Alice Savage is a graduate of the School for International Training in Brattleboro, Vermont and is currently on the faculty at Lone Star College, North Harris in Houston, Texas. Alice has lived in New York, Los Angeles, and Seattle as well as Houston, and enjoys city life and the performing arts. When not teaching or writing, she also enjoys traveling for conferences and climbing mountains with her family.

2018 Runner-up for English-Language Award from the English-Speaking Union

Only the Best Intentions is an English language textbook that teaches spoken communication skills through the performance of an engaging and compelling one-act play.

Whether it's reader's theater, an in-class performance, or a full production, putting on a play is the ultimate group project.

And drama is a powerful tool for learning spoken communication skills! Students take on acting skills like using body language, gesture, intonation, and other non-verbal cues to communicate better. They are exposed to natural language in a realistic setting. And they are motivated and engaged!

A range of activities prepare students to perform as they practice language skills:

• Background readings on topics raised by the play: the history of competitive video games, the life of professional video game players, and managing modern life with screens.
• An original one-act play written for ELLs about a young woman who breaks off her engagement when she finds out her fiancé wants to be a professional video game player. But what's more important? Family, stability, keeping promises, or helping someone follow their dreams?
• Pragmatics lesson on raising problems and resolving conflicts
• Pronunciation activities, including sentence stress to show contrast and practice linking sounds.
• Scaffolding to prepare students to produce a play including
• Lessons on attentive listening
• Guided questions to analyze the play
• Ideas for auditioning, learning a part, and marking scripts for emotional content to improve line readings.
• Tips for staging a play
• Post-Performance Activities, including a talkback, a mini-debate, writing a new scene or even a sequel or mining the play for useful language
• An optional assignment to interview families about screen time
• Assessment rubrics and an answer key

Your students will look forward to class with this innovative resource that utilizes drama in language teaching! The play's the thing!

Introduction 1

• How to Use This Book 3

Preview 7

• Think about the Topic 7


• Discuss the Title 7


• Read for Background


• Life in the Age of Screens 10


• A Gamer in the Family 14


• The Rise of Esports 19


• Practice Attentive listening 23

Only the Best intentions 25

• Read the Script 25


• Discussion 47

Production 49

• Analyze the Play 49


• Assign Roles 50


• Learn Your Part 50


• Rehearse 53


• Practice Pronunciation 54


• Sentence Stress to Clarify and Show Contrast 55


• Pronunciation and Linking 55


• Stage Your Play 56

Post-Performance 59

• Lead a Talkback 59


• Write an Alternative ending 59


• Gather language 60


• Have a Mini-Debate 60


• Create a Sequel 60


• Practice Pragmatics: Managing interpersonal conflict 61

Assessment 65

• Teacher Evaluation Rubric 66


• Peer Feedback Questions 67


• Self-Reflection Questions 68

Beyond the classroom 69

• Publish an interview About Screen Time 69

Sample Performance Daily Schedule 71
About the Author 73