On this course you will explore the principles and practice of teaching English to young learners with a creative twist. It brings together active pedagogies, multi-sensory approaches, creativity, drama, art, literature, play and language learning.
You will find out how you can use the arts and explore your creativity in your language classes with young learners, experience learning beyond the classroom walls, gain insight into intercultural issues, work collaboratively in creative projects and improve your English language skills.
This course was developed especially for NILE in 2024 by creativity and drama experts Griselda Beacon and David Farmer, who between them have more than 50 years' experience in teaching primary-aged children and training their teachers.
"..I was immersed in a total new way of teaching...
These two weeks have been absolutely incredible! I have gained self-confidence and learnt how to apply a lot of creative techniques in class, which will make my students develop their abilities and skills without even noticing they are learning."
Ioana, 2024
Is this course for you?
Teachers, academic managers and trainers who work in the area of teaching languages to young learners (6 to 12-year-olds)
4 - 15 August
Registration fee: £150
Course fee: £1195
Homestay (half-board): £560
Residential (half-board): £672
Residential (self-catering): £560
More information
Course content
" The drama/teaching techniques have truly been priceless – really couldn’t have asked for more. I can’t thank you enough for giving great inspiration. Absolutely thrilled to have met such compassionate experts in their field. "
Ipek, 2024
This is a highly practical course which encourages you to use a creative approach throughout your teaching. Together, we will plan creative teaching sequences and build up a repertoire of creative resources. We will do this through a mix of storytelling strategies and collaborative creative responses such as dancing, singing, performing, drawing, painting and other related activities. We will work in class as learners and reflect as teachers so as to experience the process from both viewpoints.
Timetable
This course consists of 50 hours of tuition, delivered between 09:00 and 15:30, Monday - Friday. You will also take part in cross-curricular workshops on a variety of topics, and each course includes a free evening and weekend programme of social and cultural activities and trips.
Further Information
Specific course content comes from feedback you and other participants give us through pre-course questionnaires, identifying your needs and priorities.
Time will be built into the course for reflection and for you to consider how to adapt ideas from the course to your classroom in your own professional contexts.
NILE offers various accommodation options, including homestay with carefully selected hosts and residential accommodation at the University of East Anglia. NILE’s dedicated student welfare team can be reached 24 hours a day.
All NILE courses involve a significant element of English language improvement and/or the development of language awareness.
Course Leaders: Griselda Beacon and David Farmer
Griselda Beacon from Argentina & David Farmer from the UK are collaborating in this creative venture and share their ideas on art & language learning through the lens of intercultural and inclusive education.
Griselda joined NILE as a course tutor in 2012. She specialises in literature, creativity and art in ELT. Passionate about art in education, Griselda carries out projects with literature, storytelling, drama, visual arts and creative writing to foster self-expression and creativity in diverse and inclusive English language classrooms. Read Griselda's full bio.
David is a freelance theatre director and drama lecturer. He worked as a primary school teacher before he established Tiebreak Theatre Company in 1981, directing, writing and producing shows and workshops for children and young people across the world. Since 2005 he has worked widely as a drama consultant, published five books on educational drama and runs the website www.dramaresource.com. Read David's full bio.
Available dates:
| Course dates | Location | Course length | |
| 04 - 15 August 2025 | Norwich | 2 weeks |
