Full-Scale Theater Production and Foreign Language Leaning.

This article presents information on a case study designed to explore the effectiveness of full-scale, authentic-text theater production for second language learning. Many aspects of foreign language theater production make it an effective means of teaching a foreign language and encouraging the continued study of the language and its culture. It involves students in a variety of communicative tasks on a daily basis throughout the numerous phases of production, auditions, rehearsals, textual analysis and discussion, set and costume preparation, performances, and post performance reflections. The Italian Theater Workshop (ITW) was a pilot study aiming to explore the various types of interaction and modes of communication that could take place between members of a foreign language theatrical troupe-actors, stage managers, designers, and directors. Drama techniques have comprised an important aspect of foreign language teaching methods for several decades. Generally speaking, teachers, researchers, textbook writers, and students alike find drama techniques beneficial because they provide learners with opportunities to speak in less controlled and more creative ways.