Real-Life Communication
You are teaching modern drama 101, a course that focuses on bringing
drama's older works up to date, making them relevant to today.
Today,
you are having your class rewrite sections of Renaissance era (1450-1650)
poetry using modern words and expressions. Before the class is a stanza from
Twelfth Night, which was written by William Shakespeare almost 400 years ago.
It reads like this:
O mistress mine, where are you roaming?
O,
stay and hear; your true love's coming,
That can sing both high and low.
Trip
no further, pretty sweeting;
Journeys end in lovers meeting,
Every
wise man's son doth know.
The class has been given five minutes
to turn this stanza into modern and more understandable writing. Now it's
your turn to rewrite it on the blackboard.
"Communication skills are
the essence of the theater and of teaching, so their value is paramount,"
says drama teacher Bill Scurato. "Any art is only as valuable as the clarity
of its message. The same goes for teaching. One could be an absolute genius
but without the ability to effectively share knowledge, the teaching process
will not go forward."
Remember, Shakespeare is writing to his girlfriend,
who is away. He is confirming his love for her. Keep the facts in the back
of your mind as you turn the stanza into modern verse.