Teaching through marionettes : applying creative teaching to enhance learning within the main subjects of the Maltese national curriculum framework

Abstract

This work is based on a pilot study within a Maltese secondary school, where students of different abilities were taught English through the medium of marionettes, which they themselves had built. The pilot study was conducted with Year 9 and Year 10 pupils, some of whom have a low level of English proficiency. The dissertation discusses marionette theatre in particular, and theatre in general, as a key academic resource which stimulates learning and life-skills. The work traces the process of the study, and shows how creative thinking and teaching skills may be developed to enhance learning. It draws more general conclusions with regard to the use of theatre as a fundamental pedagogical tool. The ultimate aim of the study is to show how theatre can be integrated into the teaching of school syllabi as established by the Maltese National Curriculum Framework.