Why Use Readers' Theater?
Because readers' theater focuses on vocal expression, and students have the opportunity to practice repeatedly, pronunciation is a key component. Readers' theater is the ideal tool for perfecting certain aspects of pronunciation. In reader's theater, a script is chosen, made, or adapted. Students can help with this process, or it can be done by the teacher. Students choose a character from the script and memorize their lines. The experience of repeating the lines with the direction of the teacher (or appointed student "director") imprints the correct pronunciation in the students' minds. This is similar to repeated drills, but it is more imaginative in that students are creating a scene and repeating phrases in a context. They must use emotion, intonation, and tone in their speech. Students can also use the IPA to make notes about the correct way to pronounce lines.