A Teacher or an Actor ?

Using the actor's tools to manage the classroom

ETAI Student Mini-Conference, January 2013

Achva College Presenting: Mir Geva

Actors & Teachers – What do we have in

common?

• We “work" in front of an audience.

• The audience can't get out in the middle of the lesson

(paid substantial sums of money for the show )

• Information flows primarily from the stage to the

audience.

• Unless the audience connects with the person standing

on the stage, they will fall asleep.

When you teach a class you have the same

delivery problems that the stage actor does.

You need to convince each member of the

audience that you are speaking to them,

personally.

http://www.largelecture.com/Teacher_as_Actor.html

A teacher standing in front of his/her class needs to be:

heard

seen

interesting

understood

Work to develop your human dimensions such as:

Charisma – allow your personality to shine – create a

style of communication that is authentic, compelling and

captivating.

Sense of Humor – it is through laughter that we all feel

most connected to what is happening around us.

(On Being a Teacher – Jeffrey A. Kottler)

It will determine how satisfied you feel with your

choice to be a part of the teaching profession. (On

Being a Teacher – Jeffrey A. Kottler)

Diction – PronunciationFind your voice !

Not all of us have a loud voice but we all

can:

speak clearly

speak slowly

play with the “volume”

change tone

emphasize

train our voice

Knowing your lines – Lesson Plan (What does it mean to really be

ready for class?)

Go over the materials. Know the background.

Know a little more than your best student.

Become a knowledgeable person.

Understanding of the stage –

The front of the class Don’t turn your back to the audience. Try to wake up the person sleeping at the back.

Keep moving on the stage, change positions.

Have fun or be serious – make a decision!

Who is my audience ?Which class do I teach?

We change aspects of ourselves in each situation.

A good actor knows which line to deliver to which audience – sometimes you just have to make the sale!

Don’t sell ice to an Eskimo – Maybe what he needs is a good book…

What kind of an actor am I ? What kind of a teacher am I ?

Try to be your best self.

Use your instruments: voice and body.

Be proud of the way you look: shoulders straight

and head held high.

Dress well and make your appearance

interesting, wear colors.

Walk around, don’t sit – the audience can’t see

you.

Change your hair from time to time.

Use big gestures - Smile, smile and…smile some

more!

(Jane Cox – The teacher as an actor)

“Understanding yourself is the single most important task in the growth

towards developing healthy attitudes of

self-acceptance.”Arthur Jeslid (1955)