ETHERTON EDUCATION

We teach ten academic subjects in our pre-sessional summer schools, but the only subject that we make compulsory for everyone – apart from English language – is Drama. Many students hate it at first. ‘Why do I have to do Drama, Sir? It’s a waste of time. I want to do more science!’ But we persuade them to stick with it, and by the end of the summer they get the point. On our final feedback questionnaire, 95% approve of it.

Drama lessons build confidence. Here’s Thomas, jumping to his feet at the end of our final, formal dinner, asking to give a little speech. ‘Sir, I want to say something! I want to thank my Drama teacher, Matt. In my school in China, I was scared to speak English even in my English class. Now I can stand up and speak to 100 people!’ He beams with pride.

Drama is like an outward bound high-ropes course. It pushes you to do something scary, but it gives you lots of support to stop you from falling. For us, it’s a means to an end. We’re not actually trying to produce actors; we’re trying to foster a sense of self-belief in international students that they can survive and flourish in British education.

Once you’ve strutted your stuff as one of the Pink Ladies or T-Birds in ‘Grease’, it’s much easier to pluck up the courage to ask a question in a Chemistry class, to try out for a sports team, or to join a new club to make more friends.

There have been so many examples. Christian, a brilliant German student, ecstatic with his own achievement after he had given his first ever presentation in English during an environmental simulation game; a Spanish girl jubilant after choreographing a dance sequence all on her own; and a Hong Kong boy who had distinguished himself by playing ‘Big Sam’ in a summer version of ‘Bugsy Malone’, moving on to his next school and becoming a front row forward in the 1st Rugby XV. Drama, and confidence, can take you anywhere!