SOCIAL INTEGRATION OF IMMIGRANTS STUDENTS BY USING DRAMA APPLICATIONS ´´S-INTEGRATION´´ SOCIAL INTEGRATION OF IMMIGRANTS STUDENTS BY USING DRAMA APPLICATIONS 2nd International Meeting Rogaška Slatina, Slovenia 4th–7th September 2016  

The History of Drama in Education The use of drama has been used over the course of history from the time of Aristotle, who believed that theatre provided people a way to release emotions, right to the beginning of the progressive movement in education, where emphasis was placed upon “doing” rather than memorizing.

1. Drama is part of real life and prepares students to deal with life’s problems. Drama simply allows students the opportunity to rehearse roles, further giving form or shape to the individual and personal ideas and feelings they are naturally experiencing. Overall, this allows students to make sense out of their ‘real’ life problems.

2. Drama engages students in creative problem- solving and decision making Deep experiences through drama guides and supports student’s problem solving skills. Instead of school just being a place where students are being taught and told what to think and feel, drama turns this into a deeper experience in thinking, besides motivating students to question, respond, and explain what they are feeling and thinking.

3. Drama develops verbal and nonverbal communication Through different characters, students share the opportunity to expand their problem solving skills both verbally and non-verbally, making room for a sense of creativity. As well, students practice various communication skills through the use of body language, facial expressions and different voices.

4. Drama can enhance students’ psychological well-being Under different characters, students can express their true feelings without fear of being judged or criticized. They can work on personal issue or solve personal problems while in character, which can simply help their overall well being. Essentially, this allows students to get things off their mind, further releasing emotion and tension and allowing students to be who they are.

5. Drama develops empathy and new perspectives Taking on various roles in character allows students to use all senses and characteristics in order to understand the character, as well as, the scenario or story at hand. Learning how to express oneself in different ways and through different means, helps build a strong character and personality.

6. Drama builds cooperation and develops other social skills Working together as a group promotes, encourages and motivates cooperation. It is essential that each of our students feels accepted and works well with others, in order to create and build a safe environment for all to learn. Drama simply brings students together, allowing them to find different characters that best suits them, different roles to express who they are, and different ways to build upon and develop social awareness.

7. Drama increases concentration and comprehension through engagement Students always learn best when they are engaged and interested, as well as, when they are actively involved. As students are strongly focused and concentrating, their overall understanding simply increases. When we include students in our classes, it is more likely that they will grasp the idea more, or make a concrete connection. Drama allows us to do this with our students.

8. Drama is entertaining Fun is learning, and learning is fun. If we remember this and try to incorporate fun in our teaching, our students will definitely enjoy the learning process. Students enjoy dealing with and discussing real life issues and problems, they like figuring things out, doing interesting things, doing things differently.

9. Drama is an important means of stimulating CREATIVITY IN PROBLEM SOLVING. It can CHALLENGE STUDENTS' PERCEPTIONS about their world and about themselves. Dramatic exploration can provide students with an outlet for emotions, thoughts, and dreams that they might not otherwise have means to express. A student can BECOME ANOTHER, explore a new role, try out solutions to very real problems- problems from their own life.

10.At the center of all Drama is COMMUNICATION. Like all other arts, Drama allows students to communicate with and understand others in new ways. Perhaps more than any other art form, Drama also provides training in the very PRACTICAL aspects of communication so necessary in today's increasingly information-centered world.

Students who have participated in Dramatic activities are less likely to have difficulty SPEAKING IN PUBLIC. They will be more PERSUASIVE in their communications, both written and oral, will be better able to put themselves into others' shoes and relate to them, and will have a more POSITIVE, CONFIDENT SELF IMAGE.

12. Students in Drama will learn to WORK TOGETHER Participation in Dramatic activity requires SELF CONTROL and DISCIPLINE which are essential in all aspects of life. They will learn to cooperate, to find the best way for each member of a group to contribute, and to listen and accept the viewpoints of others. NO ART FORM IS MORE TRULY COLLABORATIVE. Drama is an important tool for preparing students to live and work in a world that is increasingly TEAM-ORIENTED rather than hierarchical.

13. Drama also helps students develop TOLERANCE and EMPATHY. In order to play a role competently, an actor must be able to fully inhabit another's soul. An actor must be able to really understand how the world looks through another person's eyes. This does not mean he must agree with every character.

14.Drama can REINFORCE the rest of the school curriculum. Since communication and empathy are central to Drama, a student who has explored Drama classroom will be better able to UNDERSTAND IDEAS in History and Current Events. He will be able to put himself into the shoes of figures in history and literature, to UNDERSTAND THE WAY HUMAN BEINGS INTERACT.

Icebreakers and Energizers    Icebreakers are traditionally used to 'break the ice' - usually at the beginnning of an event. Energizers and Warm-ups Energizers and warm-ups aim towards helping students to unwind and relax, get them focused, and to simply set the atmosphere.

Create a positive group atmosphere Help people to relax Why use icebreakers? Create a positive group atmosphere Help people to relax Break down social barriers Energize & motivate Help people to "think outside the box" Help people to get to know one another

Spider Web: For this energizer you need a ball of wool. • Holding a ball of wool have the students begin by stating their name or something pertaining to themselves or something related to the lesson - example: My name is Nancy, I love to walk. • The student [Nancy] is than required to pass the ball to another student • This process goes around until all the students have had a turn.

THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION