JALT2025 - Tokyo

Engaging with social issues through improv.

Oct 31, 2025, 3:25 PM

1h

National Olympics Memorial Youth Center / 国立オリンピック記念青少年総合センター

Practice-oriented Workshop (60-minutes) Language Classroom Content Room 507

Speaker

Alexander Selman (Rikkyo University)

Description

Games from improv theatre are often used as warmers or fun breaks, but this presentation argues that the principles of improv match those of communicative language teaching, and that techniques from improv can be used to open up students’ awareness of topics and stimulate deeper discussion of social issues. Participants will experience a sequence of activities and suggestions of how it can be adapted for a wide variety of topics.

Summary

Games from improv theatre are often used as warmers or fun breaks, but this presentation argues that the principles of improv match those of communicative language teaching, and that techniques from improv can be used to open up students’ awareness of topics and stimulate deeper discussion of social issues. Participants will experience a sequence of activities and suggestions of how it can be adapted for a wide variety of topics.