PIE SIG Podcast

Darren Kinsman
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  • Education

This podcast explores the benefits of using performance related approaches and activities in the classroom and the lives of the people who use them. 

  1. Episode 11: By the way…You’re Teaching Drama Now, feat. Educator Gordon Rees

    4d ago

    Episode 11: By the way…You’re Teaching Drama Now, feat. Educator Gordon Rees

    Send us Fan Mail Associate Professor Gordon Rees recounts the moment when he suddenly had to take over a drama class at his university after the teacher suddenly left their position. Uncertain how to teach such a course, he joined the PIE SIG to get some ideas. He never looked back and now regularly uses filmmaking, readers' theater and radio dramas to reach what he calls reluctant learners.  Tune in to learn what he has learned about what works and why. Gordon Rees, BA, MA Associate Professor, Faculty of Policy Management, Yokkaichi University Mr. Rees' Publications Rees, G. (2013). Using drama to motivate “reluctant” EFL learners. Yokkaichi University Journal of Policy Management, 12(1–2), 49–64. Rees, G. (2014). Content-based instruction (CBI): 文献レビューと導入事例 [Content-based instruction (CBI): Literature review and implementation cases]. Yokkaichi University Journal of Policy Management, 13(1–2), 27–50. Rees, G. (2016a). Good morning world: Using drama to teach presentation skills, reduce anxiety and build confidence. Yokkaichi University Journal of Policy Management, 16(1), 21–32. Rees, G. (2016b). Integrating drama into required English communication courses. Yokkaichi University Journal of Policy Management, 15(2), 73–96. Rees, G. (2017). Using reader’s theater and drama to develop presentation skills and deepen understanding. Yokkaichi University Journal of Policy Management, 16(2). Rees, G. (2025, August 1). Radio drama: A pal you can count on. MindBrainEd Think Tanks: Public Speaking in the Language Classroom, 11(8), 13–21. https://www.mindbrained.org/2025/08/radio-drama-a-pal-you-can-count-on/ Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please like and leave a review. To learn more about the Performance in Education SIG, check out our website.  https://jaltpiesig.org/ Have questions or want to get involved? Reach out to us at: pie.sig.podcast@gmail.com. To access other high-quality JALT podcasts, go to JALT CALL (Computer Assisted Language Learning) Podcasts on Soundcloud! https://soundcloud.com/jalt-call For tips on how to cite these episodes using APA 7th edition, use the link below: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uLVARUdviigboSQXkJXfgNm0zNkMsal6brBvwpmTKWM/edit?usp=sharing Intro & Outro song: Unlock Me (Royalty free) Music by Kontraa Studio | UKA Music Publishing LLC

    28 min
  2. Episode 10: CALL X PIE feat. JALTCALL SIG President Brian Gallagher

    Apr 27

    Episode 10: CALL X PIE feat. JALTCALL SIG President Brian Gallagher

    Send us Fan Mail Are CALL and PIE Compatible? When should we embrace computer technology… and when does it make more sense to use pen and paper? Can students use AI without losing their creativity and humanity? In Part 1 of this powerful two-part series, JALTCALL SIG President Brian Gallagher (Meijo University) takes us on a deeply personal journey — from his childhood in Greenock, Scotland, through his early drama and elocution training, to his time at IBM, and finally to his life as an educator in Japan. Brian shares honest reflections on pushing students beyond their comfort zone (and then gently bringing them back), how our use of technology shapes learning outcomes, and his simple but effective “record, look, and delete” method for self-training. Authentic. Thought-provoking. Human-centred. This is a must-listen for any language teacher navigating the balance between performance, technology, and what it really means to stay human in the AI age. 🔗 Link to Part 2 where Brian interviews me on the JALTCALL Podcast drops May 2, 2026,  so don’t miss it! JALTCALL (Computer Assisted Language Learning) Podcasts on Soundcloud! https://soundcloud.com/jalt-call SHOW NOTES: Brian Gallagher, M.A.ODE(Open), PGCODE(Open), ProGCE, B.Sc.(Hons) Assistant Professor *Specially Appointed, Faculty of Foreign Studies, Meijo University, Nagoya, Japan JALTCALL President     https://jaltcall.org/Brian's Homepage   https://anthonybriangallagher.weebly.com/ Brian's research    https://researchmap.jp/briang https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Anthony-Gallagher-4 Okinawa JALT 2025 Publications & Publicity Officer    https://okijalt.org/ JALT PIE SIG Assistant Program Chair 2025     https://jaltpiesig.org/ JAMSTEC    https://www.jamstec.go.jp/e/ Kamishibai    https://www.kamishibai-ikaja.com/en/ 🔗 Link to Part 2 on the JALT CALL Podcast drops soon, so don’t miss it! Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please like and leave a review. To learn more about the Performance in Education SIG, check out our website.  https://jaltpiesig.org/ Have questions or want to get involved? Reach out to us at: pie.sig.podcast@gmail.com. To access other high-quality JALT podcasts, go to JALT CALL (Computer Assisted Language Learning) Podcasts on Soundcloud! https://soundcloud.com/jalt-call For tips on how to cite these episodes using APA 7th edition, use the link below: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uLVARUdviigboSQXkJXfgNm0zNkMsal6brBvwpmTKWM/edit?usp=sharing Intro & Outro song: Unlock Me (Royalty free) Music by Kontraa Studio | UKA Music Publishing LLC

    41 min
  3. エピソード#9: 舞台から広がる学び、心でつながる —— 斉木ゆかり教授を迎えて Japanese Language Edition

    Apr 7

    エピソード#9: 舞台から広がる学び、心でつながる —— 斉木ゆかり教授を迎えて Japanese Language Edition

    Send us Fan Mail エピソード概要（日本語版）： このエピソードでは、街頭で絵カードと語りで演じられていた伝統的な日本の「紙芝居」について短い物語をお届けします。紙芝居は現代のマンガやアニメの重要な先駆けとして広く認識されています。その後、東海大学の教授・斎木由香里さんが、留学生に日本語を教える経験から得たパフォーマンスベースの指導法について洞察を共有します。 斎木さんは、この伝統芸術や他のパフォーマンス技法を革新的にアレンジし、学習者に主体性を持たせ、協働を育み、教室での自信を築く方法を探求します。 パート1: 斉木ゆかりによる紙芝居の物語  パート2: 斎木教授の背景  パート3: 紙芝居（Paper Theater）を逆転させる 斎木さんが、この古典的なストーリーテリング形式を「受け身の見るだけ」から「学習者が主体的に創り出す」ものにどう変えるかを発見してください。 パート4: ドラマプロジェクトに関する報告のまとめ ドラマを活用したプロジェクトの明確な概要と、言語カリキュラムへのパフォーマンス統合に関する主な学び。 パート5: ボルドーでのワークショップ：協働が参加者間の距離を縮める  フランスで行った協働ワークショップを振り返り、グループパフォーマンス活動が人間関係の壁を越え、集団のダイナミクスを高める様子を示します。 パート6: 先生方へのアイデア 紙芝居に着想を得た活動、ドラマ、パフォーマンス要素を取り入れ、主体性・関与・不安軽減を促進するための実践的で即活用できる提案です。 言語教育におけるパフォーマンスを初めて探求する方でも、新鮮なアイデアを求める方でも、このエピソードは教室で実証済みのインスピレーションを提供します。 ポッドキャストに関連するリンクは以下をご覧ください。 語学教育センターの斉木教授がスピーチコンテストで優勝しました https://www.u-tokai.ac.jp/news-section/46582/ 演劇プロジェクトとしての日本語劇 https://www.u-tokai.ac.jp/uploads/2021/03/11.pdf 斉木 ゆかり (Yukari Saiki) Research Map https://researchmap.jp/read0056708#:~:text=斉木%20ゆかり%20·%20基本情報%20·%20研究キーワード%20·,·%20書籍等出版物%20·%20所属学協会%20·%20共同研究・競争的資金等の研究課題.%201. 斉木ゆかり（2019）「演劇プロジェクトとしての日本語劇： 授業から上演への実践報告」『東海大学紀要．国際教育 センター https://www.u-tokai.ac.jp/uploads/2021/03/11.pdf ヨーロッパ日本語教育 https://www.eaje.eu/media/0/myfiles/bordeaux/full.pdf 静岡キャンパスに在籍する留学生が建学祭にて日本語劇を披露しましたhttps://www.u-tokai.ac.jp/news-campus/1357919/  kami-shibai イメジhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/neco299/5320569712/ 紙芝居文化の会（かみしばいぶんかのかい） https://www.kamishibai-ikaja.com/kamishibai.html Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please like and leave a review. To learn more about the Performance in Education SIG, check out our website.  https://jaltpiesig.org/ Have questions or want to get involved? Reach out to us at: pie.sig.podcast@gmail.com. To access other high-quality JALT podcasts, go to JALT CALL (Computer Assisted Language Learning) Podcasts on Soundcloud! https://soundcloud.com/jalt-call For tips on how to cite these episodes using APA 7th edition, use the link below: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uLVARUdviigboSQXkJXfgNm0zNkMsal6brBvwpmTKWM/edit?usp=sharing Intro & Outro song: Unlock Me (Royalty free) Music by Kontraa Studio | UKA Music Publishing LLC

    31 min

  4. Mar 23

    Episode 9: Paper on the Stage, Connection in the Heart feat. Professor Saiki, Yukari (English Edition)

    Send us Fan Mail Episode Description (English): このエピソードの日本語版は2026年4月7日に公開されます。 A Japanese-language version of this episode will be released on April 7, 2026. This episode begins with a brief story about KAMI-SHI-BAI 「紙芝居」 Japanese "paper theater" once performed on street corners with picture cards and dramatic narration, regarded as a predecessor to modern manga and anime. Then, former professor Saiki Yukari of Tokai University shares insights from her experience teaching Japanese to international students through performance-based methods. Saiki-sensei explores innovative ways to adapt this heritage art form and other performance techniques to empower learners, foster collaboration, and build confidence in the classroom. Part 1: A story of kamishibai (paper theatre) told by Darren Kinsman (00:14–02:20) A short historical tale introducing this iconic Japanese storytelling tradition. Part 2: Saiki-sensei's background (02:30–09:24) An overview of Saiki-san's journey, from her education and teaching career to her involvement in performance in education. Part 3: Turning kamishibai (Paper Theater) on its head (09:25–15:00) Discover how Saiki-san flips this classic storytelling medium from passive viewing to active, student-led creation. Part 4: Summary of a report on a drama project (15:00–23:10) A clear overview of a drama-based project, with key takeaways on integrating performance into language curricula. Part 5: Workshop in Bordeaux: collaboration reduces the distance between participants (23:10–25:19) Reflections on her collaborative workshop in France, demonstrating how group performance activities bridge interpersonal gaps and enhance group dynamics. Part 6: Ideas for teachers (25:20–29:39) Practical, ready-to-use suggestions for educators to incorporate kamishibai-inspired activities, drama, and performance elements that promote agency, engagement, and reduced anxiety. Whether you're exploring performance in language education for the first time or seeking fresh ideas, this episode offers grounded, classroom-tested inspiration. Please see the links below for resources related to this episode. Professor Saiki Wins National Speech Contest https://www.u-tokai.ac.jp/news-section/46582/ Japanese Drama as a Theatrical Project (PDF) https://www.u-tokai.ac.jp/uploads/2021/03/11.pdf Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please like and leave a review. To learn more about the Performance in Education SIG, check out our website: https://jaltpiesig.org/ Have questions or want to get involved? Reach out to us at pie.sig.podcast@gmail.com. To access other high-quality JALT podcasts, go to JALT CALL (Computer Assisted Language L Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please like and leave a review. To learn more about the Performance in Education SIG, check out our website.  https://jaltpiesig.org/ Have questions or want to get involved? Reach out to us at: pie.sig.podcast@gmail.com. To access other high-quality JALT podcasts, go to JALT CALL (Computer Assisted Language Learning) Podcasts on Soundcloud! https://soundcloud.com/jalt-call For tips on how to cite these episodes using APA 7th edition, use the link below: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uLVARUdviigboSQXkJXfgNm0zNkMsal6brBvwpmTKWM/edit?usp=sharing Intro & Outro song: Unlock Me (Royalty free) Music by Kontraa Studio | UKA Music Publishing LLC

    29 min
  5. Episode 8: Just Beyond the Comfort Zone with Educator Heather Kretschmer

    Feb 23

    Episode 8: Just Beyond the Comfort Zone with Educator Heather Kretschmer

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when the very thing that once unsettled you becomes exactly what your students need? In this episode, we explore the development of a teacher who once stepped away from performance because of anxiety. Heather Kretschmer, English coordinator at the University of Göttingen and editor of JALT’s Mind, Brain, and Education Think Tank Bulletin, found herself shaped by three converging forces. Through her work with the Brain SIG, she has engaged deeply with research on emotion, the social brain, and psychological safety. Through publishing PIE SIG articles in the Think Tank bulletin, she encountered concrete examples of embodied, performance-based learning. As these ideas accumulated, she began wrestling with her own hesitation and her desire to step beyond her comfort zone. The result was not a dramatic reinvention but a willingness to take small, voluntary risks for her students and for herself as an educator: a playlist project to build community, an improv warm-up framed to reduce resistance, and adapted panel discussions.  This episode is not about becoming extroverted. It is about what can happen when research, professional community, and personal growth align, and a teacher chooses to step slightly beyond her comfort zone in service of deeper learning. If you are thoughtful, reserved, or uncertain about using performance in your classroom, this conversation offers a realistic and research-informed path forward. Links: 1. University of Göttingen https://www.uni-goettingen.de/en/1.html 2. The Mind, Brain, Education SIG https://www.mindbrained.org/  3. The Most Dazzling Folk Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSMf3r_PU2g 4. Heather Kretschmer: Intentionally Equitable Facilitation Tips  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWW5CS-qbGw 5. Curaturae: Combining Art and Text in Curious Ways (Heather Kretschmer) https://www.mindbrained.org/2025/10/curaturae-combining-art-and-text-in-curious-ways  6. Warmly Welcoming Neurodivergent Learners into the Language Classroom (Heather Kretschmer & Yasser Tamer Atef) https://www.mindbrained.org/2024/10/warmly-welcoming-neurodivergent-learners-into-the-language-classroom/ 7. PIE SIG Publications https://jaltpiesig.org/publications/#Classroom-Resources Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please like and leave a review. To learn more about the Performance in Education SIG, check out our website.  https://jaltpiesig.org/ Have questions or want to get involved? Reach out to us at: pie.sig.podcast@gmail.com. To access other high-quality JALT podcasts, go to JALT CALL (Computer Assisted Language Learning) Podcasts on Soundcloud! https://soundcloud.com/jalt-call For tips on how to cite these episodes using APA 7th edition, use the link below: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uLVARUdviigboSQXkJXfgNm0zNkMsal6brBvwpmTKWM/edit?usp=sharing Intro & Outro song: Unlock Me (Royalty free) Music by Kontraa Studio | UKA Music Publishing LLC

    33 min
  6. Episode 7: Rhythm and Embodied Learning feat. Dr. Kim Rockell - Part 2

    Jan 27

    Episode 7: Rhythm and Embodied Learning feat. Dr. Kim Rockell - Part 2

    Send us Fan Mail Episode 7 : Rhythm and Embodied Learning - Part 2 Dr. Rockell’s path moves through ethnomusicology and language teaching in Japan and Taiwan, and back to New Zealand for graduate study supported by a PhD scholarship. Across this movement, a recurring theme emerges: the hidden melody inside speech. Drawing on research showing improvements in vocabulary recall and intonation, he treats rhythm and melody as parallels to stress and pitch in spoken English. The episode moves between research, biography, and classroom practice. Earthquakes in Japan and New Zealand disrupt his academic life, forcing him to retrieve books to complete his doctorate and instruments to earn a living, and marking a point where returning to Japan no longer meant returning to the same place. Out of this disruption come elective courses linking music and language, an interest in soundscapes—the overall mix of sounds that shape an environment—and research encounters in Taiwan that extend to migrant musical traditions and endangered languages. These strands converge in teaching practice. Rockell describes using looping software to practice common word patterns, techniques that make repetition enjoyable, and group activities where students mark or trace intonation patterns as they listen. Teachers will come away with concrete ideas, including reinforcing new vocabulary with simple melodies, lyric-based cloze tasks, music-focused interviews, and the use of Nohperformance—rooted in tanka poetry—as a form of embodied language learning. The episode culminates in a Noh chant from Kurama-tengu and an acoustic guitar performance, reinforcing the central claim: language learning begins not with abstraction, but with sound. ABOUT DR. KIM ROCKELL Kim Rockell, PhD – Ethnomusicology and music-language research https://krockell.wordpress.com/ethnomusicology/ Kim Forrester Rockell on Researchmap (publications & projects) https://researchmap.jp/7000028643?lang=en RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS MENTIONED Teaching Language Through Music: Reflections of a Professional Musician By Kim Rockell https://www.mindbrained.org/2025/02/teaching-language-through-music-reflections-of-a-professional-musician/ Migrant Contributions to the Tainan Soundscape: A Preliminary, Online Study of Migrant, Filipino Musicians. In Fiorella Allio & Yen Ting-yu, Art and material culture in the Tainan Area International Center for Tainan Area Humanities and Social Sciences Research, Cultural Affairs Bureau, Tainan City Government ISBN: 9789860701524 TAIWAN, SIRAYA, AND SOUNDSCAPES Edgar L. Macapili and Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please like and leave a review. To learn more about the Performance in Education SIG, check out our website.  https://jaltpiesig.org/ Have questions or want to get involved? Reach out to us at: pie.sig.podcast@gmail.com. To access other high-quality JALT podcasts, go to JALT CALL (Computer Assisted Language Learning) Podcasts on Soundcloud! https://soundcloud.com/jalt-call For tips on how to cite these episodes using APA 7th edition, use the link below: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uLVARUdviigboSQXkJXfgNm0zNkMsal6brBvwpmTKWM/edit?usp=sharing Intro & Outro song: Unlock Me (Royalty free) Music by Kontraa Studio | UKA Music Publishing LLC

    31 min
  7. Episode 6: Rhythm and Embodied Learning feat. Dr. Kim Rockell

    12/22/2025

    Episode 6: Rhythm and Embodied Learning feat. Dr. Kim Rockell

    Send us Fan Mail Can teachers who do not consider themselves musical still use music to help students develop a sense of English rhythm? In this episode, Dr. Kim Rockell, an ethnomusicologist and language educator at Komazawa University in Tokyo, reflects on a life shaped by music, discipline, and teaching. From early listening at home to formal study in cello, guitar, and ethnomusicology, and time spent playing bass in a hard rock band, his path shows how musical understanding develops through practice rather than talent alone. For educators, Professor Rockell explains how rhythm can be taught through simple, structured activities such as body percussion, without requiring musical training. He describes how learners internalize timing, stress, and flow in English through physical engagement rather than abstract explanation. For non-educators, the episode offers a thoughtful and personal conversation with a multi-talented musician and teacher. Professor Rockell shares stories of mentorship, reflects on his teaching journey from Taiwan to Japan, and plays guitar during the episode, making it an engaging listen beyond the classroom. At its core, this episode explores how rhythm, discipline, and embodied practice shape how people learn, communicate, and express themselves. Below are links to articles and musicians mentioned in thus episode: Teaching Language Through Music: Reflections of a Professional Musician By: Kim Rockell https://www.mindbrained.org/2025/02/teaching-language-through-music-reflections-of-a-professional-musician/ Antonio Losada Spanish Classical guitarist. Influential teacher https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5-xP1XxLHE John Mills https://classicalguitarmagazine.com/50-years-after-his-master-class-with-segovia-john-mills-reflects-on-that-formative-event/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzAnV3Q6QMY Gamelan - Indonesian https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZZTfu4jWcI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVHhCIQO57w  Bruno Nettl https://archon.library.illinois.edu/archives/?p=creators/creator&id=1575   Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please like and leave a review. To learn more about the Performance in Education SIG, check out our website.  https://jaltpiesig.org/ Have questions or want to get involved? Reach out to us at: pie.sig.podcast@gmail.com. To access other high-quality JALT podcasts, go to JALT CALL (Computer Assisted Language Learning) Podcasts on Soundcloud! https://soundcloud.com/jalt-call For tips on how to cite these episodes using APA 7th edition, use the link below: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uLVARUdviigboSQXkJXfgNm0zNkMsal6brBvwpmTKWM/edit?usp=sharing Intro & Outro song: Unlock Me (Royalty free) Music by Kontraa Studio | UKA Music Publishing LLC

    37 min
  8. Episode 5: The Path to Pro-c Creativity feat. Dr. Dawn Kobayashi

    11/24/2025

    Episode 5: The Path to Pro-c Creativity feat. Dr. Dawn Kobayashi

    Send us Fan Mail Episode 5: The Path to Pro-c Creativity feat. Dr. Dawn Kobayashi Dr. Dawn Kobayashi (Onomichi City University) first encountered drama as a shy teenager on England’ssouth coast, when a high-school drama elective gave her a safe, structured way to explore perspective, emotion, and communication. She later moved to Japan, taught kindergarten and primary classes, completed a PhD, and now works in higher education, where she also supports teachers who want to integrate performance into their practice. She has used drama, improvisation, and other performance activities at every level to build student confidence, self-efficacy, and personal expression in ways that traditional methods often cannot. In this episode she discusses: • how drama and improv create space for clearer thinking and stronger communication • Various types of creativity and what needs to be in place to achieve Pro-c Creativity. •  practical PIE-style activities that teachers can start using immediately • how she uses AI sparingly and deliberately, only to support reflection and never at the expense of students’ own creative voices This thoughtful conversation shows why drama remains one of the most effective tools we have for genuine learning and personal growth. If you want to see how a few simple performance activities can change the way students learn and express themselves at every educational level, press play.   Links to Dr. Kobayashi's articles and YouTube videos: https://researchmap.jp/dakob?lang=en https://scholar.google.co.jp/citations?user=8hq9whgAAAAJ&hl=ja https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWCETpQjjAQ Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, please like and leave a review. To learn more about the Performance in Education SIG, check out our website.  https://jaltpiesig.org/ Have questions or want to get involved? Reach out to us at: pie.sig.podcast@gmail.com. To access other high-quality JALT podcasts, go to JALT CALL (Computer Assisted Language Learning) Podcasts on Soundcloud! https://soundcloud.com/jalt-call For tips on how to cite these episodes using APA 7th edition, use the link below: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uLVARUdviigboSQXkJXfgNm0zNkMsal6brBvwpmTKWM/edit?usp=sharing Intro & Outro song: Unlock Me (Royalty free) Music by Kontraa Studio | UKA Music Publishing LLC

    44 min
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About

This podcast explores the benefits of using performance related approaches and activities in the classroom and the lives of the people who use them. 

Information

  • Creator
    Darren Kinsman
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 PIE SIG Podcast
  • Show Website
    PIE SIG Podcast