An Action Research On Educational Drama In Primary EFL Teaching

Educational drama is generally recognised as a resourceful,cost-efficient and effective method on promoting students’ language competence and comprehensive capabilities in English language teaching and learning by drama educationalists.Due to lack of professional training and textbooks at home,English teachers have been reluctant to try it,misunderstandings and misuses were inevitable.To exploit its educational value in primary EFL teaching,the author carried out Theme-based drama activities and picture book story-drama teaching to solve common problems on students’ low engagement and EFL learning in present EFL classrooms.The author has been teaching English to young learners for nearly twenty years and thus was interested and qualified to complete the research.This research adopted participatory Action research method.By offering a mixed class of thirty third-graders and fourth-graders one Drama-based EFL lesson per week as an additional English curriculum for a semester,it implemented two action research cycles in H school in suburban Ganzhou.The research used quantitative research methods to conduct one questionnaire for student participants and primary English teachers respectively,as well as qualitative research methods like teaching journal,classroom observations,student reflections,student interview and teacher interview,etc.to collect and analyze research data on class participation and learning effectiveness.The research results revealed that Drama-based EFL is a feasible and effective teaching method in primary English teaching.With curriculum meets the students’ needs,it could be conducted with mixed graders and lower level students.Due to short research period and various regional situations,the author proposed relevant future studies to be carried in a way that combines curriculum with practice paradigm,which would bring development on Drama-based EFL textbooks and teaching methods.