What is a Reader Theatre?
Readers’ Theater (RT) is a method widely adopted in English education for not only children but through every interval of ages. The best feature of RT is that it simplifies the real theater with the deletion of formal costumes, stage designs, lighting and even the memorization of scripts. The scripts are allowed to be held or put on stands, and the emphasis is on the reading with voice expression and body language.
The primary advantages of RT in elementary education are the simplification of the details of a real theatre and promotion of students’ learning motivation. The costumes, props, and other stage requirements are refined or even deleted, allowing teachers and students to proceed the acting without facing the obstacles of detailed and complicated preparations. Furthermore, the acting of the drama works really well for students’ learning and participation, due to the fact that children are directly involved within, compared to the traditional teaching methods.
RT in G.R.E.S.
With perceiving the advantages and importance of RT, G.R.E.S. has been adopting it into English class since 2008, and the effect is significant. After almost 8 years working, the RT has been combined into daily English class, and outstanding students are specially trained for the competitions. In 2014, G.R.E.S. was awarded the Excellent Prize in the A3 Group of RT competition of public and private elementary schools in Tainan. Because of the dedication of teachers and assistance from all aspects, the RT has been and will be an indispensable part in English teaching and learning in G.R.E.S.