Drama in Education and Teaching English: A Research on The Fourth Grade Elementary Students

Abstract

This experimental study investigated the effects of the approach of “Mantle of the Expert” in
drama in education on English language teaching. This study also suggests a theoretical framework for the
similarities of Mantle of The Expert Approach, “Scenario Based Learning”, and Vygotsky’s “Socio-cultural
Learning Theory”. The study was conducted at a public elementary school in Nazilli district of Ayd<n- in 2007-
2008 academic year. The participants of the study were 97 students divided in an experimental group and a
control group. In the study which lasting at 8 weeks, the drama activities based on the “Mantle of the Expert”
approach are used in experimental group and activities in the 4th grade English Curriculum were used in the
control group. “English Language Achievement Test” and “Personal Information Form” were used as data
gathering tools. In the study, Covariance analysis was used in order to find out whether there was a meaningful
difference or not (p<.01).