Creative Writing Tools for Teachers: Inspiring Students to Write with Confidence and Imagination (Florence, Italy and Nice, France)
INSTRUCTOR: Marisol Santana, EdD
“Words are our most inexhaustible source of magic." J. K. Rowling
Students can be unmotivated or intimated by writing. Good writing, whether it be fiction or academic requires original ideas and the skills to express those ideas onto the page. Often, students experience a lack of confidence or fear of “not being good enough” that can result in a serious block to their creative writing flow.
FLORENCE:
In this course, teachers will learn creative writing techniques that will empower their students to achieve a higher standard of writing in any language and level. Unique writing prompts together with inspiration from the city’s Renaissance art are provided to create characters, scenes, and stories from paintings, sculptures and real people (which may later be developed into full length plays, films, short stories, or novels).
Participants will learn techniques to teach the writing of monologues, dialogues, and scenes within their individual classrooms. Local mythological figures in art such as the Venus, David and Cupid are identified and used as inspiration for original written works and character development. Renaissance literature including dramas, myths, legends, fables, and folklore are reviewed for character development, story structure, and plot point examples.
NICE, FRANCE:
In this course, teachers will learn creative writing techniques that will empower their students to achieve a higher standard of writing in any language and level. Unique writing prompts together with inspiration from the paintings of Henri Matisse and Marc Chagall are provided to create characters, scenes, and stories from paintings, sculptures and real people (which may later be developed into full length plays, films, short stories, or novels).
Participants will learn techniques to teach the writing of monologues, dialogues, and scenes within their individual classrooms. Everyone will visit the Musée Matisse and the Marc Chagall National Museum in Nice where specific paintings will be chosen to be used as inspiration for original written works and character development. French literature which may include dramas, myths, legends, fables, or folklore will be reviewed for character development, story structure, and plot point examples.
BOTH:
This course demonstrates how teachers may adopt a Place-Based Education (PBE) approach by immersing their students in their home city’s heritage, art, culture, and landscape. Teachers will learn how to use resources from their local community such as museums, theatres, historical landmarks, parks, and other cultural events to facilitate higher-level engagement with any subject or any project-based learning curriculum that involves writing. Time is given for teachers to document written reflections about each day of the course which they can use to later develop into an academic article about their experience.
The course includes various dramatic activities to help teachers inspire their students to find their own writing voices and strengthen their creative muscles. The end of the course will include a reading of all written texts and techniques for giving audience and instructor feedback.
This course is taught by Marisol Santana, EdD. Dr. Marisol Santana has her doctorate in art and art education from Teachers College at Columbia University and her Masters in Educational Theatre for Colleges and Communities from New York University. She is a multimedia artist and has written dramatic plays from art and myths since 2007 in New York City, such as Orpheus and the Nymph, Galileo the Musical, The Women of Picasso, and Polly the Princess Moth (based on the fables of The Ugly Duckling and Cinderella).
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Participants will learn to teach their students how to:
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Develop their own narrative voices, resulting in an inspired writing flow.
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Write monologues and scenes with organic dialogue that is believable, dramatic and engaging.
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Utilize creative writing prompts and techniques to improve, motivate and infuse passion into written assignments.
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Construct a story with structure and vital plots points.
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Give and receive constructive and encouraging feedback about what works and doesn’t work about their writing.
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Engage in lessons that incorporate place-based/interactive community engagement methods, cultural resources, and events within their own classrooms and communities.
TARGET AUDIENCE:
Teachers: primary, secondary, vocational, adult, special needs; Teacher trainers; Careers officers, educational guides and counsellors; Headteachers; Principals; Managers of schools
COURSE LOCATIONS/SESSIONS:
*Regrettably, due to the worldwide outbreak of COVID19, all 2021 in-person workshops are currently postponed until further notice. We plan to resume as soon as it is safe to do so. We will update you as things progress.
Florence: TBD
Nice: TBD
COURSE DETAILS:
Length of the course: 1 week Mon -Sat;
Course Schedule: 9:00 - 14:00 (first turn) or 14:00 - 19:00 (second turn)
Number of participants: max. 14;
Cultural activities included: City Guided Tour and 1 day Excursion;
Price: € 480,00
To make a reservation for this course, please click here to fill out our online application.
You will then receive confirmations from TESOL Drama and Europass Teacher Academy. Please do not book flights or accommodations until you receive a final confirmation from Europass Teacher Academy.
*Accommodation and airfare are not included in the price. Participants must book their own airfares. Please let us know if you need assistance with accommodation.
