GLO-TOI (2012-2014) is the third step of a long term strategy aimed at developing a new methodology for teaching foreign languages through Drama & Theatre. The general methodological objective is to reinforce student motivation, involve their whole personality with a holistic approach (mind and body, verbal and non-verbal codes) going beyond a formal concept of language competence and improving their real communication skills when performing context-based and pragmatic tasks.
The action started with a Multilateral LLP project, GLOTTODRAMA (2008-2009), which established a theoretical framework, by submitting the methodology to a practical test, in order to compare its results with other approaches and give scientific evidence of its remarkable results in terms of learning improvement. After the successful demonstration of the method”s effectiveness, our work led us to a second step, the LLP Dissemination Project GLODISS (2009-2010). The main objective of GLO-TOI is transferring the Glottodrama Method from Italian as a target language to the teaching of eight other European idioms: French, Spanish, Portuguese, Romanian, Bulgarian, Greek, Turkish and English (Pilot Class for Actors). The consortium is formed by eight partners representing eight countries of two macro-areas, Western and Eastern Europe. It puts together two universities, the Language University Tomer (Turkey) and Polytechnic of Valencia (Spain), two language schools, Perugia Language School (Greece), CIAL Centro de Lìnguas (Portugal), two research & teaching centres, Novacultur Srl (Italy), Langues Plurielles (France), one language consultant, Euroinform LTD (Bulgaria) and one nongovernmental organisation, EuroEd (Romania).
The partnership is testing the impact of the method by organising pilot and control classes in different teaching environments and with different beneficiaries. As a result, a specific “Resource Book” providing verified teaching materials and syllabus will be published in each target language to promote future exploitation of the method along with a multilanguage video-documentary. Moreover, the partnership intends to communicate and exchange ideas with the entire educational world and this objective will be pursued by setting up a new non-profit body: the European Association for Drama & Theatre Applied to Language Learning (EATALL), a European association open to all educational institutions and professionals interested in this promising field.