Tracing Back to Drama in the Classroom History: Readers Theater
Tracing Back to Drama in the Classroom History: Readers Theater
Keywords:
Readers Theaters, Literacy, Reading Strategy, EFL in ThailandAbstract
Readers theater, a reading instructional strategy that has not received much attention in the context of teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and educational research in Thailand. Importantly, little to none research on using readers theater to enhance Thai student’s English skills addressed the history of this reading method. This academic article aims to introduce readers theater through the historical lenses. The timeline and the theory support reader theater are provided. Also, the motives that led the American society to extensively focus on literacy are discussed. Understanding the past events of reader theater could broaden EFL teachers and scholars’ perspective and to urge them of implementation the new teaching method in their English classroom.
References
Akkakoson, S. (2016, January). Speaking anxiety in English conversation classrooms among Thai students. Malaysian Journal of Learning and Instruction, 13(1), 63-82.
Boonkongsaen, N. (2014, January). The effects of gender, reading anxiety and language learning experience on Thai science-oriented students’ use of reading strategies. International Forum of Teaching and Studies, 10(1), 24-35.
Banton-Smith, N. (2002). American reading instruction: Special edition. Newark, DE: International Reading Association.
Bruckman-Laudenslager, D. R. (2019). Using reader’s theater to engage English language learners: A case study. Doctoral dissertation, Northcentral University.
Clementi, L. B. (2010, February). Readers theater: A motivating method to improve reading fluency. Phi Delta Kappan, 91(5), 85-88.
LaBerge, D., &Samuels, S. J. (1974, April). Toward a theory of automatic information processing in reading. Cognitive psychology, 6(2), 293-323.
Lekwilai, P. (2014, July–December). Reader's Theater: An alternative tool to develop reading fluency among Thai EFL learners. PASAA. Journal of Language Teaching and Learning in Thailand, 48, 89-111.
Lekwilai, P. (2016, January-December). Using reader’s theater to develop reading fluency among Thai EFL students. PASAA PARITAT, 31, 163-188.
Lekwilai, P. (2021, January-April). “Read It Like You Mean It”: Developing Prosodic Reading Using Reader’s Theater. Reflections, 28(1), 1-18.
Lin, Y. F. (2015, July–December). Using Readers Theater as a Facilitator in Elementary School English Training. Journal of Education and Learning, 4(2), 43-52.
Marshall, H. B. (2017). The Effectiveness of Readers’ Theater on Fluency, Comprehension, and Motivation on Primary Students. Doctoral dissertation, Middle Tennessee State University.
Merritt, J. E. (2015). Using Readers' Theater to Improve Reading Fluency in Students with Dyslexia. Doctoral dissertation, Sam Houston State University.
Photograph of ancient Greece. (2020). Retrieved August 8, 2021, from https://www.historyextra.com/period/ ancient-greece/how-to-build-a-democracy-athenian-style/
Photograph of Austin, G. (2020). Retrieved August 8, 2021, from https://www.findagrave.com/ memorial/42801978/gilbert-austin
Photograph of Gregory, P. (2020). Retrieved August 8, 2021, from https://www.imdb.com/ name/nm0339920/
Photograph of Rasinski, T. (2020). Retrieved August 8, 2021, from https://davidlharrison.wordpress.com/2011/07/16/tim-rasinski-today-2/
Photograph of Samuels, J. (2020). Retrieved August 8, 2021, from https://www.readinghalloffame.org/S_Jay_Samuels
Photograph of Young, C. (2020). Retrieved August 8, 2021, from https://www.shsu.edu/academics/school-of-teaching-and-learning/faculty/literacy-edd/chase-young
Patrick, N. C. L. (2008, February). The impact of Readers Theater (RT) in the EFL classroom. Polyglossia, 14, 93-100.
Rasinski, T. V., Rupley, W. H., Pagie, D. D., &Nichols, W. D. (2016, January). Alternative Text Types to Improve Reading Fluency for Competent to Struggling Readers. International Journal of Instruction, 9(1), 163-178.
Rasisnski, T., Stokes, F., &Young, C. (2017, Winter). The Role of the Teacher in Reader's Theater Instruction. Texas Journal of Literacy Education, 5(2), 168-174.
Ruengwatthakee, P. (2021). The Effect of Readers Theater on Thai Preservice English Teachers’ Improvement of Pronunciation in Thailand. Doctoral dissertation, Sam Houston State University.
Samuels, S. J. (1979, February). The method of repeated readings. The Reading Teacher, 50(5), 403-408.
Schoen-Dowgiewicz, T. S. (2016). Improving Reading Fluency of Elementary Students with Learning Disabilities Through Reader's Theater. Doctoral dissertation, Walden University.
Thienkalaya, C., &Chusanachoti, R. (2020, July-December). Improving the English Reading Prosody of L2 Learners Through Readers Theater. LEARN Journal: Language Education and Acquisition Research Network, 13(2), 306-320.
Tracey, D. H., &Morrow, L. M. (2017). Lenses on Reading: An Introduction to Theories and Models. Nee York: Guilford Press.
Worthy, J., &Prater, K. (2002, November). The intermediate grades--" I thought about it all night": Readers Theatre for reading fluency and motivation. The Reading Teacher, 56(3), 294-297.
Young, C., Durham, P., Miller, M., Rasinski, T. V., &Lane, F. (2019, September). Improving reading comprehension with readers theater. The Journal of Educational Research, 112(5), 615-626.
Young, C., Stokes, F., &Rasinski, T. (2017, November-December). Readers theatre plus comprehension and word study. The Reading Teacher, 71(3), 351-355.
