Improvisations and Oral Competence

Sanders, Carol

doi:10.1093/elt/xxxi.4.280

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…Forty years earlier, in writing about using improv to practice a second language, Sanders (1977) wrote that if a “foreigner” argues “with a taxi-driver who has short-changed him,” time is of the essence and “speed and spontaneity” are required (p. 281). In this instance, Sanders seems to see improv as a way to practice controlling a particular situation or, as Sanders puts it, “make the learner cope with an everyday situation the moment it arises” (p. 281).…”

Section: Findings and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ten of the 30 studies presented views of improv that were at odds with this trait. Sanders’ (1977) research about using improv in a language learning class offered the most striking illustration of ways people resist this ethos. Sanders wrote that “the aim, therefore, is to make the learner cope with an everyday situation the moment it arises” (p. 281).…”

Section: An Improvisational Ethos In Educationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Improv Theater and Whiteness in Education: A Systematic Literature Review

Tanner

McCloskey

2022

Review of Educational Research

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Improv theater has expanded beyond a popular American form of entertainment into an educational experience for students and teachers. It may be difficult to imagine that an interactive, joyful, and collaborative improv workshop might be harmful, but our own experiences as professional improvisers led us to observe that even well-intentioned, antiracist improv theater interventions tend to reflect Whiteness more than democratic values. We investigate this observation through a systematic review of education research articles. Our review of 30 studies reveals that, to varying degrees, researchers have regarded improvisation as an instrumental practice to improve some other activity or as metaphor for the activity of teaching. We found that Whiteness has been central to the use of improvisation in educational contexts. Finally, this study illustrates that a turn toward disciplined improvisation or an improvisational ethos offers one way to practice the ideals of democratic education.

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Section: Findings and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: An Improvisational Ethos In Educationmentioning

confidence: 99%