Improvisation in A-town and elsewhere

In previous posts I've mentioned an interest in group improvisational story telling; I love role play activities that use improvisation, and even the URL of this blog has the word "improv" in it. I wanted to give some ideas for places where teachers and language learners can experience and learn about improv techniques and games for fun and for language learning.

In Austin, there are a variety of theaters that put on Improv shows and teach classes in improvisational acting. I am most familiar with the Hideout, the Salvage Vanguard Theater, and Coldtowne Theater. Check them out! I can especially recommend the P-graph show on Thursday nights at 8:00 at Coldetown or classes from Andy Crouch at the Hideout.

For games, check out these sites and blogs: Five Minute Fillers, Larry Ferlazzo's games for students, Dave Kees Teach English in China

Also, great board games for creative, spontaneous speech are Apples to Apples (especially the youth version), Balderdash, and In a Pickle (for prepositions and vocab).

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