guide which connects reading to speaking and listening skills.
This is my first issue of M&G as editor, and I want to thank everyone involved in assisting
with its completion, especially the other staff who volunteered their time to review articles or assist
with copy-editing and proofreading. Together we have created a quality publication that we can be
proud of. In particular, I would like to thank the Speech, Drama, & Debate SIG Publications Co-
Chair, Philip Head, for acting as my mentor and helping with all of my questions. I also want to
thank the authors for working to provide fresh, useful, and interesting content for this issue, and for
having patience with the publication process. Please enjoy reading these articles, and may you feel
inspired to utilize some of the ideas in them in your own teaching and development.
Gordon Rees (Coordinator)
The Mask & Gavel staff and contributing authors have worked hard to put together a high quality,
new edition that the SD&D SIG can be proud of. I would like to say thank you to all those people
who were involved in the effort and who worked hard to make this publication possible. The sixth
volume is very well balanced with a total of five articles, two related to drama, one each on debate
and speech, and one on performance-assisted learning which encompasses all three fields. In this
edition you will find a good mix of theory along with practical examples of ways to implement
speech, drama, and debate into the language classroom. So, buckle your seatbelt and get ready to
enjoy an intellectually stimulating ride into the fascinating world of speech, drama, and debate in
English language teaching!
Mask & Gavel Staff
Editor
Chris Lyons
Review Board
Anthony Corbett
Kate Fukui
Philip Head
David Kluge
Simon Quinlain
Copyediting and Proofreading
Philip Head
David Kluge
All materials in this publication are copyright © of the JALT Speech, Drama, and Debate SIG.
Mask & Gavel Volume 6, 2018 4

Student and Teacher Views on English
Language Speech Contests in Japan
Philip Head
Hiroshima Shudo University
head.philip@gmail.com
Abstract
English language speech contests are popular in Japanese junior and senior high schools, bringing
prestige to winning students’ schools and aiding winners to gain admission to university
(Nishikawa-Van Eester, 2009). As a result, students and teachers devote a great deal of effort
practicing for these high-stakes contests. However, there has been very little research examining
what motivates students, especially pre-university ones, to join speech contests or how students
feel about their experience of participating. In this study, 25 high school and 73 junior high school
speech contest participants completed anonymous surveys (including both Likert-type quantitative
questions and qualitative open response questions) examining two areas. The first is the reasons
students join speech contests (e.g., to win a prize), and the second is students’ overall experience of
the contest itself (e.g., was it stressful?). In addition, 36 teachers of speech contest participants
were asked why they felt their students joined the contests and their impressions of their students’
experiences in order to look for any differences between teacher impressions and the reported
experiences of the students. The two surveys showed that both students and teachers felt the most
important reason for students joining speech contests, in order of ranking, was a desire for personal
growth, followed by self-expression, improving English communication skills, making social
connections, and winning a prize. The fact that winning a prize was considered the least important
reason to participate indicates that these students were primarily intrinsically rather than
extrinsically motivated to compete. Regarding the second question, the overall experience of
participating in a speech contest was positive for students, with the majority enjoying the contest
and wishing to repeat the experience. In addition, students reported feeling more confident in their
public speaking as a result of participation, as well as having made improvements in their English
Head: Student and Teacher Views on English Language Speech Contests in Japan
communication abilities. The most surprising result is that students do not consider the experience
to be stressful, although outside observers such as teachers may perceive that it was the opposite.
Overall, we can conclude that speech contests are a generally positive experience with many
benefits for students who participate, thus justifying the heavy time commitment involved for both
students and teachers.
E
nglish language speech contests have long been popular in Japan, particularly at the
junior high and high school level. Contests are held multiple times a year at the school,
prefectural, or national level. Speeches are commonly performed by individual
students, but depending on the particular contest, speeches can also be done by pairs or small
groups.
Speech contests are typically categorized as recitations or original speech contests.
Recitations involve students memorizing and presenting a passage from a pre-written source
(sometimes slightly modified), often from a class textbook. As a result, recitations often feature
multiple presentations of the same passage by different students, and in fact, some contests (such
as the Zensho Trophy for commercial high school students) provide a pre-selected set of written
passages from which students must choose. In contrast, original speeches are (in principle) written
by the students and reflect their own ideas and experiences. These speeches require extra
commitment from students due to the additional writing stage and are often perceived as more
prestigious than recitations. This can be inferred by the fact that the H.I.H. Prince Takamado
Trophy (a nation-wide contest for junior high school students), allows three original speech
contestants from each prefecture to proceed to the national competition, but recitation contestants
are limited to the prefectural level (JNSA, 2017).
Regardless of the type of speech, it must be memorized by the students. Speeches often
have a strict time limit (5 minutes in the case of H.I.H. Prince Takamado Trophy) and students can
be penalized for exceeding the limit (JNSA, 2017). Speeches are typically evaluated by multiple
judges, including both native and non-native English speakers, who will confer before announcing
the final results. The judges may award points for specific aspects of a speech (such as content,
English, and delivery in the case of H.I.H. Prince Takamado Trophy), often using rating scales to

ensure consistency between judges, although this is not always possible (see Venema, 2013), or
they may rank contestants based on their general impression of the speech.
Speech contests can provide many tangible benefits to winning students, from attending
award ceremonies at their school, aiding in applications for admission to schools (Nishikawa-Van
Eester, 2009), to lucrative prizes and media attention. For example, the top three winners of the
H.I.H. Prince Takamado Trophy in 2017 were invited to a two-week summer school program in
the United Kingdom by The Mitsubishi Corp. (JNSA, 2017). The benefits for the school of a
speech contest winner include prestige and potentially an increase in enrolment demand.
Motivation for this Study
Despite the ubiquity and history of English speech contests in Japan, there is little available
research regarding student and teacher motivations for joining or experiences of participation,
particularly in non-university contexts. In order to address this lack of information, this study
sought to gather basic data about speech contests, involving three aspects: 1) motivation for
entering a speech contest, 2) the experience of participating in a contest, and 3) how the speech
was prepared (which is not discussed here due to space constraints).
This study replicates and expands upon a previous pilot study (Head, 2015) which featured
surveys of 77 junior high school speech contest participants and eight teachers. That study focused
on three areas: motivation of students to participate in speech contests, perceived benefits of
participating, and nature of the experience. In terms of motivations, students generally reported
intrinsic motivational factors such as a desire to improve their English abilities to be more
important than extrinsic factors such as winning prizes. In addition, both teachers and students
reported student improvements in pronunciation, intonation, and public speaking skills as a result
of speech contest participation. Students also reported that speech contests are not stressful.
However, teacher survey results found that teachers perceived the experience to be more stressful
and winning prizes to be more important for students than the students themselves did, indicating
that there is a difference in how participants and observers view the speech contest experience.

Methods
A two-part student survey (Appendix 1) was written in English and then translated into Japanese
by a native speaker. The survey contained both quantitative Likert-scale type sections, as well as
spaces for students to write qualitative responses to questions. This mixed-method approach was
used in order to ensure specific questions were answered in a way that could easily be compared
numerically using the Likert-scales, while allowing for unanticipated and unrestricted responses to
be collected through the written qualitative question responses. If a particular question was not
answered on a survey or was unclear, that particular response was disregarded and the total
response number for that question adjusted. A bilingual survey was used so that participants could
answer regardless of their ability in either language. The second part of the survey concerned
original speeches (not included in this paper), so students who had performed recitations of texts
were asked not to complete the second page. Written comments were transcribed and Japanese
comments translated into English prior to analysis. The student surveys were given out at two
different prefecture-wide speech contests in Kochi City in the fall of 2015. These contests
contained sections for both recitations of English texts, as well as original speeches. The first
contest was for students at public commercial high schools and the other was for both junior high
and senior high school students from both public and private schools. The surveys were
anonymous, the organizers gave permission for the surveys to be distributed at the events, the
surveys were given out after the contest had finished, the purpose of the research and its voluntary
nature was explained to participants, and only surveys that included written participant consent
were included in the results. In total 98 student surveys were included in the results.
The teacher surveys (Appendix 2) were similar to the student surveys (mixed-method,
bilingual, and anonymous) and asked many almost identical questions (with “I” being replaced by
“students”). They were distributed at the previously mentioned speech contests, as well as the
annual Skills Development Conference (SDC) which gathers all JET Programme ALTs (assistant
language teachers), along with one Japanese teacher of English (JTE) from each public school in
Kochi prefecture. Again, only the 36 surveys containing explicit consent were included in the
analysis.

Results and Discussion
Participant Profile
Of the 98 student survey respondents (see Table 1), 25 were in high school and 73 were in junior
high school. There were 10 male and 87 female respondents (plus one of unindicated gender). This
gender ratio is small, but similar to percentages at other English speech contests as speech contests
are often more popular among female than male students (Head, et al., 2018).
Table 1
Student Participant Profiles
Gender School Level Type of
Speech
Male 10 High school 25 Original 29

speech
Female 87 Junior high 73 Recitation 57

school
Unknown 1 Unknown 0 Unknown 12
On the teacher surveys, of the 36 respondents, 24 identified themselves as native-English speakers,
seven as non-native English speakers, and 5 did not respond. Teachers had experienced between
one and 20 past speech contests (mean 6.03, standard deviation 6.60).
Speech Contest Preparation Time
As shown in Table 2, there is a wide range in the amount of time students spent practicing their
speech. The differences probably reflect variations such as the type of speech (original speeches
also require writing time), as well as the amount of free time teachers and students have to devote
to practice. Practice typically involves students memorizing their speech by themselves at home
(often while shadowing a recording provided by an ALT to aid in modeling native-English
pronunciation and intonation) and then practicing at school with a JTE and/or ALT. The teachers
can correct and model the necessary pronunciation, intonation, and gestures as well as provide
prompts when the student forgets the next line of their speech. Some teachers may explicitly teach

phonology, while others may simply have the students repeat individual words until they get the
pronunciation right.
It is unclear at this stage what the optimum practice time is since the individual student
placements in the contests were not compared with time spent practicing. However, while more
practice likely has a positive effect on performance, there is likely a law of diminishing returns at
some point. Hopefully there are benefits that students receive in terms of improvements in
motivation and English ability that justify this time investment. However, considering that junior
high and high school students will have only 262.5 and 612.5 hours respectively of English
instruction over the course of three years of study (Hosoki, 2011) it is debateable whether the time
spent on speech contest practice is a beneficial supplement to (or a distraction and waste of
resources from) regular English class study.
Table 2
Estimated Time Spent Preparing for a Speech Contest
Hours of Practice Students (Self- Students (Teacher Teachers (Self-
Estimate) Estimate) Estimate)
Mean (SD) 20.32 (20.67) 29.60 (30.81) 16.51 (15.79)
MIN/MAX 2/100 8/120 1/40
Motivation for Joining a Speech Contest
To determine the relative importance of different aspects of the speech contest experience, and to
compare how teachers and students perceive them quantitatively (Figure 1), teachers and students
were asked to rate nine statements (Table 3) on a four-point Likert-scale (1=Very important;
2=Important; 3=Somewhat important; 4=Not important). Students and teachers were also asked to
write the main reason for students to join a speech contest and these qualitative responses were
grouped for comparison into categories that emerged (Table 4). If more than one reason was given,
the reasons were calculated separately. For example, the response “My teacher recommended I
participate. But also, having people listen to my speech. Improving pronunciation.” would be listed
in the following three different categories: Students were asked to participate by a teacher; To have
people listen to their speech or to communicate their feelings and thoughts; and Students want to
improve their English or communication ability.

Table 3
Summary of Student and Teacher Survey Likert Statements Regarding Speech Contest Motivations
Statement Students Teachers
Number
1 Improving English pronunciation Improving students’ English pronunciation
2 Improving English intonation Improving students’ English intonation
3 Improving public speaking Improving students’ public speaking
confidence confidence
4 Improving writing ability Improving students’ writing ability
5 Winning a prize Students’ winning a prize
6 Challenging yourself to do your Challenging students to do their best
best
7 Sending a message / expressing Allowing students to send a message /
yourself expressing themselves
8 Spending time with friends Allowing students to spend time with friends
9 Spending time with teachers/ALTs Allowing students to spend time with
teachers/ALTs

9 (T) 22 39 31 8
9 (S) 51 40 9 0
8 (T) 17 19 22 42
8 (S) 56 28 13 3
7 (T) 54 34 9 3
7 (S) 88 10 11
6 (T) 83 17 0
Statement number
6 (S) 92 5 21
5 (T) 8 11 31 50
5 (S) 5 24 42 29
4 (T) 14 26 34 26
4 (S) 36 38 26 1
3 (T) 61 33 60
3 (S) 73 19 7 0
2 (T) 53 42 60
2 (S) 79 17 40
1 (T) 61 31 8 0
1 (S) 74 26 0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
1 (S) 1 (T) 2 (S) 2 (T) 3 (S) 3 (T) 4 (S) 4 (T) 5 (S) 5 (T) 6 (S) 6 (T) 7 (S) 7 (T) 8 (S) 8 (T) 9 (S) 9 (T)
Very important 74 61 79 53 73 61 36 14 5 8 92 83 88 54 56 17 51 22
Important 26 31 17 42 19 33 38 26 24 11 5 17 10 34 28 19 40 39
Somewhat important 0 8 4 6 7 6 26 34 42 31 2 0 1 9 13 22 9 31
Not important 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 26 29 50 1 0 1 3 3 42 0 8
Percentage of responses
Very important Important Somewhat important Not important
Figure 1. Student and teacher perceptions of various aspects of speech contests.
Personal Growth
The aspect of speech contest participation that was reported as very important for the highest
percentage of students (92%) and teachers (83%) was challenging themselves to do their best
(Figure 1). This is reflected in the 12 mentions of students wanting to challenge themselves, the
fourth most common reason listed in the qualitative responses (Table 4). Therefore, personal
growth is a key motivator for participating.

Self Expression
The aspect reported as very important (Figure 1) for the second highest percentage of students was
sending a message (88%). This is also shown in Table 4, with seven mentions of students wanting
to have people listen to their speech or communicate their thoughts and feelings, and four mentions
of students wanting to express themselves. Interestingly, the percentage of teachers who felt it was
very important (54%) was less than for technical aspects of speech, such as pronunciation,
discussed below. This disparity indicates that the content of the speech is more important for
students than teachers may think, suggesting that students should be able to help craft their own
speeches or freely choose recitation texts that they feel a connection with.
Improving English Speaking
Next, we look at the more technical aspects of the speech contest. As shown in Figure 1, over 90%
of both students and teachers felt that improving pronunciation, intonation, and speaking
confidence were very important or important aspects of speech contests, although the percentage
of students who felt it was very important was higher than that of the teachers 74% vs 61%, 79%
vs 53%, and 73% vs 61% for improving pronunciation, intonation, and speaking confidence
respectively). This disparity in values may simply be due to the maturity of the teachers leading
them to choose less extremely positive or negative responses on the survey, while still sharing
overall similar attitudes to the students as indicated by the near identical scores when the important
and very important responses are pooled. However, in terms of improving writing ability, the
percentage who feel it is very important or important drops to around 75% for students (regardless
of whether they participated in a recitation or an original speech, data not shown) and 40% for
teachers. In fact, in the written comments none of the students mentioned improving writing skills
as a reason for joining a speech contest, whereas there were 12 mentions of students wanting to
improve their English abilities and five mentions of wanting to improve their speaking confidence
(see Table 2). This is likely because recitation contests do not require any original student writing,
and even original speeches are primarily judged on presentation ability rather than speech content,
so writing is not a strong consideration. Thus, we can conclude that improving speaking skills is an
important aspect of speech contests for students, but writing skills are of secondary importance.

Winning Prizes
By far the least important speech contest factor in this survey was winning a prize. Only 29% of
students and 19% of teachers list this as important or very important (Figure 1), and only two
students mentioned winning a prize in their reasons for joining a speech contest (Table 4). On the
other hand, rather than winning a prize, nine students mentioned demonstrating their English
ability as a reason for joining a contest (Table 4). This could indicate that students are less
concerned with an external ranking by judges comparing them to other students as they are with
showing themselves what they are capable of.
Social Connections
Another area that shows a gap between teachers and students are the social aspects of speech
contests. Eighty-four percent of students reported as very important or important spending time
with friends, and 91% for spending time with teachers, compared with teacher responses of 36%
and 61% respectively (Figure 1). As shown in Table 4, seven students mentioned that they joined a
contest because it was part of their club activities, and 5 did so because they were asked by a
friend. Thus, for many students, doing speech practice with friends or as part of a club likely serves
as a motivational factor.
This result differs from that of the previous pilot study (Head, 2015), which found that on
average students disagreed that they do speech contests because their friends are participating.
However, the teacher responses are similar to the previous study, as on average teachers felt that
students are motivated by their friends.
Enjoyment
Finally, looking at the responses in Table 4, the most common reason for participating in a speech
contest was that students had previously participated in one (20 responses). This could be
interpreted as indicating that students find the speech contest experience to be positive, as students
would be unlikely to willingly repeat the process otherwise. This is further supported by the 11
responses indicating that speech contests either were or appeared to be fun. Therefore, while many
students indicate that they participate to gain self-confidence or skills, many may choose to do so

out of simple enjoyment. This, and the fact that the majority of students felt that they had
accomplished the goals that they had set themselves by joining (Table 5), indicates that the
experience of doing a speech contest is positive and hopefully justifies the long hours of
preparation involved (a theme that is further examined in the next section).
Table 4
Student Reasons for Joining a Speech Contest
Reasons for Joining a Speech Contest Number of Rank
Mentions
Students have previously participated in a speech contest 20 1
Students like English 14 2
Students were asked to participate by a teacher 13 3
Students wanted to challenge themselves 12 4
Students want to improve their English or communication ability 12 4
Participating sounded like fun or was fun in the past 11 6
Students wish to demonstrate or test their English ability 9 7
Participating in a speech contest is a useful experience 8 8
To have people listen to their speech or to communicate their feelings 7 9
and thoughts
Because speech contests are a part of English club activities 7 9
To experience speaking in front of others 7 9
Students were invited by a friend or wished to spend time with friends 5 12
To improve their confidence 5 12
To express themselves 4 14
They were inspired by watching other participate 3 15
To listen to other people’s speeches 2 16
It is their last chance to try participating 2 16
Students wish to broaden their views 2 16
To get a prize 2 16
Table 5
Do Students Feel They Accomplished Their Goals?
Do Students Feel They Accomplished Their Goals? Number of Responses
Yes 74
No 14
Not sure or somewhat 9

The Experience of Participating in a Speech Contest
In order to gauge the experience of doing a speech contest, students and teachers were asked to rate
their agreement or disagreement with different statements (Table 6) on a six-point Likert-scale
(1=Strongly agree, 2=Agree, 3=Slightly agree, 4=Slightly disagree, 5=Disagree,6=Strongly
disagree) and their quantitative responses were compared (Figure 2). Students and teachers were
also asked to write down what they most like and dislike about speech contests. These qualitative
statements were then grouped according to common themes and summarized in tables 7 through 10
(What do students most like about English speech contests? What do students most dislike about
English speech contests? What do teachers most like about English speech contests? and What do
teachers most dislike about English speech contests?).
Table 6
Summary of Student and Teacher Survey Likert Statements Regarding Speech Contest Experiences
Statement Students Teachers
number
1 I enjoy doing English speech Students enjoy doing English speech
contests contests
2 Speech contests are stressful Speech contests are stressful for students
3 I feel confident expressing myself in Students feel confident expressing
Japanese themselves in Japanese
4 I feel confident expressing myself in Students feel confident expressing
English themselves in English
5 Public speaking is difficult for me Public speaking is difficult for students
6 Speech contests participation is Speech contests participation is useful for
useful for my future students’ future
7 Speech contests are good preparation Speech contests are good preparation for
for communicating with others communicating with others
8 I want to do speech contests again Students want to do speech contests again

8 (T) 14 36 39 6 6 0
8 (S) 55 28 10 5 11
7 (T) 23 29 37 6 6 0
7 (S) 62 20 13 2 20
6 (T) 34 31 23 6 6 0
6 (S) 72 19 6 020
5 (T) 23 46 26 0 6 0
Statement number
5 (S) 15 22 28 23 7 4
4 (T) 3 12 41 26 9 9
4 (S) 12 17 34 22 9 5
3 (T) 26 24 35 9 6 0
3 (S) 19 23 24 21 6 5
2 (T) 36 31 14 8 6 6
2 (S) 3 4 14 17 22 39
1 (T) 9 71 20 0
1 (S) 54 30 11 4 01
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
1 (S) 1 (T) 2 (S) 2 (T) 3 (S) 3 (T) 4 (S) 4 (T) 5 (S) 5 (T) 6 (S) 6 (T) 7 (S) 7 (T) 8 (S) 8 (T)
Strongly agree 54 9 3 36 19 26 12 3 15 23 72 34 62 23 55 14
Agree 30 71 4 31 23 24 17 12 22 46 19 31 20 29 28 36
Slightly agree 11 20 14 14 24 35 34 41 28 26 6 23 13 37 10 39
Slightly disagree 4 0 17 8 21 9 22 26 23 0 0 6 2 6 5 6
Disagree 0 0 22 6 6 6 9 9 7 6 2 6 2 6 1 6
Strongly disagree 1 0 39 6 5 0 5 9 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Percentage of responses
Strongly agree Agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Disagree Strongly disagree
Figure 2. Student and teacher perceptions of participating in speech contests.
Enjoyment of Speech Contests
First, looking at student enjoyment of speech contests (Figure 2), 95% of students and 100% of
teachers at least slightly agree that students enjoy doing speech contests (with 54% of students and

9% of teachers strongly agreeing), indicating that the experience is largely positive. This is
supported by the fact that the most common student response to what they dislike about speech
contests was “nothing” (Table 8).
Student Stress
Next, we look at the issue of stress. At first glance, speech contests appear to have the potential to
be very stressful. Not only is there limited time to get ready for a contest, but on the day itself
students only have one chance to impress the judges while speaking in a foreign language in
public. Surprisingly, the pilot study found that the majority of students and (to a lesser extent)
teachers disagreed that speech contests were stressful (Head, 2015).
Interestingly, the results of this survey show almost an inverse between the student and
teacher responses, with 3% of students strongly agreeing that speech contests are stressful for
students and 39% strongly disagreeing, whereas 36% of teachers strongly agree and 6% strongly
disagree. This appears to indicate a large difference between how observers and participants
interpret the experience. For example, while two teachers mentioned student stress as something
that they dislike about speech contests (Table 8), no students specifically mentioned stress in their
responses (Table 7). On the other hand, the second most common thing that students dislike about
speech contests is being nervous (Table 7). However, it is possible that the feeling of being
nervous is temporary (for example, just before a student is about to go on stage) and the rest of the
contest is enjoyable rather than stressful. For example, the third most common thing that students
like about speech contests is listening to other people’s speeches, indicating that even if they are
nervous they can enjoy the contest at the same time.
Student Confidence
In terms of confidence, students and teachers both felt that students are less confident expressing
themselves in English than Japanese, although it should be noted that the difference between
students’ confidence in expressing themselves in Japanese (66% at least slightly agreeing) and in
English (63% at least slightly agreeing) is not large. Also, 65% at least slightly agree that public
speaking is difficult for them, so it may be reasonable to assume that confidence in publicly

expressing themselves at an English speech contest is less due to issues with English ability and
more to do with general shyness. However, when looking at the qualitative data concerning what
students most like about speech contests (Table 7), we see that improving speaking ability and/or
being able to speak publicly is the most common response, and that an increase in confidence is the
second most common response. Gains in student confidence is also the most common thing that
teachers like about speech contests (Table 9). Thus, while students may lack confidence in public
speaking, regardless of the language, participating in a speech contest may serve to increase their
confidence. On the other hand, losing confidence and/or failing to perform well was the third most
mentioned dislike of students (Table 8), so gains in confidence are not universally guaranteed. It
should also be noted that a certain amount of self-confidence is likely necessary to consider
entering a public speech contest in the first place, so if all students were required to participate in a
speech contest the results may be very different.
Practical Benefits
Next, exploring the practical benefits of doing a speech contest, a large majority of students felt
that speech contest participation is useful for their future (with 72% strongly agreeing and only 2%
disagreeing (Figure 2)). Similarly, most students felt that speech contests were good preparation
for communicating with other people (62% strongly agreeing and only 4% disagreeing or slightly
disagreeing (Figure 2)). In both these cases, the percentage of teachers agreeing with those
statements was less than for the students while still being generally positive, with only 12%
disagreeing or slightly disagreeing. Looking at the written comments in Table 7, the seventh most
common comment was that speech contests are a useful experience for the future, and many other
comments mentioned practical English communication benefits such as improving pronunciation
and/or intonation (fourth ranked), improving English vocabulary and/or understanding (fifth
ranked), and improving writing ability (tenth ranked). Teachers also commented on students’
practical skill improvement among the things that they most like about speech contests (Table 9),
with mentions of improvements in intonation (second ranked), learning skills (fourth ranked), and
improving public speaking (also fourth ranked). Thus, we can conclude that students felt that they
received practical benefits from participation that will continue into their future.

Overall Experience
Finally, one of the greatest indicators of how speech contests can be a positive experience is the
fact that 93% of students at least slightly agree that they want to do speech contests again (with
55% strongly agreeing). This is supported by the fact that the most common reason for joining a
speech contest was that students had joined one in the past (Table 4). If students did not feel the
experience was worthwhile and fun, or if they felt it was unduly stressful, it is unlikely that they
would continue to participate in future contests. This does not mean that all the aspects of the
speech contest experience were considered positive, however.
Table 7
What do Students Most Like About English Speech Contests?
What do Students Most Like About English Speech Contests? Number of Rank
Mentions
Improving speaking ability and/or being able to speak in front of others 23 1
Gaining confidence and/or a feeling of accomplishment 22 2
Listening to other people’s speeches 15 3
Improving pronunciation and/or intonation 13 4
Improving vocabulary and/or English understanding 9 5
Making friends and/or connecting with others 7 6
Expressing yourself and/or writing your own speech 5 7
It will be a useful experience for the future 5 7
Having people listen to your speech 3 9
Improving writing ability 2 10
Doing the speech well 2 10
Others 5
Table 8
What do Students Most Dislike About English Speech Contests?
What do Students Most Dislike About English Speech Contests? Number of Rank
Mentions
Nothing 24 1
Being nervous 19 2
Losing confidence and/or failing to perform well 7 3
Memorizing the speech 6 4
The time commitment and/or difficulty of practice 5 5
The length of the contest and/or judging is too long 2 6
Being shy and/or embarrassed 2 6
Others 5

Table 9
What do Teachers Most Like About English Speech Contests?
What do Teachers Most Like About English Speech Contests? Number of Rank
Mentions
Students can gain confidence 6 1
Students can improve their intonation 5 2
Students become more motivated and/or challenge themselves 5 2
Spending time practicing with students 4 4
Students can use English outside the classroom 4 4
Students learn skills 4 4
Students can express themselves 4 4
Students improve their public speaking 2 8
Others 2
Table 10
What do Teachers Most Dislike About English Speech Contests?
What do Teachers Most Dislike About English Speech Contests? Number of Rank
Mentions
The speech preparation schedule 3 1
Adjusting speech content in order to impress judges 2 2
Emphasis by judges on technical aspects of speeches rather than on 2 2
fluency or self-expression
Student memorize but don’t understand the content of their speeches 2 2
The need to memorize speeches 2 2
Students learn unnatural gestures and speaking styles 2 2
It is stressful for students 2 2
Others 6
Areas for Improvement
In terms of negative aspects of speech contests, both students (Table 8) and teachers (Table 10)
mention speech memorization. On a related note, some teachers mention that while students
memorize their speech, they may not actually understand the meaning of the words they are
presenting. This calls into question some of the claimed benefits regarding improvements in
English understanding that result from doing English speeches. Perhaps allowing students to bring
notes on stage would be a way of reducing the time needed to prepare for a speech contest (the
fifth most common complaint among students (Table 8)) and allow time to be spent on ensuring
that students are learning English. Considering that people delivering public speeches outside of a
contest setting almost always rely on notes (or teleprompters), the rationale for denying students

access to these aids is questionable as it prioritizes rote memorization ability over all else. Another
way to ensure student comprehension of the speech content is to have impromptu speeches where
students are told the speech topic and are only given a few minutes to prepare before presenting
their speech. However, the level of English ability required for this type of speech is likely beyond
the grasp of most students at this stage in their education. Perhaps another way to focus on student
understanding of the speech content would be for judges to ask a few questions related to the
speech content (in Japanese).
Another aspect of contests that causes concern is the judging. While students were mostly
concerned with the time taken by judges to reach a decision (Table 8), the teachers were concerned
about the negative results on student learning of trying to impress the judges. For instance, there
are two mentions of adjusting the content to impress judges. Often contests will have the same
judges each year, often from universities so as to avoid the appearance of bias (Sawa, 2010). Also,
judge panels often consist of two Japanese and one native English speakers (often an ALT). As
many have observed, the native and non-native judges may emphasize different aspects of speech
contest evaluation, with some (native English speaking) observers feeling that technical
proficiency is more prized by non-natives and “natural” delivery more prized by native speakers
(Carrigan, 2017; Markewicz, 2014; Sawa, 2010). The researcher has observed this leading to
teachers tailoring the student’s speech content (and accompanying gestures) to suit the known
tastes of the Japanese judges in order to win, as they outnumber the native English judges (whose
turnover rate is also higher). One way to combat this may be to attempt to recruit more judges
(both native and non-native English speakers) so that there can be a greater variety of judges to
draw on and thus less predictability concerning who will be present and what will appeal to the
judging panel. In addition, some sort of formal training to ensure that judges apply evaluation
rubrics consistently could help reduce variation in results between judges, especially since judges
may be judging a contest for the first time (Venema, 2013).
Limitations of the Study
These were samples of convenience, however, due to the prefecture-wide gathering of teachers and
students at these events, the researcher feels that these form a representative sample of the

prefecture. It should also be noted that not all speech contests are identical in terms of level of
competition, so students entering other contests may have had different experiences. In addition,
the student comments were translated into English before being analysed, so some nuances may
have been lost in translation. Also, the categorization of responses into different categories can be
subjective.
Conclusion
This study examined two main questions from the perspectives of both students and teachers: 1)
what motivates students to join a speech contest? and 2) what is the experience of participation?
Looking at the first research question, the results of this survey showed that there are many
overlapping factors involved in students joining speech contests. However, the most important
factors (in descending order) appear to be personal growth, followed by self-expression, improving
English communication skills, social connections, and winning a prize. The fact that winning a
prize was considered the least important factor by students and teachers indicates that participants
are primarily intrinsically rather than extrinsically motivated (or it could mean that only
intrinsically motivated students are able to and willing to go through the extensive commitment
required in the first place). This is encouraging as extrinsic motivation such as winning a prize is
considered less valuable for learning than intrinsic motivation, such as a desire to challenge
yourself (Brown, 2007). Finally, many students appear to join speech contests out of past
enjoyment, indicating that the experience is positive, which is further supported by the responses to
the second research question.
In answer to the second research question, the experience of doing an English speech
contest is very positive. The majority of students reported enjoying the contest and wishing to
repeat the experience. In addition, students reported feeling more confident in their public speaking
as a result of participation, as well as having made improvements in their English communication
abilities. The most surprising result is that students do not consider the experience to be stressful,
although outside observers such as teachers may think the opposite.
Overall, we can conclude that speech contests are a generally positive experience with
many benefits for students who participate, thus justifying the sometimes heavy time commitment

involved for both students and teachers. However, there are areas that could be improved,
particularly in terms of the judging of contests, that can make the experience even more beneficial
for student development and self-improvement.
References
Brown, H. D. (2007). Principles of language learning and teaching (5th ed.). White Plains:
Pearson Education.
Carrigan, L. (2017, January 10). Teaching in Japan: A guide to English speech contests. GaijinPot.
Retrieved from https://blog.gaijinpot.com/teaching-japan-guide-english-speech-contests/
Head, P. (2015). Student and teacher attitudes towards junior high school English language speech
contests in Japan. The Mask & Gavel, 4, 28-38.
Head, P., Kluge, D., Lyons, C., Rees, G., White, J., & Bussinguer-Khavari, V. (2018, in press).
Performance-assisted learning: Enabling students to thrive and jive.
Hosoki, Y. (2011). English language education in Japan: Transitions and challenges (I). 九州国際
大学国際関係学論集 [Kyushu International University International Relations Journal],

6(1), 199-215. Retrieved from http://id.nii.ac.jp/1265/00000272/
JNSA (The Japan National Student Association). (2017). H.I.H. Prince Takamado Trophy 69th All
Japan Inter-Middle School English Oratorical Contest [accessed September 29th, 2017]
http://www.jnsafund.org/documents/2017kaisaiyokoenglish.pdf
Markewicz, D. (2014, August 4) Speak up! Speech contest tips and tricks. Fukushima AJET.
Retrieved from http://fujet.org/?p=4412
Nishikawa-Van Eester, M. (2009). Teaching public speaking in Japanese junior high school. In
Proceedings of the 2009 Temple University Japan colloquium in applied linguistics (pp. 1-
7). Tokyo: Temple University.
Sawa, G. H. (2010, November 28). Judging English speech contests. Seijoh University 研究ノー
ト [research note] 65-77. Retrieved from
http://ci.nii.ac.jp/els/contentscinii_20170930224112.pdf?id=ART0009884268
Venema, J. (2013). Judging speech contests: Rating scales and common sense. Mask & Gavel 2(1),
25-30.

Philip Head is a Lecturer at Hiroshima Shudo University, but was
previously an Assistant Language Teacher with the JET Programme
in Kochi City, where he helped numerous junior and senior high
school students prepare for English speech contests. He is actively
involved in academic publishing with The Language Teacher. His
research interests include EFL student motivation, journal writing,
and speech contests.

Appendix 1
Bilingual Student Survey
★Grade 学年（）
★Male / female 男 / 女
★Original speech / recitation オリジナルスピーチ / レシテーション（暗唱）
★I practiced my speech for approximately _____________ hours in total.（私は、合計で約時間スピーチの練習をした）

★Please rate the following aspects of speech contests （スピーチコンテストに関する下記の質問に番号で答えてください。）
1=Very important（とても重要）2=Important（重要）
3=Somewhat important（やや重要）4=Not important（重要でない）
Improving English pronunciation. （英語の発音）
Improving English intonation.（英語のイントネーション・抑揚）
Improving public speaking confidence.（人前で話す自信）
Improving writing ability.（英語を書く力）
Winning a prize.（受賞すること）
Challenging yourself to do your best.（ベストを尽くすこ）
Sending a message / expressing yourself.（思いを伝えること・自分を表現すること）
Spending time with friends.（仲間と時間を過ごすこと）
Spending time with teachers/ALTs.（先生や、ＡＬＴと時間を過ごすこと）
★Please state your agreement/disagreement with the following statements:

（下記の文に、賛成（そう思う）/ 不賛成（そう思わない）で答えてください。）
1=Strongly agree（まったくそう思う）, 2=Agree（そう思う）, 3=Slightly agree（まあまあそう思う）,
4=Slightly disagree（あまり思わない）, 5=Disagree（思わない）, 6=Strongly disagree（まったくそう思わない）
I enjoy doing English speech contests.（私はスピーチコンテストを楽しんでいる）
Speech contests are stressful.（スピーチコンテストはストレスを感じる）
I feel confident expressing myself in Japanese.（私は日本語で自分を表現することに自信がある）
I feel confident expressing myself in English.（私は英語で自分を表現することに自信がある）
Public speaking is difficult for me.（スピーチは私にとって難しい）
Speech contests participation is useful for my future.（コンテストに参加することは将来役立つ）
Speech contests are good preparation for communicating with others.
（スピーチコンテストは他人とのコミュニケーションの良い準備になる）
I want to do speech contests again.（私はまたスピーチコンテストに出場したい）
★What was your main reason(s) for entering this speech contest?
（あなたが、スピーチコンテストに出場した主な理由は何ですか？）
★Do you feel you achieved your goal(s)?（あなたは、目標を達成したと感じますか？）
★What do you most like and dislike about English speech contests?
（あなたにとって、英語スピーチコンテストに関して最も良いこと（楽しいこと）と悪いこと（嫌なこと）は何ですか？）
★What best describes how your speech was written?

（あなたがスピーチを書いた方法を下記から選び、記号で答えてください。）
1) I wrote my speech in English. （私は、英語でスピーチを書いた。）
2) I wrote my speech in Japanese and then I translated it into English
（私は、日本語でスピーチを書き、それから英語に訳した。）
3) A teacher interviewed me about my ideas and then wrote the speech in English.
（先生が私の考えを聞きだして、先生が英語で書いた。）
4) Someone wrote the speech for me. （ほかの人がが書いてくれた。）
5) Other (please specify) （その他・詳しく書いでください）
★Who helped you prepare the speech? (more than one answer is ok).
（誰が、スピーチの準備を手伝ってくれましたか？いくつでも OK）
1) Family members （家族）
2) A Japanese teacher （日本人の先生）
3) A native English teacher （外国人の先生）
4) No one （誰も手伝っていない）
5) Other (please specify) （その他・詳しく書いてください）
★What best describes your speech preparation?（スピーチの準備について下記から選び、番号で答えてください。）

1) I re-wrote my speech after getting advice. （私はアドバイスをもらった後スピーチを書き直した）
2) A teacher re-wrote my speech. （先生がスピーチを書き直した）
3) Several people re-wrote my speech. （何人かの人が私のスピーチを書き直した）
4) A teacher re-wrote my speech and explained why they made changes. （先生が書き直して、なぜ変更したかを説明してくれた）
5) My speech wasn’t re-written. （書き直さなかった）

（下記の質問に、賛成（そう思う）/ 不賛成（そう思わない）で答えてください）
★The final version of the speech reflects my personal views.（スピーチの完成版は私の意見が反映されている）
★It was easy to think of a topic.（トピックを考えるのは簡単だった）
★I learned how to present my ideas clearly.（私は、考えを明白に表現する方法を学んだ）
Do you consent to the use of this survey for Philip Head’s research purposes? No identifying information will be published.
（ここで得た個人情報は公表されません。この結果をフィリップヘッドの研究目的に使用することに同意しますか？）
□ Yes, you can use my responses.（同意します）
□ No, don’t use my responses. （同意しません）

Appendix 2
Bilingual Teacher Survey
★Number of speech contests you have prepared students for （）回

（これまで、何回コンテストの指導を行ってきましたか？）
★Native English speaker / Non-native English speaker
★I helped my students practice their speech for approximately _____________ hours in total.
（私は、合計で約時間スピーチの指導をした）
★My students practiced their speech for approximately _____________ hours in total.
（生徒は、合計で約時間スピーチの練習をした）
★Please rate the following aspects of speech contest
（スピーチコンテストに関する下記の質問に番号で答えてください。）
1=Very important（とても重要）2=Important（重要）
3=Somewhat important（やや重要）4=Not important（重要でない）
Improving students’ English pronunciation. （英語の発音）
Improving students’ English intonation.（英語のイントネーション・抑揚）
Improving students’ public speaking confidence.（人前で話す自信）
Improving students’ writing ability.（英語を書く力）
Students winning a prize.（受賞すること）
Challenging students’ to do their best.（ベストを尽くすこ）
Allowing students to send a message / express themselves.（思いを伝えること・自分を表現すること）
Allowing students to spend time with friends.（仲間と時間を過ごすこと）
Allowing students to spend time with teachers/ALTs.（先生や、ＡＬＴと時間を過ごすこと）

（下記の文に、賛成（そう思う）/ 不賛成（そう思わない）で答えてください。）
Students enjoy doing English speech contests.（生徒はスピーチコンテストを楽しんでいる）
Speech contests are stressful for students.（スピーチコンテストは生徒にとってストレスである）
Students feel confident expressing themselves in Japanese.
（生徒は日本語で自分を表現することに自信がある）
Students feel confident expressing themselves in English.
（生徒は英語で自分を表現することに自信がある）
Public speaking is difficult for students.（スピーチは生徒にとって難しい）
Speech contests participation is useful for students’ future.
（コンテストに参加することは生徒の将来役立つ）
Speech contests are good preparation for communicating with others.
（スピーチコンテストは他人とのコミュニケーションの良い準備になる）
Students want to do speech contests again.（生徒はまたスピーチコンテストに出場したい）
★What do you most like and dislike about English speech contests?
（あなたにとって、英語スピーチコンテストに関して最も良いこと（楽しいこと）と悪いこと（嫌なこと）は何ですか？）

★What best describes how your student’s speech was written?

（あなたの生徒がスピーチを書いた方法を下記から選び、記号で答えてください。）
6) The student wrote their speech in English. （生徒が、英語でスピーチを書いた。）
7) The student wrote their speech in Japanese and then they translated it into English
（生徒が、日本語でスピーチを書き、それから英語に訳した。）
8) I interviewed the student about their about my ideas and then wrote the speech in English.
（先生が生徒の考えを聞きだして、先生が英語で書いた。）
9) Someone else wrote the speech for the student. （ほかの人が書いてくれた。）
10) Other (please specify) （その他・詳しく書いでください）
★Who helped the student prepare the speech? (more than one answer is ok).
（誰が、スピーチの準備を手伝いましたか？いくつでも OK）
1) Family members （家族）
2) A Japanese teacher （日本人の先生）
3) A native English teacher （外国人の先生）
4) No one （誰も手伝っていない）
5) Other (please specify) （その他・詳しく書いてください）
★What best describes the speech preparation?（スピーチの準備について下記から選び、番号で答えてください。）

6) The student re-wrote my speech after getting advice. （生徒が、私のアドバイスをもらった後、原稿を書き直した）
7) A teacher re-wrote the student’s speech. （先生が原稿を書き直した）
8) Several people re-wrote the student’s speech. （何人かの人が生徒の原稿を書き直した）
9) A teacher re-wrote the student’s speech and explained why they made changes. （先生が書き直して、なぜ変更したかを説明した）
10) The student’s speech wasn’t re-written. （生徒の原稿は書き直さなかった）

（下記の質問に、賛成（そう思う）/ 不賛成（そう思わない）で答えてください）
The final version of the speech reflects the student’s personal views.
（スピーチの完成版は生徒の意見が反映されている）
It was easy for the student to think of a topic.（生徒がトピックを考えるのは簡単だった）
The student learned how to present their ideas clearly.（生徒は、考えを明白に表現する方法を学んだ）
Do you consent to the use of this survey for Philip Head’s research purposes? No identifying information will be published.
（ここで得た個人情報は公表されません。この結果をフィリップヘッドの研究目的に使用することに同意しますか？）
□ Yes, you can use my responses.（同意します）

□ No, don’t use my responses. （同意しません）
Can Philip contact you at a later date to ask questions about speech contest preparations?
（フィリップが、スピーチ準備について聞き取るために、後日連絡をしてもよろしいですか？）
□ Yes, you can contact me at the following email/telephone: （はい。次のメールアドレスか電話番号に連絡してください）

Performance-Assisted Learning: A
Proposal
David Kluge
Nanzan University
klugenanzan@gmail.com
Abstract
Speech as a performance activity is accepted by English teachers and administrators, and speech
performances are done in classes as well as at contests. Formal debate is accepted by teachers, but
not taught so often in classes because of a perception that it requires special expertise on the part of
the teacher, and that it is too complex and difficult a task for most students. Other performance
activities, such as drama, dance, and music, receive less acceptance and support for a variety of
reasons. This paper discusses the acceptance of performance in courses, explains the concept of
Performance-Assisted Learning (PAL), and gives examples of what PAL would look like.
T
here is strong general support for the use of speech in English language education in
Japan, along with acknowledgement of the ability of debate to teach, encourage the use
of, and improve critical thinking skills. On the other hand, there is little interest in
implementing formal debate in courses, and some, but not much, general interest in the use of
drama in English. However, there seems to be no interest in the areas of puppetry, performing of
songs with dance, the making of movies, lipdups (described below), and other activities that could
benefit language learning.
Why is this? Of course, it could be a publicity problem, but it is more likely that the
problem lies deeper, perhaps with teachers’ preconceived notions of the value of such activities
and of what is required to implement speech, drama, and debate (SDD) in their classrooms.
Kluge: Performance Assisted Learning: A Proposal
Preconceived Notions of Implementation of Speech, Drama, and Debate
In addition to a lack of information or publicity concerning SDD, perhaps many language teachers
have the misconception that only a special type of person, a “drama” person, or specialists (such as
a person who was a debater in high school and college), are able to implement speech, drama, or
debate, which, of course, is not the case. Rather than sponsoring a speech contest, putting on an
entire play, or hosting a debate tournament, some micro-activities such as short impromptu
speeches, simple role-plays, or ten-minute debates can be done easily by any teacher using a step-
by-step explanation of the activity, such as can be found in CLASSROOM RESOURCES: Practical
Ideas for Teachers (Head, 2015), a resource book explaining performance activities.
There is another perception that perhaps inhibits teachers, making them reluctant to try to
use these aids to language learning, and that is the false perception that these activities are not
central to learning, but are fun, superfluous activities. To the contrary, as a result of research
funded by the Center on Organization and Restructuring of Schools, Newmann & Wehlage (1995)
conclude that “academic achievement can be judged satisfactory only if students are required to
express the results of [their] disciplined inquiry in written, symbolic, and oral discourse by making
things, …. and in performances for audiences.” (p. 8). That is, performances, rather than being
superfluous, are the necessary last step in demonstrating achievement of knowledge or skill, and so
should be used more extensively in language and content courses.
Finally, there is the perception that these performances require a large amount of time; in
the case of drama or debate, it could take an entire semester, which would not allow enough time
for more “obviously useful activities” such as TOEIC practice, grammar and vocabulary lessons,
or listening and writing activities. This is connected to the false impression that if a teacher is
going to implement drama, debate, or speech, a large-scale activity has to be planned instead of the
micro-activities mentioned above. This implementation of micro-activities of performance in order
to learn, consolidate learning, and evaluate learning is the definition of Performance-Assisted
Learning (PAL). PAL is not confined to language learning, but encompasses content courses,
focusing on the use of micro-activities from performance areas of study in order to ensure that
students have truly learned the material of the courses.

PAL Rationale
In discussion with Donna Tatsuki of Kobe City University of Foreign Studies (August 2017,
personal communication), she stated that we need to move beyond the idea of language
competence, especially as shown by commercial proficiency exam scores, and instead require
language performance. Within the discussion, this first came from the position that students should
show they have acquired language skills, but also included the idea that knowledge is not gained
through memorization, but through constructing it in the mind. This idea that knowledge comes
through constructing it in the mind is a key concept of Constructivism (Betts, 1991). Students who
are not required to produce “expressions” that are meaningful outside of the classroom are
generally not involved in “constructing or producing meaning or knowledge” (Newmann &
Wehlage, 1995, p. 8). Their conclusion that performance in front of an audience as one way
students show academic achievement is a strong rationale for the need for dissemination of the
PAL concept.
Another area of research that informs PAL is CAC (Communication Across the
Curriculum), which came about as a result of the consensus that U.S. university students lacked the
abilities to effectively communicate their research in writing and spoken word (Cronin & Glenn,
1991). WAC (Writing Across the Curriculum) is the most accepted and effective form of CAC
(Walvoord, 1996). Bellon (2000), building on the success of CAC, proposed DAC (Debate Across
the Curriculum).
These movements form a basis for PAL. Perhaps PAC, Performance Across the
Curriculum, would be a better term for the concept of PAL. Either of the two terms could be used
interchangeably, depending on whether emphasis is placed on the use of the micro-activities
(PAL), or on the use of performance in any course, no matter the content area (PAC).
PAL Performance Types
The performance types that would be included in PAL are theater (e.g., plays, role-plays, theater
games, process drama, simulations, roleplaying games), oral interpretation/readers theater, speech,
presentation (PowerPoint or lightning styles like PechaKucha – a twenty-slide presentation
software presentation format where each slide is timed to automatically advance after 20 seconds),

debate, puppetry, music, dance, lipdup (described below), film-making, and other performance
types.
PAL Scope
The scope of PAL would be language courses (oral communication, presentation, writing, reading,
or discussion), but would also include content courses (e.g., intercultural communication, history,
sociology, psychology, law, medicine, healthcare, etc.).
PAL Examples
What are some examples of PAL? Below are a few, but by no means an exhaustive list, of such
activities in both language and content classes.
Theater (plays, roleplays, theater games, process drama, simulations, roleplaying games)
In oral communication classes, rather than the somewhat uninteresting reading of dialogues, the
participants could create back-stories for the characters by giving them names, jobs, families,
personality characteristics, etc. One teacher at Nanzan University, William Kumai (November
2017, personal communication) has his students write their own short dramas for other students to
perform. This also could be done by turning generic textbook conversations into more interesting
role-plays. For content classes, simulations and role-plays could be used to illustrate situations or
events covered in the class.
Oral Interpretation/Readers Theater
In language classes, oral interpretation (expressive reading of text out loud) could be used in
reading or writing classes. Students could read or write a poem or story and then perform it in solo
or group performances. In content classes, students could perform short pieces of important text in
solo or group performances.

Speech
In language classes students could take essays that they write in composition class and perform
them in class. In content classes, students could do short one- to three-minute impromptu speeches
on key concepts of the course. Important speech concepts, such as eye contact, varying voice
volume, speed, pitch, and style, and the use of gesture and movement, could be required for oral
reports.
Presentation (PowerPoint, PechaKucha)
In language and content courses, presentations using computers are common, but the principles of
creating a good presentation (simple slides, with graphics and little or no text) with clear
organization (introduction, body, conclusion) and good presentation style (eye contact, gestures,
movement, not looking at the screen) could be taught. The format and standardized automatic
movement of slides makes PechaKucha-like lightning presentations interesting, also make it more
important for students to practice more, and often encourages more spontaneity.
Debate
In language classes, specifically discussion classes, one of the types of formal debate (policy,
public forum, Lincoln-Douglas, etc.) can be used or modified to match your content course needs
(IDEA, n.d.). In content classes, simplified formal debate can be used to deeply explore issues.
Puppetry
In language classes, puppetry is a little-used activity, but has great possibilities in that it allows one
person to play both characters in a dialog, thereby allowing a small group of people to play a large
cast of characters. In content classes, puppets, especially paper-stick puppets (a picture of the
character attached to a stick) allow the student to easily play historical characters or important
people in the world, recreate historical events, or recreate other narratives.

Music
In language classes, the lyrics of songs are often used to demonstrate grammar points, or songs are
used as listening exercises. However, if a performance of the lyrics in karaoke-style is required, or
if the students perform an oral interpretation by speaking the lyrics dramatically, the meaning of
the lyrics can be more deeply experienced. In content classes, performance of lyrics to songs can
be used to illustrate historical, social, or political situations.
Dance
In advanced language classes dance is not used much, although it is used with young low-level
learners to teach basic vocabulary and grammar with songs like “Head, Shoulders, Knees and
Toes,” or “The Hokey-pokey.” However, when included in drama or oral interpretation
performances, dance can add more excitement and motivation for the students. In content classes,
dance would probably be rarely used as it does not employ language, but could be used in
psychology or mental health classes to portray emotions or emotional situations that would be too
painful using words (death of a family member or friend, feelings about a natural catastrophe such
as a flood, earthquake, or tsunami). Dance, without words, can be emotionally strong.
Lipdup
Lipdup, or lipdub, is making a music video where students do not actually sing, but lipsync (move
their lips to match the words to a song). The video is done nonstop in one shot and the only editing
done is the addition of the music track. In language classes it has been used to motivate students with
lower level English skills (Kluge & Catanzariti, 2013). In content classes, this would probably not
be used as it takes a large amount of time and practice.
Film-making
In language classes film-making is rarely done because of the expense of the equipment, the high
level of technical knowledge required of the teacher, and for the students the large amount of
preparation, the time to think, create a story, plan the shots, rehearse the scenes, and then edit the
resulting material are prohibitive. However, with the use of the students’ own smartphones, and

with free video editing applications, it is becoming much easier to do, so that students can do their
own editing (Ford & Kluge, 2015). In content classes, film-making could be used to create multi-
media projects on the topic of study.
Conclusion
If attitudes toward performance in university education were changed so that performances were
considered a necessary component of the education process and a good sign that learning has been
internalized by students, and if teachers discovered ways like the ones described in this paper to
use performance, not as the main goal, but as a tool to learn different skills and contents, then
performance might be embraced by a larger number of teachers. This is a worthy goal of
organizations like the Speech, Drama, & Debate SIG.
References
Bellon, J. (2000). A research-based justification for debate across the curriculum. Argumentation
& Advocacy, 36(3), 161-175.
Betts, F. (1991). What's all the noise about? Constructivism in the classroom. ASCD
Curriculum/Technology Quarterly, 1(1), 1-4.
Cronin, M. & Glenn, P. (1991). Oral communication across the curriculum in higher education:
The state of the art. Communication Education, 40(4), 356-367.
Ford, A. & Kluge, D. (2015). Positive and negative outcomes in creative Project-Based Learning:
Two EFL projects, ACADEMIA: Literature and Linguistics 98, Nanzan University, 113-154.
Head, P. (Ed) (2015). CLASSROOM RESOURCES: Practical Ideas for Teachers, Vol. 1. Tokyo:
JALT Speech, Drama, & Debate SIG.
International Debate Education Association (IDEA). (n.d.) Retrieved from
https://idebate.org/debate-formats
Kluge, D., & Catanzariti, J. (2013). Creative presentation and performance in the language
classroom. ACADEMIA: Literature and Linguistics, 93, 77-106.

Newmann, F. M. & Wehlage, G. G. (1995). Successful school restructuring: A report to the public
and educators by the Center on Organization and Restructuring of Schools. Madison, WI:
Center on Organization and Restructuring of Schools.
Walvoord, B. E. (1996). The future of WAC. College English, 58(1), 58-79.
David Kluge (Nanzan Junior College, Nanzan University) has been teaching
English for over 35 years. His research interests include oral interpretation,
speech, drama, debate, composition, and materials development.

What is Reader’s Theatre and can it be
Used Effectively in Large EFL Classes?
Gordon Rees
Yokkaichi University
reesgordon@gmail.com
Abstract
Having the ability to make an effective presentation in English is becoming more essential in the
modern, global economy. In response to this need, many Japanese universities are introducing
presentation skills-type courses into the English curriculum. However, shy students can be a
challenge for EFL teachers who must teach courses that emphasize public speaking, resulting in
students reading directly from their script, failing to make eye contact with the audience, and
speaking in a barely audible, monotone voice. Apprehensive students often fail to engage the
audience and their speeches are uninteresting and lack energy. This paper introduces Reader’s
Theatre, a collaborative group drama activity, and discusses how the author implemented it into
large English communication classes in an attempt to build student confidence, teach basic
presentation skills, and encourage students to speak and read English with more expression.
T hroughout my 17 years of teaching EFL at the university level in Japan, I have observed
that Japanese students are typically shy and inhibited about speaking with much
expression in front of an entire class, particularly in courses where they are required to
make short speeches or presentations. This provides a challenge for instructors tasked with
teaching presentation classes. In a conversation, words alone are not enough to fully understand
what your partner is trying to say. Gestures, facial expressions, posture, and intonation can all
convey or add something to a message. In public speaking, voice inflection and projection,
gestures to emphasize key words, and facial expressions to show emotion are considered to be
Rees: What is Reader’s Theatre and can it be Used Effectively in Large EFL Classes?
essential elements of a good presentation. Without them, a speech lacks energy, is uninteresting,
and may be difficult to understand. I believe that Japanese students need to be given time to
practice and learn these kinds of communication skills in a non-threatening, collaborative
environment.
Over the last few years, I have had success integrating drama into some of my English
communication classes in an attempt to build student confidence and make them more comfortable
speaking English expressively in front of an audience. In addition to confidence building, I have
found that drama is also a good method for teaching voice inflection, voice projection, and gesture
use. However, acting in a drama requires students to memorize lines, which is not easy for them. I
have also found that putting on an in-class play takes up a lot of class time.
I had been searching for a teaching method that could provide the same benefits as drama,
but wouldn’t burden students with line-memorization or take up lots of valuable class time, when I
was introduced to the concept of Reader’s Theatre (hereafter RT) at an academic conference about
two years ago. After researching RT and successfully integrating it into a small, 4th-year seminar
class (see Head, Kluge, Morris, & Rees, 2017), I wanted to see if I could do so in larger classes as
well. In this paper I will explain the methodology I used to introduce RT into a first-year, required
English communication course for non-English majors, discuss the results, and further explore the
potential of RT in EFL as a method for helping students acquire the skills and confidence needed to
try and speak English more dynamically in front of others.
What is Reader's Theatre?
RT is an oral presentation of a drama, prose, or poetry by at least two people (Ng & Boucher-Yip,
2010). In RT, readers read a script adapted from an original story, and the audience imagines the
action while listening to the script being read aloud. Instead of acting out the script as in a play, the
goal of each performer is to read their lines aloud effectively, enabling the audience to visualize the
action (Cornwell, n.d.). RT is basically group storytelling. Reading the text with expressive voices,
facial expressions, and gestures is the focus of the performance. It can also liven up a story and
make comprehending the text meaningful and enjoyable for students (Taylor de Caballero, 2013).

RT Script Selection
RT may be performed with many kinds of literature: picture books, short-stories, parts of novels,
poetry, folk tales, works of non-fiction, or newspaper and magazine articles (Cornwell, n.d.). The
script selection process for an RT performance involves first reading and becoming familiar with
the original text, and then transforming it into a script involving several characters. Another option
is to use ready-made RT scripts, which can be downloaded for free or can be purchased online (Ng
and Boucher-Yip, 2010).
Differences Between Stage Plays and RT
The main difference between RT and a stage play is, as mentioned above, that in RT, readers do
not have to memorize lines. According to Taylor de Caballero (2015, para. 7):
Unlike conventional theater, RT participants do not aim to memorize lines or parts;
rather, they practice and deliver the written script while holding their scripts formally
in one or both hands, much in the way singers in a chorus might. Also unlike regular
theater, RT takes place without the use of sets, staging or props, relying solely on the
participants’ voices to convey the message or story.
In traditional RT, readers usually stand or sit in chairs in line and look out at the audience.
Normally, they do not face other actors who are also in the performance. The readers direct their
lines towards the audience. A specified narrator usually reads the lines or passages that explain an
action or describe a scene or character.
Potential Benefits of Using RT in the Classroom
Research on RT in EFL is lacking as most of the available data is based on research on RT in L1
settings. However, there are many potential benefits of using RT in the L2 classroom. Through
repeated readings of the text, students can improve reading rate and the ability to decode words

quickly and accurately (Carrick, 2006). Role-play and theatrical text reading build oral
communication skills and reading fluency because students must act in character and say their lines
expressively at the right time. The shared reading experience also promotes bonding between
classmates, and helps build interpersonal skills and teamwork in the classroom (Cornwell, n.d.).
RT is a powerful experience for all participants because it is an active learning experience and
students do not read indifferently, but instead become active participants in the story (Cornwell,
n.d.). Many RT practitioners who teach in L1 settings say RT is a fun and collaborative activity
(e.g., Cox, n.d.; The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance, n.d.). RT is also said to be
inclusive and work well with all kinds of students (MDEMEO, 2012). This may be because even
lower-level, less confident students can actively participate as they do not have to memorize lines.
The collaborative aspect of RT seems well suited for EFL in Japan, as I have observed that many
Japanese students like and value being part of a group or team, as opposed to working individually.
Steps for Implementing RT in the Classroom
Taylor de Caballero (2013) provides some helpful guidelines for teachers interested in
implementing RT.
 Select a text – it should be interesting and a little more advanced than current student
reading level.
 Class reading – read the text with students and pronounce unfamiliar words and explain
vocabulary as necessary.
 Assign roles – divide the text depending on the number of readers you have, or use a ready-
made RT script that has a definite number of roles.
 Practice- Explore- Practice Cycle – practice reading the text and work on specific skills
that you would like to focus on (projection, voice inflection, intonation, simple gestures,
facial expression, emotion, etc.). This is called "meaningful reading."
 Performance – perform for an audience.

Implementing RT in a Required English Communication Course
I wanted to find out if RT could be integrated successfully into a larger, required course. I have had
success over the last few years integrating drama into a one-semester, required English
communication course for first year students at Suzuka University of Medical Science (SUMS).
The sub-theme of the course is presentation skills. Students typically make two or three speeches
or presentations over the course of the semester.
In addition to basic English language skills, I generally spend a little time teaching voice
inflection, gesture use, and voice projection. In order to reinforce these skills and boost student
confidence, I usually do a drama project where students act out a short play called Slow Food in
small groups of seven or eight students. The drama project usually takes about five full class
periods to complete, which is a big chunk of time out of a fifteen-week course. I wanted to see if I
could obtain the same positive results as the drama project by implementing an RT project that
would hopefully take up less class time. After the RT project, I planned to have the students make
a final, short speech. I planned to observe their speeches and then survey the students to try and
gauge if students’ use of basic presentation skills had improved and if their confidence had
increased due to participation in the RT project.
In order to keep the theme of the RT project centered on nutrition, I decided to integrate an
RT called Snack Attack (Bafile, 2008) into two classes of first-year students in the Nursing
Department at SUMS. There were roughly 45 students in each class. Snack Attack is a story about
two siblings, Fred and Virginia, who on their way to grab a snack in a supermarket, encounter
some talkative produce that persuade them to choose fresh, healthy alternatives to potato chips and
cookies. The twenty-some other characters in the play are all various fruits and vegetables that try
and coax the children into choosing them as a snack. They do this by providing the kids with
nutritional information and interesting trivia about themselves. Halfway through the story the fruits
and vegetables get into an argument as to which is a healthier snack. There is a lot of lively debate
among the characters in the second half of the play, which I thought would be fun for the students.

Mom: Fred! Virginia! Find your snacks and meet me at checkout in five.
Fred: Quick! Chips and cookies in aisle three!
Virginia: I'll race you!
Narrator: Virginia took a shortcut through produce, but soon was stopped in her
tracks.
Fred: Come on, Virginia!
Virginia: Wait. I hear something.
Fred: What is it?
Salad Mix: (muffled) Lettuce out! Lettuce out! We're snacks, too!
Fred: Who's that?
Star Fruit: Just ignore them. The salad mix wants to go for a spin.
Virginia: Who's talking?
Fred: I think it's the produce.
Star Fruit: They never give up! No one is going to buy a bag of leafy greens when a
beautiful star fruit is available.
Banana: That carambola is so self-centered. The banana is the most popular fruit in
the United States. Americans eat an average of 28 pounds each per year,
but you don’t hear me pealing on and on, do you?
Virginia: I like bananas, but we're looking for other snacks. Right, Fred?
Potato: Enough with the fruit! Fred, how about the vegetables? Everybody loves a
spud! Baked or mashed, we're packed with potassium.
Figure 1. Excerpt from the Snack Attack RT script (Bafile, 2008).
Implementing the Snack Attack RT Project
First, I explained to the students what RT is and also told them the purpose of the project. We had
done some class work on gesturing and voice inflection in previous classes. I told students that the
purpose of the project was to practice using these skills, as well as to try to develop some
confidence for the upcoming short speech that they would give in front of the class after the RT
project was completed. I then gave the students the ready-made RT Snack Attack script. We did a
class reading of the RT script and I explained some of the difficult vocabulary and modeled the

words that were difficult to pronounce. Roles were then assigned to students by having them draw
playing cards. The card each student drew corresponded to a predetermined character in the script.
With roughly 45 students in a class, there were enough students to make two RT groups.
After determining their roles and breaking into two groups, I had the students read the script one
time at their desks in their groups with a focus on voice projection. In order to ensure that students
comprehended their lines, I asked them to translate their lines into Japanese as a homework
assignment to be completed by the next class. In addition to the translation, students were also
tasked with adding simple gestures and voice inflection to their lines as part of the homework.
First Rehearsal
In the next class period, we worked on staging for the final performance and had a rehearsal. In my
mind, I had pictured having the students line up in multiple rows in the front of the classroom with
the fruits on one side and the vegetables on the other. However, with the large number of
characters in this RT script I found that it was difficult for these first-year students to group
together like that and stay in focus for an extended period of time. The urge to talk with other
students standing close by was too great for them. After failing with the initial grouping because of
excess chatting and lack of student concentration, I had them line up in one long line that spread
from the front of the room around to one side of the classroom. I also had them open up a little
space between each fruit or vegetable group. Lining them up in this way eliminated some of the
unwanted chatting and student focus improved. However, the students ended up being very spread
out around the room.
Next, each group read and “walked through” the script two times. The first time, I
emphasized voice projection, trying to make sure that student voices carried throughout the
classroom. In addition to reading practice, we also had to figure out how Fred and Virginia would
make their way along the line of fruits and vegetables. In traditional RT there is usually no
physical movement around the stage and readers look at the audience, not at other performers.
However, I felt that having Fred and Virginia moving and interacting somewhat with the other
characters would help increase student comprehension of the RT script. There were also some

choral lines in the script, so in the first reading we also determined how we would handle the
timing of the choral lines.
The second reading focused on adding gestures and voice inflection. Students had not done
much preparation before class, so this did not go as well as I had hoped. After the second rehearsal,
I asked them to prepare for the final performance the following week by doing expressive reading
outside of class. I also asked them again to be sure to add voice inflection and gestures to their
lines. In traditional RT, there are usually no costumes, and props are kept to a minimum. However,
I thought it would help audience comprehension if students wore clothing that corresponded to the
color of their fruit or vegetable for the performance, so I requested the students to wear clothing
like that on final performance day.
Final Performance
The final performance took place the following week. Only about half of the students prepared for
their part by wearing some kind of clothing that corresponded to the color of their fruit or
vegetable. To begin the performance, I had the students all group together in the front of the
classroom. They did a very simple introduction. All the characters said, “Readers Theatre! Snack
Attack!” at the same time and then walked quickly to their positions in line.
It became clear quite quickly who had prepared for the final performance and who had not.
Students who had prepared had good voice projection, used simple gestures, and could read their
parts smoothly. Students that hadn’t prepared did not project their voices at all, had trouble with
pronunciation, and could not read their parts without difficulty. Because there were two RT
groups, one group served as the other group’s audience during the performance. Students in both
groups were able to read through to the end of the script without any major mistakes. The Snack
Attack RT script concludes with a play-on-words type joke by one of the siblings. The students
decided to finish the performance by having the entire cast laugh loudly at the joke. This signaled
to the audience that the performance was over.

Teacher Observations of the Snack Attack RT
The students seemed to enjoy collaborating with each other and performing together in their RT
teams in the Snack Attack RT project. However, staging for the final performance was somewhat
problematic. The students were spread out in a long line that wrapped around one side of the room.
Because they were so spread out, the lively debate between the fruits and vegetables did not work
well because the characters were too far apart. It would probably work better to have the fruits and
vegetables closer together and somewhat facing each other to enhance the fruit versus vegetable
conflict. In addition, because the characters were so far apart, it was difficult for the audience, as
well as other performers in the skit, to hear the students who didn’t project their voices well.
Shepard (2004) gives some general advice for character staging. He says characters should
be arranged so they can face the audience as much as possible when speaking. Narrators, he
advises, can be placed wherever, but they usually should stand in the front at either end of the
stage. Shepard offers a practical method for discerning between which characters are “on stage”
and which are “off stage.” He says, in RT, that “off stage” characters should stay turned with their
backs to the audience. In this way, Shepard says, it lets the audience know that the readers are out
of the scene, even if they are still visible. When it’s time to come back on stage, he suggests that
they turn back around and move forward.
We were able to prepare and perform the RT in three class periods and I did not feel that
students were overburdened with having to learn how to read too many lines. In total, each fruit
and vegetable only had two or three short lines to read throughout the entire performance.
However, these large groups of first-year students proved difficult to organize and keep on track.
Even though the RT was somewhat successful, it might be better to do RT in smaller groups with
fewer characters for easier classroom management.
There are over 20 characters in the Snack Attack RT script. That means performers had to
wait a long time between lines to speak. The action picks up halfway through the story when the
fruits and vegetables start arguing amongst themselves and the dialogue becomes snappy. When
selecting an RT script Shepard (2004, p. 41) says that, “Almost any story can be scripted for
reader’s theater, but some are easier and work better than others. In general, look for stories that

are simple and lively, with lots of dialog or action, and with not too many scenes or characters."
The action in Snack Attack is particularly slow in the first part of the story and this may have
contributed to the lapse in concentration during rehearsal for these large groups of first-year
students.
Although the student performance was far from perfect, overall I was actually pleased with
the results, although more time probably needed to be dedicated to reading rehearsal. The better
students in the class who had done a good job with preparation performed well. However, about
half of the students did not project their voices and could not read their part smoothly. These were
first-year students just in their third month of university in a required English course, so it would
be unrealistic to expect all of them to perform flawlessly. Perhaps, part of one or two more class
periods should have been spent on reading rehearsal with more gesture and voice inflection
practice. Another idea would be to have students submit an audio file of their reading as a
homework assignment before the final performance. In this way, the teacher could ensure that the
students actually practiced reading their part for the final performance.
I explained what RT was to the students before implementing the project. However, it
might have been a good idea to show them some video of an actual RT performance so that they
could get a better feel for how they need to use their voice when reading their lines. Each of the
two RT groups served as the other group’s audience for the final performance. This worked out
well, but to bolster student motivation a little more, inviting an outside audience to watch the final
performance might have incited them to prepare more thoroughly.
The two siblings in the play, Fred and Virginia, have many more lines than other characters
in the RT script. Two of the lower-level English speakers in the class ended up drawing the parts
of Fred and Virginia. To ensure a smoother performance it might behoove the instructor to either
ask for volunteers, or to assign more proficient English speakers to play these parts that require a
higher English ability.
The introduction to the Snack Attack RT was very underwhelming. More thought needed to
be put into it. The students just said, “Reader’s theatre! Snack Attack!” in chorus and ran to their
spot on stage and started the performance. Shepard (2004) says that a good beginning and ending

are crucial for an effective performance. He recommends giving a few words of greeting,
introducing the group and saying a few words about what it’s presenting and the purpose of the
performance. Shepard also says that the intro can present a fact, an idea, an anecdote or even a
question. After introducing the story, he suggests announcing the author and the title, and then
having the readers wait to begin until all performers are in place and frozen and the audience is
quiet.
The conclusion to the Snack Attack RT could have been better. The RT ended with the
entire cast laughing at a play-on-words type joke. This indicated to the audience that the RT was
over, but something seemed lacking. Shepard (2004) also provides some good advice on how to
end an RT performance. As the story ends, he says that the last words should be spoken slowly and
exaggerated so the audience realizes the story is over. After that, Shepard suggests that the readers
should freeze for a few seconds and then close their scripts, face the audience, and bow all
together. This is a simple technique that might be easy for students to implement.
Post-Snack Attack RT Student Speeches
In the following two weeks after the Snack Attack RT, students prepared for their final presentation
of the semester, a short speech where they introduced their hometowns. Students were required to
use voice projection and to incorporate voice inflection and gestures into their presentations. In the
last class of the semester, I divided the class into two groups. One student from each of the two
groups gave a presentation simultaneously on opposite ends of the classroom to one half of the
class. In this way, all forty-some presentations could be completed in one class period. I watched
and graded one group of students on one end of the classroom, and had students videotape the
other group on the other side of the room so that I could grade their speeches afterwards. I was
pleasantly surprised with student use of the basic presentation skills in their speeches that we had
worked on throughout the semester and in the RT project. The students also seemed to be more
confident. However, I wanted to find out if that was true and also to get their feelings on the RT
project. After they completed their speeches, I had them fill out a short, six-question Likert scale
survey about the RT project.

Analysis of Snack Attack RT Student Survey Results
The purpose of the Snack Attack RT project was to give students an opportunity to work on the
basic presentation skills of voice projection, voice inflection, and gesture use that we had worked
on in class. In addition, through the project, I hoped that by collaborating with other students as an
RT team in a non-threatening environment, students would gain more confidence speaking English
in front of an audience. As shown in Table 1, 98% of the students surveyed agreed or strongly
agreed that they enjoyed the Snack Attack RT project. The results of this question indicate that I
was able to create an environment where students did not feel threatened in any way by the RT
project. However, the RT project was not easy for all the students. 40% of the students agreed or
strongly agreed that the project was difficult for them. In spite of the project being somewhat
difficult for many of the students, 75% of them agreed or strongly agreed that they would like to
take part in another RT project.
As far as basic presentation skill development went, 93% of the students surveyed agreed
or strongly agreed that the RT project helped them learn voice inflection. 72% of the students
agreed or strongly agreed that they felt more comfortable using gestures after the Snack Attack RT.
In regards to confidence gained for the final speech, 74% of the students surveyed agreed or
strongly agreed that they felt more confident for the final speech once they had completed the RT
project. From this data it can be concluded that the Snack Attack RT project helped a majority of
students develop and gain confidence in basic presentation skills that are necessary to make
dynamic presentations. In addition, through participation in the RT project, speaking confidence
increased for a greater part of the students. These results lead me to believe that RT has potential in
EFL as an instrument that teachers can use to help students develop the confidence and skills
needed to speak English with more expression.

Table 1
Student Survey Results (n = 88)
Statement # who # who # who # who # who # who

strongly agree partly partly disagree strongly
agree agree disagree disagree
I enjoyed the Snack Attack 61 25 1 0 1 0

RT
The RT project helped me 51 31 6 0 0 0

learn voice inflection
The RT project was difficult 13 22 28 0 16 9
I felt confident for the final 21 44 19 0 3 1

speech after the RT
I felt more confident using 28 35 22 0 3 0

gestures after the RT project
I would like to take part in 32 34 19 0 3 0

another RT project
Summary
As there is no need for students to memorize lines, RT is a non-threatening, fun, inclusive, and
collaborative activity that can help students improve fluency, comprehension, and confidence.
However, student interests probably need to be taken into account when choosing the RT script and
repeated readings of the text in class, as well as ample rehearsal time are needed for students to
benefit the most from RT. Teachers also need to utilize Taylor de Caballero’s (2013) practice-
explore-practice cycle to do “meaningful” reading and work on specific skills. The instructor also
needs to make clear to students what is expected of them in the final performance. If possible, to
maintain student motivation, RT should be performed in front of an out-of-class audience.
Although I felt that the Snack Attack RT project was successful and believe from this
experiment that RT can be used effectively in large classes, classroom management and staging of
the RT teams proved to be challenging. Choosing an RT script that has fewer characters and with
lively dialogue throughout the entire script could help students stay on track and prevent lapses in
concentration. With fewer characters, staging would also be less problematic as students could be

grouped closer together and all cast members could directly face the audience. Over the years I
have observed that Japanese students feel comfortable in, and like to be part of, a team. RT is non-
threatening and collaborative in nature. Much more research needs to be done on RT in large EFL
classes, but I think RT shows promise as a method for helping Japanese students learn presentation
skills and build the confidence needed to try and speak English more dynamically in front of
others.
References
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Taylor de Caballero, K. (2013). Introduction to readers theater for EFL classrooms [PowerPoint
slides]. Retrieved from
https://americanenglish.state.gov/files/ae/resource_files/readerstheater_taylor.pdf
Taylor de Caballero, K. (2015, August 5). Reader’s theatre: A superfood for oral skills [Web log
post]. Retrieved from http://blog.tesol.org/readers-theater-a-superfood-for-oral-skills/
Gordon Rees is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Policy
Management at Yokkaichi University and is the Coordinator of the JALT
Speech, Drama, and Debate SIG. Gordon has been teaching English at
the university level in Japan for 17 years. His research interests include
drama in EFL, performance-assisted language learning, teaching culture,
and technology in learning.

Andragogy in Action: Drama Techniques
for Adult Learning
Jason A. White
Osaka Gakuin University
jason.white@ogu.ac.jp
Abstract
Along with a discussion of andragogy, which is the concept that adults learn differently than
younger learners, and therefore require different teaching methods, this paper also explores a
specific set of exercises, called drama techniques, to increase the effectiveness of adult foreign
language teaching and learning that can be employed within the framework of andragogy. Each of
Knowles’s assumptions (see Knowles, 1984; Merriam, Caffarella, & Baumgartner, 2007), which
form the basis for the andragogy concept, will be analyzed in conjunction with specific drama
techniques. Through this exposition it will be shown that drama techniques are effective tools for
implementing the andragogical approach to adult foreign language teaching.
T
here are several theories of adult learning prevalent in the field of education today, but
the most well-known of these is andragogy by Malcolm Knowles, which he first
proposed in his original book on adult learning, The Modern Practice of Adult
Education: Andragogy versus Pedagogy (Knowles, 1970, 1980). Although Knowles was the first
researcher to define the concept of adult learning in terms of specific criteria, which he stated as
four assumptions, the idea of teaching differently to adults than to younger learners has been in
existence for as long as humans have been teaching and learning. As Knowles, Holton, and
Swanson (2005) state in reference to great teachers in history such as Confucius, Socrates, Cicero,
and others, “Because their experiences were with adults, they developed a very different concept of
the learning/teaching process from the one that later dominated formal education” (p. 35). The
term andragogy was first proposed by Knowles (1968) and, as quoted in Merriam, Caffarella, and
White: Andragogy in Action: Drama Techniques for Adult Learning
Baumgartner (2007), Knowles defined andragogy as “the art and science of helping adults learn.”
Knowles originally published his work as a theory of adult learning, but after further research and
consideration, he revised the theory into a set of assumptions, which he continued to call
andragogy (Knowles, 1980).
Knowles’s four assumptions about adult learners (Knowles, et al., 2005, p. 39-40) are as
follow:
1. As a person matures, his or her self-concept moves from that of a dependent
personality toward one of a self-directing human being.
2. An adult accumulates a growing reservoir of experience, which is a rich resource for
learning.
3. The readiness of an adult to learn is closely related to the developmental tasks of his or
her social role.
4. There is a change in time perspective as people mature – from future application of
knowledge to immediacy of application. Thus, an adult is more problem-centered than
subject-centered in learning.
Knowles (1984) later revised his original set of four assumptions by adding two more assumptions.
These are:
5. The most potent motivations are internal rather than external.
6. Adults need to know why they learn something.
Background
Prior to the official publication of Knowles’s theory of andragogy, the standard of pedagogy, which
is defined by dictionary.com (2017) as “the art and science of teaching; education; instructional
methods,” was widely accepted as the common practice for learners of all ages and grade levels.
Pedagogy can be seen at its most basic level as the practice and activities wherein a teacher or
instructor gives information and disseminates educational materials, intended to create knowledge
acquisition and learning, to a group of students in a teacher-centered environment. Knowles
understood what many educators and researchers have discovered after attempting to use standard

pedagogical teaching practices with adult learners, often without success; that many pedagogical
practices were not designed to be effective for adult learners. While children are well-equipped to
take in information simply because it is being delivered to them by a recognized authority figure
such as a teacher, coach, or counselor, this is not the case when adult learners are involved.
Knowles believed that the study of adult education must focus on the learner. As Smith (2002)
notes, “Knowles was convinced that adults learned differently to children – and that this provided
the basis for a distinctive field of enquiry. Subsequently, Knowles dedicated his life’s work to
examining and defining the specific constructs of adult learners. Specifically, Knowles was
interested in how adults were different from younger learners in terms of attitude, motivation, and
experience. His findings resulted in his groundbreaking set of assumptions known as andragogy.
Criticisms of Andragogy
One of the most controversial aspects of andragogy is the inability to definitively classify what
activities fit into the mold of andragogy. When discussing the efficacy of andragogy in terms of
what can be empirically defined, Rachal (2002) notes, “Such investigations are further impeded by
the absence of clear meaning as to what procedures constitute andragogical practice” (p.211).
For many educators the lack of empirical data and established methodology is reason enough to
discard andragogy as a viable system for adult education. There simply is not enough solid proof
for some practitioners to accept andragogy and abandon the pedagogical practices that they are
used to. However, the implementation of performance-assisted language learning techniques,
especially drama techniques, can satisfy each of Knowles’s assumptions about adult learners.
Also included in the many criticisms of Knowles’s andragogy is the idea that individual
learners cannot be pigeon-holed into one clearly defined group. According to Cooke (2010), “The
‘theory’ of andragogy was criticized for implying that all adult learners are self-directed and that
children are not” (p. 214). It is unreasonable to claim that every learner of a certain age group is
exactly the same, but this does not discredit andragogy and the assumption that adult learners are
self-directed. There will always be outliers in any theory or concept of learning, but common
characteristics are still valid when they describe a large majority of a particular subset of learners.

This paper will present an account of various performance-assisted language learning
activities that are successful in addressing one of the main criticisms of andragogy, which is the
inability to concretely define learning activities as either andragogy or not andragogy.
Learning Environments
Once andragogy is accepted, it becomes necessary to define the exact learning environments where
it can be implemented successfully. Andragogy should be applied not only in universities, but in all
fields of education that involve adult learners. In addition to the traditional universities and
community colleges, there is an increasing need for continued professional development and skills
training in today’s modern global world. Additionally, societal changes and technological advances
have created an environment where learning is pursued well into adulthood. No longer does the
standard education track consist of four to eight years of college and then a career bereft of adult
education. As noted by Chao (2009), “With the changing demographic situation of the developed
world, there has been a focus on the concept of lifelong learning, where people are learning
throughout their lives. The emergence of the knowledge society, rapid introduction of new
technology and the changing work place increases the importance of adult learning” (p. 905). This
concept is supported by Kilpi-Jakonen, Vono de Vilhena, and Blossfeld (2015) who state, “Adult
education is an increasingly important form of education in globalized and aging societies” (p. 1).
Andragogy, which can be applied to many forms of adult education, including specialized skill
training for professional advancement, focused-knowledge acquisition for specific projects or
endeavors, and connected content for expanding existing base knowledge in a given field, may
potentially become even more prominent in the coming decades.
Andragogy in Japanese Education
In relation to Japan, andragogy can be applied to university EFL teaching, business English
classes, leadership studies, as well as older adult learning environments such as community centers
and hobby groups where Japanese learners want to increase their English skill level simply for fun
or for future travel. The rapidly aging population in Japan creates a unique opportunity for EFL
teaching in which andragogical practices can be utilized to their full potential. One of the most

effective ways to make use of the adult learning concepts Knowles has presented is to blend drama
techniques into the standard curriculum of adult education at every level within Japan.
What are Drama Techniques?
Within the framework of the six assumptions that make up Knowles’s andragogy, drama
techniques can be implemented as a catalyst for deeper engagement and increased motivation in
various adult learning settings. However, before precise analysis of each of Knowles’s assumptions
it is useful to define and explore the broad concept of drama techniques, and to state why they are a
beneficial strategy for use in foreign language education. Firstly, drama techniques can be utilized
in various adult learning environments to heighten the quality of engagement for language learners,
as well as increasing the motivational level of participants. One of the most discouraging aspects of
foreign language learning is the stress and anxiety many EFL learners suffer from. The Japanese
system of high pressure testing and focus on rote learning and memorization can cause many
students to become disengaged at an early age, particularly in foreign language environments.
Drama techniques, in the focus of andragogical practices, directly combat this often-debilitating
construct of foreign language learning. Drama techniques can unleash creative energy that students
possess but are rarely given the opportunity to express in typical pedagogical learning
environments. As Kobayashi (2012) states, “Drama techniques are basically games that are used to
help actors enhance their creativity and unlock spontaneity” (p. 30).
Although this definition of drama techniques would seem to imply that the user must be an
actor, this is not the case. The original design of drama techniques was for actors, but they can be
transformed or adapted for use by adult learners as well. When using drama techniques in the
classroom students become the actors. They participate in meaningful exercises that increase
learning because they are physically and emotionally invested in the learning process, just as actors
are invested in the piece they are performing.
Another characteristic of drama techniques that lend themselves to more effective adult
learning is the inclusive nature of all members of the learning group, as well as the intrinsic ability
to build motivation and lower anxiety for learners of any adult age, regardless of individual
backgrounds and experiences. The importance of raising motivation and lowering anxiety in adult

learners cannot be overstated. As Cooke (2010) noted, “Whatever benefits adult learners may reap
in their pursuit of education, there are fears, anxiety and mental barriers to overcome, which will
hopefully not overwhelm or squelch learner motivation and success” (p. 212).
The use of drama techniques also ties in with andragogical belief that the focus should be
on the learner and the activity rather than a piece of information or a particular concept. Along with
a focus on the learner, the theatrical nature of drama techniques contains elements such as fun,
energy, creativity, and enjoyment that satisfy the assumptions of andragogy in unique fashion. In
fact, it is as if Knowles had drama techniques in mind when he was defining his methodology.
Andragogy activities can be implemented in all forms of adult learning; however, the
following discussion will focus on formal and non-formal settings. Adult education can be
classified into three distinct modes (Merriam, et al., 2007): Formal education, which involves
colleges and universities where students work towards obtaining formal degrees; non-formal
education, which does not lead to formal degrees but may lead to certifications, and is usually
sponsored by employers or community-based organizations such as libraries and civic centers; and
informal education, which includes self-directed learning and learning gained from general life
experiences. In the next section, the six assumptions of andragogy will be discussed in terms of
university and college, business English classes, and non-formal settings.
Drama Techniques Within the Framework of Andragogy
The following is an exploration of each assumption of andragogy and examples of drama
techniques that satisfy that premise. Within this discussion, the connection between drama
techniques and andragogy as a system for adult learning will be made clear.
Assumption #1: As a person matures, his or her self-concept moves from that of a dependent
personality toward one of a self-directing human being.
Improvisation is a fun and exciting drama technique that satisfies the first assumption of
andragogy. Improvisation is defined as “the act or art of speaking or performing without practicing
or preparing ahead of time” (Merriam-Webster.com, 2017). Improvisation, or ‘improv’ as it is often
referred to, can take place in any setting and within any field, including athletics, academics,

business, etc. Within the field of academics, and specifically relating to English language teaching,
improvisation refers to a group of dramatic exercises and activities that can be implemented to help
students increase learning and enjoyment. While it is natural for children to play and act creatively
in normal interactions, it is much more difficult to perform structured improvisation games with
young learners. Improvisation, by definition, should be creative and spontaneous; however, there
still must be an element of structure involved if the improv is to be performed successfully.
Structured improvisation is difficult or impossible to implement effectively with young learners
because they are not self-directed in many instances, and therefore they likely lack the necessary
life experience that must be brought to improvisation games if they are to be performed effectively.
However, by the time students have matured into adulthood they are able to participate in
improvisation activities, even without using foreign language skills. Furthermore, for adult learners
within the Japanese education system, improvisation can be an effective tool for promoting critical
thinking skills. Many improvisation games, such as ‘Fruit’, ‘Numbers’, and ‘Mirror, Mirror’
outlined below, do not require any language skills because they involve little or no actual
conversation but they still promote critical thinking because students must decide the course of the
activity while the game is happening.
The improv game ‘Fruit’ involves two or more students acting out a real-life situation but
using only one word- a pre-chosen fruit such as ‘banana’, to express ideas and thoughts. For
example, two students could improv a wedding proposal, but instead of “Will you marry me” the
student simply says “Banana” with his biggest ‘I love you’ smile.
The improv game ‘Numbers’ is similar to ‘Fruit’ in regard to using no conversation, but in
this game the students go back and forth counting up to 50 (or any predetermined number) in any
group of numbers the participants choose. The key is that the students must act as if they are
having a conversation but using only number sequences. For example, the first student may begin
by saying “one, two, three, four,” but with a questioning tone. Then the second student may reply
with “five, six, seven,” but in a tone of response or further questioning. Through the use of
consecutive number sequences and tone the students are directing their own learning.
Another example of an improv game that shows self-directed learning is the popular game
‘Tag’. Participants begin a scene, and then another student can yell ‘tag’ and replace one of the

players. The interloper must then change the scene in some way, which allows for self-directed
learning because the new direction of the improv scene is determined by the learner rather than the
teacher.
There are hundreds of improvisation games that can be used within the scope of
andragogical teaching and learning because improv games require self-direction from the
participants.
Assumption #2: An adult accumulates a growing reservoir of experience, which is a rich resource
for learning.
One example of a suitable drama technique that satisfies the second assumption of andragogy is
role-play. Throughout the history of adult education both informed educators and drama
enthusiasts alike have worked to develop and implement a wide variety of drama techniques that
relate to real-life situations and are useful in learning environments involving students from
varying backgrounds and experiences. Role-play as a communicative activity involves students
acting out a situation, usually with a loosely defined circumstance and some kind of conflict to
resolve or obstacle to overcome. In this exercise the students decide which information is
important and where the resolution will come from. Role-play is a powerful drama technique that
is sometimes implemented in pedagogical teaching but can be equally or more valuable for adult
learners in an andragogical teaching environment based on the common themes of role-play in
EFL contexts, as we shall see below.
Assumption #3: The readiness of an adult to learn is closely related to the developmental tasks of
his or her social role.
Many junior high and high school textbooks in Japan involve role-plays where participants are
doing activities that they have no foundation for, such as checking in at a hotel, ordering from a
menu at a restaurant, or asking for or giving directions to a foreigner. With andragogy, the adult
learners have much more experience and life skills to bring to the activity. Because of the life
experiences they bring to the activity, older students are much more likely to problem-solve
effectively or to try new ideas as well when these common role-play scenarios are explored.

Assumption #4: There is a change in time perspective as people mature – from future application
of knowledge to immediacy of application.
Another facet of role-play that relates to the third and fourth assumptions is the ability of the adult
learner to imagine various situations that younger learners have no basis for imagining. These
assumptions have their foundation in the concept that an adult learner is ready to learn certain ideas
which will be useful in real life and which can be applied immediately to their daily life rather than
stored away for future use, as is the case with pedagogical learning. As stated by Knowles et al.
(2005),
Adults become ready to learn those things they need to know and be able to do in order to
cope effectively with their real-life situations… furthermore, they learn new knowledge,
understandings, skills, values, and attitudes most effectively when they are presented in
the context of application to real-life situations. (p. 67)
Role-plays about checking in at hotels and airports are examples of how this drama technique is an
effective learning tool within the framework of andragogy. The life experiences of an adult learner
allow them to try new possibilities and interact with others to problem-solve, even in unfamiliar
situations.
Some critics argue that just because a person is of adult age does not mean their life
experiences are sufficient to enhance their learning process. Again, drama techniques can answer
this criticism because they can be used with all types of adult learners, regardless of their
individual life experiences and collective knowledge. In fact, the nature of adult individuals’
various experiences works to increase the effectiveness of drama techniques within the scope of
adult learning because each activity will be enhanced only when each individual learner brings
something unique to the table. By contrast, pedagogical practices (which focus on instruction and
dissemination of knowledge) with adult learners, may impede the use of life experiences to
increase learning due to the teacher-centered nature of pedagogy.
Furthermore, role-play allows students the freedom of becoming someone new for a brief
moment during the learning process. Instead of being a student sitting at a desk listening to a
lecture (pedagogical practice), the student can become a flight attendant or tourist in a foreign
country. This transformation, regardless of how brief, can have a powerful effect on the learning

process. According to Bray (2010), role-play can “transform the atmosphere of a classroom
because it encourages students to step out of themselves to take on roles and respond appropriately
to others in the present moment” (p. 13). The key aspect of andragogical practices that students
bring their own life experiences to the learning environment will show clearly in role-play
activities because there is no script provided. Students choose the direction and output for the
activity while the teacher merely facilitates the creative process from a bystander’s position.
Additionally, role-play is a perfect example of a drama technique that has intrinsic problem-solving
features. According to Kawakami (2012), “Drama techniques are problem solving in nature, often
about conflict resolution – they require students to work together towards a concrete goal that they
can perceive easily” (p. 18).
Assumption #5: The most potent motivations are internal rather than external.
Adult students who participate in drama techniques are more motivated to succeed because they
must work as a group in many situations. One example of a group-focused drama technique is
‘Description Circle’. In this exercise students form small groups and then work together to create a
list of descriptive words or phrases in reference to a certain topic. For example, students might
view nature pictures and then go in turn to create their descriptive list. After creating their list, they
then write complete sentences using the words and phrases. This activity satisfies the fifth
assumption of andragogy because students who work together are motivated by the ordinary desire
to be part of a team and to help your ‘group’ achieve success in a given task. When students work
together they are naturally invested in the learning outcome, which satisfies Knowles’s assumption
that students “possess a desire to actively participate in the learning process,” as well as the
assumption that ‘students are highly motivated to learn” (Cooke, 2010, p. 209). The internal
motivations that adult possess come to the surface when drama techniques like “Description
Circle’ are implemented, regardless of the topic or lesson focus.
Furthermore, drama techniques like ‘Description Circle’ and role-play are useful catalysts
for expressing preexisting internal motivation, as well as increasing engagement and enjoyment for
adult learners. Kobayashi (2012) says drama techniques “can be used to develop students’
creativity and to boost confidence; encourage group participation and build trust and acceptance in

the group; utilize cooperative noncompetitive interaction; and support learner autonomy” (p. 30).
These concepts all tie in closely with internal motivation.
Assumption #6: Adults need to know why they learn something.
This assumption was added by Knowles (1989) later in his research when it became obvious that
there was a connection between meaning and action in adult learning. Adults have a different
mindset because the world that they function in, regardless of their individual circumstances, is
based on vastly different parameters than that of younger learners. Even those in their late-teens
have different views and ideas based on the general constructs of a teenage world as opposed to an
adult world. In regard to elementary and preschool learners, the differences in mindset and general
constructs of daily living and thinking can only be described as night and day.
Improvisation can be applied to this assumption as well because the participants in any
improv game must use their own experiences, perceptions, and ideas to create the outcomes.
Like role-play, improvisation involves students actively engaging in situational drama, with the
difference being that improvisation gives nothing more than a general starting point. There is no
stated conflict to resolve or obstacle to overcome, just a general situation. The students then decide
collaboratively where the scene will go. The benefits are the same as with role-play, but the input
from the learners involved is even greater. As noted by Barbee (2016) in reference to Spada’s
(2007) support of drama techniques for use in the L2 language classroom, “The learner becomes an
active participant in the language learning and teachers are expected to develop activities to
promote self-learning, group interaction in real situations and peer-teaching,” (p. 7).
Furthermore, Barbee (2016) discussed Maley and Duff’s (1978) ideas related to dramatic activities,
which directly tie into the concepts of andragogy, “They [dramatic activities] are activities which
give the student an opportunity to use his own personality in creating the material on which the
language class is to be based. These activities draw on the natural ability of every person to imitate,
mimic, and express himself through gesture. They draw, too, on his imagination and memory” (p.
8).
When implementing improvisation games, the students can choose the starting points for
each exercise, thereby satisfying Knowles’s assumption that students must value what they are

being taught, and they must play an active role in choosing the learning outcomes. The only
contribution of the teacher is to possibly facilitate the starting and finishing points, but even these
can be determined by the students if desired. It is possible to allow the activity to come to a natural
end when the students decide they are finished. An example of an improvisation game that
demonstrates these concepts is ‘Freeze’. Similar to ‘Tag’, ‘Freeze’ involves two or more students
acting out a scenario with a starting point but no predetermined direction or ending point. In
‘Freeze’ any student who wishes to join the activity can call out ‘freeze’ and then take the place of
someone already doing the improv. The main difference between ‘Tag’ and ‘Freeze’ is that the
interloper must join the scene in the exact physical position of the person they are replacing. Then
the new participant must change the direction of the interaction, which allows the new player to
bring their own life experiences and ideas into the mix, thereby creating meaning and learning
outcomes. This is a direct result of the andragogical mode of adult learning because the entire
activity is based around students creating meaning and controlling learning.
Teacher’s Role
It is true that the concepts of andragogy are based on student-centered learning. However, this does
not mean that the teacher can simply begin an exercise or present a dramatic technique such as
improvisation or role-play, and then sit back and watch the action. The teacher plays a central role
in the learning process through facilitation of dramatic techniques, followed by discussion and
reflection of learning outcomes. It has been stated clearly in relation to the six assumptions that
students must bring their own personal life experiences to the dramatic techniques that are
implemented, but the teacher must also allow time for discussion of what actually takes place.
Drama games are not only used to create fun and excitement in language learning; they must also
be analyzed and discussed in whole-class settings to determine precisely what learning has taken
place and how the actions can be built on to further the learning process. Students may not even
realize that they have brought their own experiences and ideas into the drama games that they have
participated in; therefore, the teacher must facilitate the learning process by helping the students
recognize the context of personal experience that naturally comes to the surface when adult
students participate in drama techniques such as role-play, improvisation, and ‘Description Circle’.

Need for Further Research
Knowles’s set of assumptions have been around for more than 50 years, yet there is still a lack of
scholarly research into the efficacy of andragogical practices in the spectrum of adult education.
One such study conducted by Merriam et al. in 2007 used Knowles’s original andragogy idea as
the basis for their exploration of learning in adulthood. According to Merriam et al. (2007),
“Andragogy focuses on the adult learner and his or her life situation” (p. 22). Furthermore,
“appreciating and taking into consideration the prior knowledge and experience of learners has
become a basic assumption of our practice as educators of adults, wherever this knowledge was
learned” (22). This study is useful in some aspects, but there is a strong need for more advanced
and in-depth scholarly research into andragogy and performance-assisted language learning
techniques. Presently there are scholarly articles supporting the usefulness of dramatic techniques
in language learning, but there is a need for more focused research that uses specific techniques in
recording data in support of andragogical teaching and learning.
Conclusion
Knowles et al. (2005) discuss other theories of adult learning that have been developed, such as
Rogers’s focus on teacher as facilitator, Brown’s ‘confluent education’, and Houle’s ‘fundamental
system’ of educational design, yet none have remained relevant or have continued to gain in
acceptance and popularity at the same rate as andragogy. Without question andragogy is a
controversial topic in adult learning, but if the appropriate activities are implemented, Knowles’s
assumptions about adult learners can be satisfied. Once the assumptions are satisfied, then the
benefits of andragogy can be achieved. Drama techniques can be applied in various adult learning
situations because they allow students to bring their own unique life experiences to the forefront.
Drama techniques are not hindered by cultural aspects of the learner, which can be the case for
pedagogical teaching situations, because the adult learner plays the primary role in every
andragogical learning activity. The value of these activities is also inherent because the learner
decides the outcomes rather than the teacher. Furthermore, drama techniques are valuable for
promoting student engagement and motivation while lowering anxiety and fear within the foreign
language learning environment, as stated by Maley and Duff (1978; 2011, see Barbee, 2016). The

six assumptions of andragogy align fully with the use of dramatic techniques in language education
because of the focus on the learner and the innate value of drama as a medium for learning and
exploring individual thoughts and ideas in a foreign language classroom setting.
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future.” Adult Education Quarterly, 52(3), 210-227.
Smith, M. K. (2002). Malcolm Knowles, informal adult education, self-direction and andragogy,
The encyclopedia of informal education. Retrieved from http://www.infed.org/thinkers/et-
knowl.htm.

Spada, N. (2007). Communicative language teaching: Current status and future prospects. In J.
Cummins & C. Davidson (Eds.), International handbook of English language teaching, 271-
288. New York: Springer.
Jason White is a PhD candidate in Leadership Studies with English content
focus at the University of the Cumberlands, as well as a Lecturer in the foreign
language department at Osaka Gakuin University. He has taught at a variety of
schools at the high school and university level, both full and part-time, since
coming to Japan in 2009 with the Phoenix Sister Cities program. His research
interests include learner autonomy, motivation, and performance arts in
language teaching with a focus on drama techniques for oral communication.

In the Classroom
Connecting Reading to Speaking & Listening

Through Debate
Mikaela Smith
Keio Shonan Fujisawa Junior & Senior High School
smith.mikaelas@gmail.com
Quick Guide
Keywords: Debate, literature, parliamentary debate, reading, speech
Learner English Level: Intermediate – advanced
Learner Maturity: Junior high school and above
Activity Time: 1-2 class periods (for preparation and debate)
Materials: Novel, stop watch
Novels are excellent tools for teachers to introduce vocabulary and are often used to explain the
meaning and nuance of words. The use of both graded readers and authentic texts has been
increasing in popularity in the ESL and EFL communities, especially in reading classes. However,
speaking and listening classes can also benefit from the use of novels and this can lead to cross-
class connections. Using novels as a source of debate material allows students to practice and
reinforce language learned in their reading classes while encouraging them to explore the ideas,
characters, and issues presented in the readings in a deep and meaningful way.
Smith: Connecting Reading to Speaking & Listening Through Debate
Preparation
Before this activity, all students should read the same novel. The type of book, with the possible
exceptions of biographies and histories, does not matter. I personally have used both Mary
Shelley’s Frankenstein and John Grisham’s The Client, in graded reader form, with equal success.
Students should learn the vocabulary, discuss plot points, and do character analysis as they
normally would in a reading class until the book is finished.
Procedure
First Class Period
Step 1: Divide the class into small groups. Ask the students to come up with around three
questions about the ideas, themes, characters, or problems faced in the book. These questions can
be very specific to the novel discussed or extrapolated from its content. For example, in the case of
Frankenstein there were questions ranging from Who is responsible for the deaths in the novel: Dr.
Frankenstein or the creature? to Do scientists have the right to create life? Students may need
some help coming up with good questions.
Step 2: Have students exchange their questions with another group. Ask them to come up with
arguments and support for both sides of the questions their classmates asked. The students may
take notes on the questions and discussion. This step only needs to be done once, but you may
continue switching papers until all groups have had the chance to take notes on each other’s
papers.
Before the next class period, turn one of the questions into a debate motion. For example,
in the earlier example of “Do scientists have the right to create life?” you might get either “This
House believes that scientists have the right to create life” or “This House believes that scientists
do not have the right to create life.” You may choose the motion yourself based on what you think
would be the easiest to make into a fair debate, or older students may want to choose a motion for
themselves.

Second Class Period
Step 1: Choose the debaters and ask them to come to the front of the room. In earlier debates, you
may want to specifically pick stronger students to model the activity, although I tend to let students
volunteer or just pick them at random. Decide the Affirmative/Government and
Negative/Opposition teams (again, either at random or by mutual agreement) and assign a motion.
Students have 10-20 minutes to prepare.
Step 2: Have the audience vote on the motion before the debate by using a slip of paper or an
online survey. They should choose one of the following: agree, disagree or undecided. Gather the
results. I use an online survey tool like Kahoot! to tally the scores.
Step 3: Debate on the topic in your preferred style, using a stop-watch to keep track of the time per
speech. I use Parliamentary Debate Association (PDA) style with 15-minutes of preparation, three-
minute constructive speeches, and two-minute reply speeches because it fits into one 50-minute
class period. I also prefer parliamentary style because it is more like natural conversation than
evidence-heavy styles.
Step 4: When the debate is finished, ask the audience members to vote again. This time there
should be only two options: agree or disagree. The group with the highest degree of positive
change wins.
Adaptation
While debate may seem like an advanced activity, it can be practiced with lower level students. In
this case, the flow of a debate needs to be explained with more scaffolding and Japanese support,
depending on time constraints. I give my students an outline and encourage them to make their
sentences on the spot, but it is also possible to make a blank “script” that students can fill in with
their own information. Students may also benefit from watching a debate, either in English or
Japanese, before jumping in themselves.
In terms of the content itself, both graded readers and original novels work for this
activity. Simple stories, such as “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” or “Beauty and the Beast” are good
options for young students or those with a limited vocabulary.

Option
Continue debating using other topics discussed in the first class period. This allows all students an
opportunity to try debating on the same book and allows the teacher to cover multiple aspects of
the text.
Extension
Ask students to write a reflection about what they learned. They should include comments about
both the content of the debate (their feelings about the arguments and evidence presented
compared to their own ideas and beliefs) and the debate itself (the importance of speech manner,
organization, etc.).
Conclusion
Giving students the opportunity to discuss and debate about topics related to their reading in
another class allows for a deeper understanding of and connection to the ideas and situations in that
text. As teachers, we are always looking for ways to increase our students’ understanding and
interest in what we teach. Using debate to bring the issues and ideas presented in a text to life in
the real world is one way to achieve this goal.
Mikaela Smith is a Southern California native who has been in Japan since
2012. She received a bachelor’s degree with honors from California State
University, Fullerton in Modern Languages in 2011 and graduated with her
Masters in Teaching from the University of Southern California in 2012.
She currently teaches at Keio Shonan Fujisawa Junior & Senior High School
in Kanagawa.

2018 OVERALL THEME:
Performance-Assisted Learning (PAL)

 Process Drama Conference (Nagoya, July 14)
 Summer Traveling Conference 2018
 Kansai (July 7, Kwansei Gakuin University
Nishinomiya Uegahara Campus)
 Tokai (July 14-15, Nagoya)
 Kanto (July 21, Shonan Institute of Technology,
Fujisawa, Kanagawa)
 Fall Conference 2018 (September 15-17) Naha, Okinawa
 Early Spring Conference 2019 (February 4-6, 2019) APA Hotel
and Resort, Sapporo (during the Snow Festival)
The Call for Papers and Registration is now open for all conferences.
For updated information go to the SD&D Conference website:
https://sites.google.com/site/jaltsddconferences/home

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Contents

David Kluge Performance-Assisted Learning: A Proposal

Gordon Rees What is Reader’s Theatre and can it be Used

Jason White Andragogy in Action: Drama Techniques for

Chris Lyons (Editor)

Gordon Rees (Coordinator)

Copyediting and Proofreading

Mask & Gavel Volume 6, 2018 4

Hiroshima Shudo University

growth, followed by self-expression, improving English communication skills, making social

students and teachers.

prefectural, or national level. Speeches are commonly performed by individual

Speech contests are typically categorized as recitations or original speech contests.

are limited to the prefectural level (JNSA, 2017).

Mask & Gavel Volume 6, 2018 6

Motivation for this Study

was prepared (which is not discussed here due to space constraints).

on three areas: motivation of students to participate in speech contests, perceived benefits of

Mask & Gavel Volume 6, 2018 7

Mask & Gavel Volume 6, 2018 8

Results and Discussion

Male 10 High school 25 Original 29

Female 87 Junior high 73 Recitation 57

Unknown 1 Unknown 0 Unknown 12

On the teacher surveys, of the 36 respondents, 24 identified themselves as native-English speakers,

Speech Contest Preparation Time

(often while shadowing a recording provided by an ALT to aid in modeling native-English

Mask & Gavel Volume 6, 2018 9

resources from) regular English class study.

Motivation for Joining a Speech Contest

improve their English or communication ability.

Mask & Gavel Volume 6, 2018 10

Mask & Gavel Volume 6, 2018 11

Very important Important Somewhat important Not important

Figure 1. Student and teacher perceptions of various aspects of speech contests.

growth is a key motivator for participating.

Mask & Gavel Volume 6, 2018 12

Improving English Speaking

Mask & Gavel Volume 6, 2018 13

showing themselves what they are capable of.

students are motivated by their friends.

Mask & Gavel Volume 6, 2018 14

preparation involved (a theme that is further examined in the next section).

Mask & Gavel Volume 6, 2018 15

The Experience of Participating in a Speech Contest

their agreement or disagreement with different statements (Table 6) on a six-point Likert-scale

(1=Strongly agree, 2=Agree, 3=Slightly agree, 4=Slightly disagree, 5=Disagree,6=Strongly

teachers most dislike about English speech contests?).

Mask & Gavel Volume 6, 2018 16

Figure 2. Student and teacher perceptions of participating in speech contests.

Enjoyment of Speech Contests

Mask & Gavel Volume 6, 2018 17

contests was “nothing” (Table 8).

teachers disagreed that speech contests were stressful (Head, 2015).

nervous they can enjoy the contest at the same time.

Mask & Gavel Volume 6, 2018 18

speech contest the results may be very different.

comments mentioned practical English communication benefits such as improving pronunciation

Mask & Gavel Volume 6, 2018 19

speech contest experience were considered positive, however.

★I practiced my speech for approximately _____________ hours in total.（私は、合計で約時間スピーチの練習をした）

★Number of speech contests you have prepared students for （）回