Discussion: How to teach Drama

Discussion Topic:-

How do we teach 'Drama'?

Prof. Tushar Chavan

1) Read each line and explain it.

2) Tell the story and give information of character sketch, plot, theme, setting and specialty of the drama.

3) Show video clips/PPT of the drama.

4) Give memory test to the students.

All are requested to share your views about this topic.

Give your ideas to deal with drama section.

Jr. College Eng Teachers’ Group 1

Prof Mahajan Sir, Badalapur: [8:57 PM, 12/12/2019]

1) First have the group discussion on the name or title of the drama. Let them guess what the drama is about. Ask them to justify their guess. Ask them to explain why they think so. Make a chart of their guesses. At the end you can tell them the correct guess. Congratulate the winner. Extend the activity. Tell them to inculcate the habit of guessing with the names and themes of the films. They will definitely love it.

2) Characters: Ask them to list the characters. Let's have discussion on the significance of their names. Discuss their relations, their actions (I mean what they do) and their thinking.

3) Setting: Discuss on the places, surroundings, situations and timing of the happenings, significance of the settings. Discuss how setting contributes to the development of the theme. Symbolism used in the settings.

4)Theme.....

5)Dialogues......

6) Language....

7)Moral Vaues

etc

Prof. Tushar Chavan [9:11 PM, 12/12/2019]:

To Prof Mahajan Sir, Badalapur,

Your suggestions are good but how will the students know about the characters, their relations, significance of their names etc. without reading the drama. Do you think our students can tell these things reading the drama. Please give practical suggestions. These suggestions are good but I think it is impossible to use them in the actual class. Most of the students are very poor in understanding.

Prof Mahajan Sir, Badalapur [9:16 PM, 12/12/2019]:

I know without reading it is not possible. They have to read.

Prof. Tushar Chavan [9:18 PM, 12/12/2019]:

Do they understand the language of Shakespeare? It's old English.

Prof. Manjusha Sagrolikar [9:16 PM, 12/12/2019]:

I discussed about characters, theme, plot, setting and events. Then provided sufficient time to read and select the roles. In front of the class students performed. My students enjoyed this role play activity.

Prof. Tushar Chavan [9:20 PM, 12/12/2019]:

To, Prof. Manjusha Sagrolikar, 

Is it possible to do role playing in the class having more than 100 students? How do students remember the dialogues? Is it practically possible in each class - Specially arts faculty class?

Prof. Manjusha Sagrolikar [9:25 PM, 12/12/2019]:

Sir, my class is also large, with 98 students.  In role play students can use book. So it doesn't need to remind dialogues.

Prof. Tushar Chavan [9:30 PM, 12/12/2019]:

Good. Please take its video recording and share for all. It will be beneficial to all.

Prof. Manjusha Sagrolikar [9:33 PM, 12/12/2019]:

Yes, in the next week students are going to perform with dressing. They don't want video in uniform. So I haven't posted it yet.

Jr. College Eng Teachers’ Group 2

Prof. G J Atram [5:05 PM, 12/13/2019]:

While teaching Drama we can use ppt to show and narrate the story in short and can also explain characters, plot, theme and setting in the drama.

A few dialogues or scenes can be enacted by some students.

But all this is possible only if students have developed aesthetic interest and students' maturity in various aspects like language, emotions, literary understanding etc.

Prof. Gaddam Shakuntala[5:21 PM, 12/13/2019]:

I myself the following method...

I first introduced all the characters and their relationship  according to the need ... I then taught synopsis and started teaching drama ,so I didn't get much more time and difficulty to introduce the drama.. and I asked them to salve the activities and I got positive response also......  

Jr. College Eng Teachers’ Group 3

No one give any comment.

Jr. College Eng Teachers’ Group 4

No one give any comment.

Jr. College Eng Teachers’ Group 5

Prof Makanwar Snehal S. [7:45 PM, 12/12/2019]:

Mock Play must be there. I feel students should get a joy of active participation. Then they would hardly forget it.

Jr. College Eng Teachers’ Group 6

Prof Swati Tribhuvan [6:01 PM, 12/12/2019]:

I read each line of drama.

Tell story and give information of characters, plot, theme etc.

Give memory test.

It's interesting to teach.

Prof Patil V. R. Cidco Jr college Nashik: [7:14 PM, 12/12/2019]

1. Introduction of the characters.

2. Narration of the story of the drama in short with the description of characterization.

3. Reading aloud the drama with active participation of students.

4. Introduction of New words, concepts, phrases, idioms accordingly.

5. Discussion about the theme of the play.

6. Clarify questions and doubts of the students.

7. Questioning to asses the understanding of the students.

8. If possible, give chance to role play to the students.

Prof.Manjusha Sagrolikar [9:13 PM, 12/12/2019]:

I discussed about characters, theme, plot, setting, and events. Then provided sufficient time to read and select the roles. In front of the class students performed. My students enjoyed this role play activity.

Prof. Tushar Chavan [9:22 PM, 12/12/2019]:

I don't think role playing is possible in each class - Specially arts faculty class.

Prof.Manjusha Sagrolikar [9:29 PM, 12/12/2019]: My students are from Art and commerce faculty. I discussed with them how to pronounce new words, help them while reading. Unless we motivate them to read out how can they develop their confidence?In my class I received positive response with role play.

Prof Vidya Thakare [9:34 PM, 12/12/2019]: Good ...

But u r from city area.. Not possible at tribal. Specially at peth surgana ...

Prof.Manjusha Sagrolikar [9:35 PM, 12/12/2019]:

No mam, my students are totally from rural area, purely from farmer's family

Prof Vidya Thakare [9:36 PM, 12/12/2019]: I tried it ..

But not responded by students..

They became shy to come forward....😔

Prof.Manjusha Sagrolikar [9:36 PM, 12/12/2019]:

Most of the students do to and fro from nearby villages.

Prof Vidya Thakare [9:37 PM, 12/12/2019]: Same here too mam

Prof.Manjusha Sagrolikar [9:38 PM, 12/12/2019]:

One benefit is my school is girl's school and girls are always sincere and honest

Prof Vidya Thakare [9:38 PM, 12/12/2019]: I'll try it again...S that's true mam ...But my students are so shy....They can't take interest to talk in fornt of students.

Prof.Manjusha Sagrolikar [9:41 PM, 12/12/2019]:

Yes mam. Try with book. Allow them to make mistakes, you can correct it afterwards. They'll practice it at home.

Prof Vidya Thakare [9:42 PM, 12/12/2019]: S.. I think I have to take more effort for them.

Prof.Manjusha Sagrolikar [9:44 PM, 12/12/2019]:

Problem is with unknown words, how to prononce it. Once they learn it from us they can do reading practice at home. We can ask them to prepare themselves at home . And next day they'll perform.

Jr. College Eng Teachers’ Group 7

Mrs. Rutuja Deshmukh [4:55 PM, 12/12/2019]:

I feel the second point is more suitable.  To understand what is drama. How to learn stories, It will help to improve writing skill.

We can give questions about character, summary,  theme, Symbols.

This will help to change their look out towards language studies.

Prof. Raju Maruti Phutane [8:25 PM, 12/12/2019]:

In Section 4 Drama  students are expected to write about the plot, setting, theme etc. To make the question tougher, there will be no extracts. Will some of the students who are unable to construct a single sentence specifically rural area students write the answer of these questions?

Generally students learning in Arts and vocational wing can't write their names and addresses correctly how can they attempt these questions?

Even if we give them readymade answers, I am doubtful about their performance I am raising  the question because some of my students are intellectually very poor.

Believe or not, but with the help of 20 Mark's oral test, they have passed 10th with average marks.

Please help me by telling in which way should we teach them dramas so that they may get some marks in the exam

Prof. Dhanaji Patil Athgav Kongaon [8:30 PM, 12/12/2019]:

This is a real fact sir.

Prof. Mrs. Rutuja Deshmukh [9:30 PM, 12/12/2019]:

A real fact, and completely agree.

Prof Seema Dandekar [10:16 PM, 12/12/2019]:

I think 2, 3 and 4 issue seems right, but can you still do students in the countryside?

Prof. Tushar Chavan [12:07 PM, 12/13/2019]:

Yes. I think, 'Read each line and explain it' - is not possible for dramas because they are much lengthy.

Prof. Raju Maruti Phutane [12:36 PM, 12/13/2019]:

It is better to summarise highlighting setting,  attributes and various aspects of characters rather than going through line to line .

Mr. Sudhakar Kirmire M. J. F. Jr. College Ashti [1:31 PM, 12/13/2019]:

I think we should firstly acqint the students with characters& their qualities. Then summerize the theme & set activities to solve in group.

Jr. College Eng Teachers’ Group 8

Prof Sayeed Saipan Saheb Solapure [5:40 PM, 12/12/2019]:

Sir I will divide the groups of the students in vivid characters. As well as their dialogues with body language. First plot ,characters, theme etc.

Jr. College Eng Teachers’ Group 11

Prof. Sneha Ratnaparkhi [10:27 AM, 12/12/2019]:

I think first of the students should be introduced to drama as genre of literature through examples of classic drama( at least Elizabethan drama) along with regional drama. Regional drama creates interest in the form as the dialogues are easily understood.

Then gradually plot,setting, characterization can be explained.

Through role play students to be involved in the plot and teacher can only be facilitator by giving outline of read part of the play.

If possible same prescribed play can be shown in the class. Teacher can even keep the discussion go on after each scene related to the theme and characterization.

Prof. Adat V. S. from Kolhapur [11:04 PM, 12/12/2019] :

First of all ,tell the students the story in short. Then make  the list of characters as major and minor along with their roles. Then discuss about plot, characterisation, places of happenings, then the twists and turns. The arrangement of theatre is also told. Afterwards make the students read out the dialogues loudly as role playing. Then discuss about theme and message and contemporary plays, along with their history. Then ask the students to make notes on particular points.

Prof. Adat V. S. from Kolhapur, Jr.: [11:09 PM, 12/12/2019]

The social siruation must be known to the students.

Prof. Tushar Chavan [5:14 AM, 12/13/2019]:

Do you think we get sufficient time for role playing? Are the students ready to Participate in such activities? Your suggestions are ideal but they are not easy to implement in the limited time of span that we get. Isn't it?

Prof Sneha Ratnaparkhi [7:46 AM, 12/13/2019]:

Yes sir.... Mine is a girls' college and it's a heterogeneous group.... Yet role playing is implemented.... I don't intend to mein actual play being performed.... It's only reading part which is mentioned here by another teacher as well..... Teacher should not read each n every line.... That's what even the writers and editers expect from the teachers of the new textbook