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Gwangju-Jeonnam Chapter Presents: Using Creative Constraints in Speaking-Based Activities #1157

** Free and open to all! **

Role-plays and dialogues can be fun production tasks that spark students’ creativity while also encouraging movement in the classroom. However, many students (especially those less academically-inclined) may be quick to throw up their hands and say “I have no idea” or “I’m not creative.” It’s a common problem that can derail creative dialogue activities.

The key to creative breakthroughs can start with setting restrictions or boundaries - creative constraints. By setting initial limits on role-playing possibilities, students can find more creative freedom - a kind of “jumping-off point.” As teachers, we can turn these dials to scale speaking activities to students’ language abilities and promote more creativity in our classrooms.