Art therapy in English lessons: from the teacher's practice

We have been teaching English as a foreign language for more than 20 years, and during this time we have discovered that art therapy can be a valuable tool to improve the learning of our students. Art therapy is a treatment method that uses art and creativity to improve mental and emotional well-being. It can be used in a variety of settings, including education.

Art therapy can be especially useful for students as it provides them with a creative and expressive outlet and can help them improve their language skills, increase self-confidence and reduce stress.

-Here are some examples of how we use art therapy in our lessons

"Drawing to Describe" I ask students to draw a picture describing their favorite place, person, or event. Then they have to describe their picture in English. This activity helps students improve their descriptive and narrative skills.

Drawing for Description is an art therapy class that can be used in English as a foreign language lessons to help students improve their descriptive and narrative skills.

Here are some practical examples of how you can use drawing to describe in lessons:

-Describe your favorite place: Ask students to draw a picture of their favorite place. It can be a real place, a fictional place, or even an abstract place. Then ask them to describe their painting in English, using as much detail as possible.

-Describe the person you know: Ask students to draw a picture of the person they know. It can be a friend, a family member, a celebrity, or even a fictional character. Then ask them to describe the person in their painting using as much detail as possible.

Describe the event you experienced: Ask students to draw a picture of the event they experienced. It can be a happy event, a sad event, or even a traumatic event. Then ask them to describe the event in their painting using as much detail as possible.

When students describe their drawings, encourage them to use a variety of vocabulary and grammatical structures. You can also ask them to use certain words or phrases in their descriptions.

Here are some additional tips on using drawing to describe in lessons :

• Give students enough time to draw their pictures.

• Encourage students to share their work with the class and discuss their ideas.

• Use students' drawings as a basis for other activities, such as writing or discussion.

Drawing for description is an exciting and useful activity that can be used in lessons to improve students' language skills.

«Collage for expressing emotions»: I ask students to create a collage expressing their emotions about a certain topic or event. Then they have to explain their collage in English. This activity helps students improve their emotional expression and self-reflection skills.

Collage for Expressing Emotions is an art therapy class that can be used in English as a foreign language lessons to help students improve their emotional expression and self-reflection skills.

Here is an example of how I used collage to express emotions in my lessons :

I asked my students to create a collage expressing their emotions about a certain topic or event. I gave them magazines, newspapers and other materials to cut and paste on their collages. I also asked them to include in their collages any words or phrases that they think express their emotions.

When the students finished their collages, I asked them to share them with the class and explain what they mean. It was a very powerful lesson that allowed students to express their emotions in a creative and meaningful way.

Here are some additional tips on using collage to express emotions in class :

• Give students clear instructions and support them while they work.

• Encourage students to share their work with the class and discuss their ideas.

• Use student collages as a basis for other activities such as writing or discussion.

Collage for expressing emotions is an exciting and useful activity that can be used in the classroom to improve students' language skills and their ability to express their emotions.

- From my teaching experience, I have found that collage for expressing emotions can be especially useful for students who have difficulty expressing their emotions in words. This activity can also be useful for students who are learning English as a foreign language, as it provides them with the opportunity to express their emotions in a creative way, without relying solely on vocabulary.

«Drama for role-playing games»:I ask the students to act out a scene in English. This activity helps students improve their speaking and listening skills, as well as increase their self-confidence.

Drama for role-playing games is an art therapy class that can be used in English lessons to help students improve their communication skills, self-confidence and ability to think critically.

Here is an example of how I used drama for role-playing games in my EFL lessons:

I divided my students into groups of three. I gave each group a situation or scenario, for example, in a restaurant, in a store or at the airport. I asked the students to act out the scene in English, using as many lines as possible.

When the students finished acting out their skits, I asked them to share them with the class. Then we discussed various ways in which students could improve their performances.

Here are some additional tips for using drama for role-playing games in EFL lessons:

• Give students enough time to prepare for their skits.

• Encourage students to use a variety of vocabulary and grammatical structures in their skits.

• Use student sketches as a basis for other activities, such as discussion or writing.

Drama for role-playing games is an exciting and useful activity that can be used in the classroom to improve students' language skills, self-confidence and the ability to think critically.

From my teaching experience, I have found that role-playing drama can be especially useful for students who have difficulty communicating in English. This activity can also be useful for students who are learning English as a foreign language, as it provides them with the opportunity to practice their language skills in real-world situations.

-4*I have found that art therapy can be a valuable tool to create a more engaging and supportive learning environment in my lessons. It helps students improve their language skills, increase self-confidence and reduce stress. I recommend that other teachers consider using art therapy in their classes.

Here are a few sites where English teachers can find a variety of art therapy assignments:

Teaching English with Art (https://www.teachingenglishwithart.com /) : This site offers a wide range of art therapy assignments for English language teachers, including lessons based on famous works of art, collage classes and drawing assignments.

* **Artful English** (https://artfulenglish.org / ): This site offers lesson plans and art therapy resources for English language teachers. The classes are designed for students of different ages and language proficiency levels.

The Art of Education University** (https://theartofed.org / ): This site offers online art therapy courses and resources for teachers. The courses are designed to help teachers integrate art therapy into their teaching practice.

* **Pinterest** (https://www.pinterest.com / ): Pinterest is a great place to find ideas for art therapy assignments. Just type "art therapy for English teachers" into the search bar and you will find a lot of ideas.

Teachers Pay Teachers** (https://www.teacherspayteachers.com / ): Teachers Pay Teachers is a website where teachers can buy and sell educational materials. On this site you can find many art therapy assignments for English language teachers.

Here are some additional tips for finding art therapy assignments for English lessons:

• Think about the age and language proficiency of your students.

• Choose tasks that match your learning goals.

• Don't be afraid to adapt assignments to the needs of your students.

• Encourage students to share their work with the class and discuss their ideas.