Oita Chapter

Abstract

Placing typical language learning objectives in creative contexts can provide an element of surprise and discovery that enhances students’ motivation and makes lasting impressions. Examples of creative activities will include a disrupted lesson that provides students with an unexpected and humorous opportunity to develop storytelling skills, fluency development exercises that draw from secrets of improvisational comedy, and experiments that engage learners to discover language talents they never knew they had.

Bio

Chris Stillwell is assistant director of the Sojo International Language Center in Kumamoto, Japan. He has taught English as a Second/Foreign Language for 17 years and has also worked as a teacher trainer at Teachers College, Columbia University. He is interested in collaborative professional development and creative approaches to language instruction, and he has written several chapters and journal articles on these topics.