Improving speaking skills of primary school students through drama plays in English language lessons

The aim of this study is to observe drama activities in language classes and how they affect students' speaking skill. It also aims to apply suggested activities by Gillian Lazar and his method of using drama in English language classrooms. Literature and Language Teaching by Gillian Lazar is the handbook and a major resource for the study. This study took place in small, public school in Erciş /Van outside of city where there is very limited resources for students. Primary School 4th grade students were the subject of this study. Language outcomes had been measured by teacher based on observations and the data were collected according to teacher's observations regarding language outcomes of the related unit. The first chapter gives information about the background of the study, aims, subjects and the method. The second chapter presents related literature review, reasons of using drama, effects of drama in language classes and its relation to speaking skill. The third chapter contains methodology of the study including data collection and teachers' observations. The fourth chapter is about the findings of the study specific on anxiety, enthusiasm, improving speaking skill and speaking fluency. The final chapter provides summary of the study, suggestions, limitations and conclusions. The analysis of the collected data has pointed out that drama activities utilized in teaching English as a foreign language classes at elementary school affected students' speaking abilities. Furthermore, drama activities and their implementation in elementary level language learning programs could be utilized as an effective tool. Keywords: Role- play, act out, speaking skill, primary school students, drama.