In language teaching

Many teachers feel hesitant to incorporate theatre techniques into their pedagogy. Some believe theatre requires special talent or training they lack. Some might even feel that such activities take time away from ‘teaching the textbook’. However, many educators unknowingly already use theatre-based strategies in their classrooms for various purposes related to language teaching — say, a Marathi teacher using dramatic storytelling to introduce new vocabulary, a Kannada teacher in Bengaluru making students act out dialogues to practise conversational skills, or a Hindi teacher leveraging role-playing to explore different perspectives on a literary text.

Simple theatre-based activities have immense value, even for teachers untrained in theatre. Basic techniques like using different voices or sound effects, exaggerated expressions, or gestures to tell a story spark engagement and imagination. Having students act out vocabulary or discussions embeds learning kinaesthetically. Short improvised skits can help build listening skills, focus and teamwork.