Lesson accompanied by artistic works of the group Magic Ball A. Works made by students at home.
WHY USE ART IN CLASSROOM?
• Lessons based around works of art have many benefits for both the teachers and the students.
• Lessons based around works of art have many benefits for both the teachers and the students.
- Responding to art can be very stimulating and can lead onto a great variety of activities. In its
simplest form this might be describing a painting, but with a little creativity all sorts of things are
possible. For example, the well-known ‘grammar auction’ activity can be redesigned as an art
auction, where the students have to say a sentence about the piece of art – anything they like –
and then the rest of the students bid according to how accurate they feel the sentence is.
- Using art provides a useful change of pace. While many teachers use visual images to
introduce a topic or language item, actually asking the students to engage with and respond to the
piece of art can encourage students to become involved on quite a different level.
- Incorporating art into the class or syllabus can take the students out of the classroom and
encourage them to use their language skills in the real world. A visit to an art exhibition or an
assignment that involves research on the internet can generate all sorts of language.
- Thinking about or even creating art can be very motivating. It can take the emphasis off of
accuracy and put it onto fluency and the ability to clearly express thoughts and ideas. This is
great for students whose progress in speaking is hindered by a fear of making mistakes.
- Responding to art has the potential to develop students’ creative and critical thinking skills.
Students as low as pre-intermediate level will be able to read a short biography of an artist and
discuss how their art depicts different aspects of their lives.