Is it possible to teach Shakespeare to a class that doesn't want to learn it? We recommend these few simple strategies to help your bored class turn into Shakespearean enthusiasts!
Use Other Media
As well as using the play script in class, allow the students to see the play as it was originally intended: as a drama. Watching a Shakespeare film or incorporating graphic novels into your classroom are both excellent ways to engage reluctant learners. Watching the story unfold is very different from reading the written text. It is in a format that they can more easily relate to. It shows characters, emotions, clothing and period features of the time. It can be argued that emotions and situations are more easily seen, understood and remembered by reading a graphic novel or watching a play. Audio books are another media that is useful, allowing students to hear the different characters voices and the proper pronunciations of Shakespearean text in the first instance as they read along.
Acting Out
Where you can’t access other media why not try acting out the scene instead? Not every student will feel confident enough to do this so it may be that you are the only one doing the acting but it can be a fun activity for disengaged students to watch nonetheless. Reenacting fight scenes or other energetic key scenes from a play help to really bring it to life and reiterate to students that this is a play and not just a written story. As their teacher you can take on the parts that no one else wants. Emphasise text. Share roles among students if text is too long or students are unwilling to take on a full role. Involve as many as you can. Swap characters for the next lesson. Let everyone have a go. Throw in some Shakespearean insults - there are plenty of those! Be enthusiastic. Talk about Shakespeare with enthusiasm and excitement and this will inevitably rub off onto your students.
This is the opening page of Henry V The Graphic Novel: Original Text. Chorus is saying here: "If we had help from the gods we could give a better performance of this play." Similarly, you don't need to do anything elaborate. Participating students could use whatever basic classroom props you have at hand.
Real Life Connections
Find links to present day wherever you can in the plays you are studying. Romeo and Juliet, for example, contains themes of suicide, breaking up, parents not understanding and rival gangs. Macbeth contains themes of jealously, superstition, greed, murder and suicide. Although written long ago, Shakespeare’s plays are in many ways timeless and include common themes that your students will be able to connect to - with your help.
Understanding
Check for understanding often. You’ve probably read the text a few times but your students may be reading it for the first time and can easily get lost in the language. It’s a good idea to often ask questions such as “so, what has just happened?”, “what do you think they meant by this?” and “what do you think is going to happen next?” Minds can easily wander so these constant questions can encourage students to stay focussed. If you’re using graphic novels questions can be specifically about the look of the characters, their reactions, how you think they’re feeling, their style of clothes, the setting, the feel of the scene in the way it is drawn, the artist and their general drawing style, etc. It all helps in your students’ understanding of Shakespeare and being able to retain those details.
Hopefully some of these strategies have been helpful to you. However you choose to teach Shakespeare we just want to say you’re doing a great job - keep it up.