Drama is very important for students who have English as an additional language or who have no English at all. Whereas many traditional school subjects have a strong emphasis on reading, writing and talking in English, Drama - like Dance, Music and Visual Art - has a strong non-verbal element to the medium. But, whereas these other art forms can be abstract in nature, a central component of Drama is the fact that it deals in comprehensible human experiences, situations and contexts which may already be familiar and recognisable to individuals in their home culture. This element of shared human experience can provide a connecting rod to the students' own experience and allow them to achieve understanding without the need for communication purely in English. This can have a rewarding and including effect on students who may otherwise feel alienated and disenfranchised.

Because of the importance of drama in this respect London Drama has a continuing commitment to developing CPD and INSET to facilitate the teaching of students whose first language is not English.

For our latest course Developing Drama with Students Whose first Language is not English please click here.