A Clarion Call to ELT!
Why do so many teacher development workshops leave us feeling inspired… but unchanged?
You’ve been there: the presenter is engaging, the activities are fun, everyone’s laughing and nodding. But when it’s over and someone asks, “Will you actually use this?” — you hesitate.
“It was interesting,” you say. “But it’s not really for me.”
Why the disconnect?
I believe it’s because real development can’t be handed to you in a slideshow. It has to come from you — your story, your voice, your body, your classroom challenges. That’s where performative pedagogy comes in.
Who Am I?
I’m Dr. Tom Godfrey — teacher, trainer, theatre director. For 40+ years I’ve worked with educators across the globe, helping them reconnect with the creative, embodied energy at the heart of teaching. What I’ve learned is this:
We don’t just teach with our heads. We teach with our whole selves.
That’s why we need new approaches to teacher development — approaches that are participatory, emotionally honest, and creatively alive.
What Is Performative Pedagogy?
It’s a way of teaching (and learning to teach) that sees the classroom as a space for human connection, not just content delivery. At its heart is something I call the Community Forum — a reflective, collaborative process grounded in applied theatre, inspired by the work of Augusto Boal and Paulo Freire.
In these forums, teachers:
- Share their real-life classroom struggles
- Re-enact them with peers using image, movement, and voice
- Explore new possibilities by stepping into each other’s shoes
- Reflect together, not just to “fix” the problem, but to see it anew
This is more than just PD. It’s teacher development as transformation — embodied, relational, and deeply human.
📘 The Handbook (and What’s Next)
I’ve written a series of practical handbooks for teacher educators and facilitators who want to bring this approach into their work. It’s based on workshops I’ve delivered at our centre in Istanbul and online with teachers from around the world.
But the handbook is just the beginning.
🌍 Join the Movement: Performative ELT Community
If you’re an ELT teacher — especially if you’re just starting out — and you’re hungry for something deeper, more creative, and more you, I invite you to join the Performative ELT community.
This is a free space where you can:
- Connect with like-minded educators
- Access free training courses on performative pedagogy
- Download my handbooks
- Share your stories and challenges
- Explore creative, embodied approaches to teaching
- Be part of a growing movement to reimagine teacher learning
Because teaching isn’t a job. It’s a performance of care, courage, and connection.
Teaching Artistry 