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Preparing Students for LAMDA Exams

The Playing Space now offers several training workshops for teachers who want to prepare students for LAMDA Exams. We have courses to suit new and experienced drama teachers. We cater for teachers who have no idea what LAMDA Exams are, as well as those already preparing students for LAMDA Exams. See below for details of our upcoming courses.

Whatever your level of experience, a training session at The Playing Space will provide valuable insights into the syllabus, useful business advice and plenty of teaching tips. Our courses also offer a great opportunity for teachers working in different parts of the country to come together and share ideas, experiences, and insights about preparing students for LAMDA Exams.

Here are just a few of the comments made by those who attended our most recent courses:

“I was very inspired by the day… you made things humorous despite the dry task of going through such complex specifications.”

“An excellent afternoon! The session was really informative, clearly presented and covered all aspects required to start teaching the LAMDA Exams syllabus. I left feeling inspired and confident that I now have the knowledge I need to start up my own classes.”

“The course was very, very good value for money and I would definitely attend any others that you offer.”

“The enjoyment, confidence and knowledge has come flooding back… it’s given me loads of ideas for my drama clubs. You are one of the best Drama Teachers I have met (and I have observed many over my 11 years of inspections!) and the very best Teacher Trainer. It’s been a real privilege learning from you.”

Spring 2012 Courses

All courses take place at our lovely drama studio in Southgate, London N14.

If you want to attend one of the sessions below but are unable to make the date, we also offer correspondence courses and telephone consultations. Please contact us for details.

Sunday 3 June

Morning (9.30am–1.30pm): Introduction to teaching the LAMDA Syllabus

Afternoon (2.30–6.30pm): Preparing Students for LAMDA Communication Exams

Sunday 10 June

Morning (9.30am–1.30pm): Preparing Students for LAMDA Performance Exams

Afternoon (2.30–6.30pm): Acting Theory for the LAMDA Medal Exams

Sunday 17 June

Afternoon (2.30pm–6.30pm): Teaching Drama to Children at Key Stage 1 (age 4–7)

Lunch is served from 1.30pm–2.30pm. Even if you are attending a morning session only, you are still invited to stay for lunch. Likewise, if you are attending an afternoon session only, please arrive early to have lunch before the session starts. The lunch hour offers an ideal opportunity for teachers to meet and share ideas.

Price

Morning or afternoon session only: £40

Full day: £75

Full course (all five sessions must be booked at the same time): £180

These prices include lunch/tea and a certificate.

Introduction to Teaching the LAMDA Syllabus

Sunday 3 June 2012 • 9.30am–1.30pm

Our Introduction to Teaching the LAMDA Syllabus offers helpful advice about setting up a small drama-teaching business. We will cover the whole process of entering students for LAMDA Exams. We will also break down and simplify the LAMDA Exams syllabus, which is not well set out and can be difficult to decipher. This course is also an excellent refresher for experienced teachers.

The workshop covers the following areas:

Preparing students for LAMDA Exams

  • An overview of the levels, grades and subject areas
  • Deciding which exams to enter your students for
  • How much preparation time to allow each student

Business

  • How to get yourself CRB-checked
  • How to get yourself insured
  • How to get yourself trained in First Aid
  • How many children to have in a group and how much to charge
  • How to set yourself up as a Private LAMDA Centre

LAMDA Exams Specifications

  • Deciphering the rather dry and complicated syllabus

Preparing Students for LAMDA Communication Exams

Sunday 3 June 2012 • 2.30pm–6.30pm

This course focuses on the following LAMDA Exams: The Speaking of Verse and Prose, Reading for Performance, Spoken English and Speaking in Public. The course is intended for those who already have experience of preparing students for LAMDA Exams or who have already attended our Introduction to LAMDA Exams.

The workshop covers the following areas:

  • An overview of the set pieces
  • How to find own-choice pieces
  • Suggestions for warm-up games
  • Exercises to improve students’ breath control, diction and modulation
  • Lively ways of teaching the theoretical aspect of Communication Exams
  • How to work with a group of students preparing for different exams

Preparing Students for LAMDA Performance Exams

Sunday 10 June 2012 • 9.30am–1.30pm

This course focuses on the following LAMDA Exams: Acting (Monologue, Duologue and Combined), Devised Performance and Mime. The course is intended for those who already have experience of preparing students for LAMDA Exams or who have already attended our Introduction to LAMDA Exams.

The workshop covers the following areas:

  • An overview of the set pieces
  • How to find own-choice pieces
  • Suggestions for warm-up games
  • Exercises to help students create and inhabit characters
  • Exercises to improve students’ technique and stagecraft
  • Lively ways of teaching the theoretical aspect of Performance Exams
  • How to work with a group of students preparing for different exams

Acting Theory for the LAMDA Medal Exams (Grades 6, 7 and 8)

Sunday 10 June 2012 • 2.30pm–6.30pm

This course covers the requirements for the Knowledge section of LAMDA Acting Exams at Grade 6 (Bronze Medal), Grade 7 (Silver Medal) and Grade 8 (Gold Medal). The course is intended for those who already have experience of preparing students for LAMDA Exams or who have already attended our Introduction to LAMDA Exams.

The workshop covers the following areas:

  • A guide to LAMDA’s List A and List B
  • Suggestions for finding pieces that meet the requirements of the syllabus
  • An overview of some of the social and historical contexts of pre–twentieth century drama
  • Textual analysis: encouraging your students to think about the importance of their scene within the play as a whole
  • Suggestions for lively ways of teaching objectives (Grade 6)
  • Suggestions for lively ways of examining period and style (Grade 7)
  • A guide to the practictioners prescribed by LAMDA for Grade 8 Acting (Stanislavsky and Brecht)
  • How to work with a group of students preparing for acting exams at different grades

Teaching Drama to Children at Key Stage 1 (age 4–7)

Sunday 17 June 2012 • 1pm–6pm

Drama is an enormously popular activity among children of this age. If your youngsters enjoy their drama, they will stick with you – perhaps for many years. This course covers all aspects of teaching groups of young children, including preparing them for their first LAMDA Exams. The LAMDA Exams syllabus requires young students to learn one short poem. Most will manage this quickly and easily. So how do you fill out the class time? This course will give you plenty of ideas.

The workshop covers the following areas:

Preparation

  • How to plan lessons that will engage and inspire young children
  • How to source and make use of children’s poems and stories

Materials

  • Arranging a series of classes around a theme
  • Fun warm-ups
  • Games and exercises that will kindle a love of drama in the young

Management

  • Working with children who have additional needs
  • How to deal with a low energy or boisterous group

Please contact us for more information or to reserve a place on any of our courses.

Please note that the teacher training sessions listed on this page are not endorsed by LAMDA.