The Department of Drama and Creative Applications at National University of Tainan (NUTN) recently completed a three-week drama education program at Tainan Municipal Chongming Junior High School from March 4 to 20, 2026. Designed and implemented by senior students in the department's capstone project group specializing in drama education, the program used theatre-based learning to guide junior high school students in exploring the universal theme of farewell and separation.
The teaching team visited nine classes and employed a variety of drama strategies—including role-playing, process drama, and improvisation—to help students understand emotions, reflect on personal experiences, and develop greater self-awareness through storytelling and creative expression. The initiative also showcased the department's longstanding commitment to integrating theory with practice and applying drama education in real-world educational settings.
The project was supervised by Associate Professor Li-Yu Chang and carried out in collaboration with teachers Yi-Ting Po and Yu-Cheng Tsai from Chongming Junior High School. Centered on the theme of "farewell," the NUTN team developed three original drama education units that explored different dimensions of parting, including friendship, attachment to one's homeland, and emotional connections to cherished possessions.
In Words of the Tiger and the Wolf, students followed the stories of the Big Bad Wolf and Captain Hook, gradually experiencing the emotional journey of coping with loss and separation from close friends. Through storytelling and role engagement, students were encouraged to reconsider the importance of companionship and appreciating the people around them.
Another lesson, The Legend of Flooded Village, placed students in the role of villagers facing a devastating flood. As the narrative unfolded, participants experienced the sadness and helplessness of leaving their hometown, prompting reflection on the emotional bonds between people, places, memories, and a sense of belonging.
The third lesson, Saying Goodbye to a Beloved Possession, centered on a pair of well-worn sneakers named Swift Shadow, which had accompanied the character Ah-Chun for many years. Through teacher-in-role techniques and improvisational activities, students became involved in the character's decision-making process and reflected on the emotional significance that objects can hold. The lesson encouraged students to understand that saying goodbye is not always an ending, but can also be a process of emotional healing and personal growth.
Unlike traditional lecture-based instruction, the program emphasized active participation and interaction. Through role-playing, imaginative scenarios, and improvisational expression, students explored the emotions and changes associated with parting and loss. Rather than passively receiving information, they engaged with different perspectives and characters, learning to express their feelings, empathize with others, and appreciate the value of emotional and life education through drama.
The program received an enthusiastic response from Chongming Junior High School students. Many participants shared that stepping into dramatic roles allowed them to understand the concept of farewell from new perspectives and gave them a safe space to express emotions and feelings that are often difficult to articulate.
For the NUTN students leading the program, the experience was equally transformative. From classroom observations and lesson design to repeated revisions and the actual facilitation of activities in a junior high school setting, they continuously reflected on how drama can meaningfully engage learners and create authentic human connections.
Through this hands-on teaching experience, the students not only deepened their understanding of drama education but also strengthened their professional competencies and broadened their perspectives as future educators and practitioners in the field of applied theatre and arts education.