The Review on Acting Techniques as an Approach to Improve English Oral Skills

Resumo

This study explores the effectiveness of acting techniques as an innovative pedagogical approach to enhance English speaking skills among language learners. Speaking is often considered the most challenging skill to develop due to issues such as anxiety, limited vocabulary, and reliance on translation. Through qualitative research involving four English teachers from Unidad Educativa “Academia Naval Cap. Leonardo Abad Astudillo, Ecuador, this study identified key challenges that hinder oral communication development and examined how specific acting techniques address these barriers. Thematic analysis of in-depth interviews revealed that role-playing, improvisation, storytelling, and mock interviews significantly improved students' speaking confidence, vocabulary acquisition, and fluency while reducing anxiety levels. The research demonstrates that drama-based activities create authentic contexts for language use, allowing learners to experiment with English in a low-risk environment. The study also addressed implementation challenges, including time constraints, large class sizes, varying proficiency levels, and student resistance. A conceptual model was developed to illustrate the interrelationships between speaking challenges, acting techniques, their benefits, and implementation considerations. This research contributes to the field of language teaching by providing empirical evidence supporting the integration of acting techniques into English curriculum to foster more effective oral communication skills among learners.