Sociocultural Theory and Language Learning as Performance

Teaching and Learning Additional Languages through Performing Arts

The author leads us on a journey of his years teaching additional languages through the use of performing arts. Drama, theater games, music, and other performance activities promote language use in authentic and engaging ways that differ from typical classroom activities and allow the language learners to have fun as they solve challenges in the target language. Drawing on the work of Lev Vygotsky and Sociocultural Theory, he demonstrates how learning is social and how learners create their knowledge by working with each other. Drama and creative arts are a powerful means for teaching and learning language because of the emotional support and encouragement it entails. He shows how performing arts engage learners intellectually, physically, and emotionally while offering supports and scaffolds that lead to powerful learning outcomes. He has effectively used these techniques with children and adults both at home and abroad in many different cultures and settings and argues that anyone can use these learning strategies to augment their teaching.