Shuochang Classes at Yu-Tsai

‘The Art of Shuochang’ class at Yu-Tsai elementary school commenced in 2013. It is a tailor-made class just for Yu-Tsai class with an aim to improve students’ proficiency in literature and shuochang.

Course Structure

Yu-Tsai elementary school middle grade Yu-Tsai class ‘The Art of Shuochang’ course content.
Instructor: Ms. Li / Classes: middle grade Yu-Tsai classes (Class Zhi and Class Ren) / Class time: Two periods per week

Weeks: 1~5

Course Content:

1. Learn about our own voice, show different sounds and facial expressions

2. Practice cross talks basics – Fun with Cross Talks

3. Lip sound, tongue sound, throat sound, teeth sound, and nasal sound practice

4. Beginner, intermediate, and advance level practice

5. Video – Cross talks duo: ‘Tongue Twister’

Weeks: 6~10

Course Content:

1. Fun with storytelling with clappers, fast clapper talk

2. Hand-coordination: how to play a three-piece clapper and basic clapper tempo

3. Tempo and text game – Clapper rhythm, fast clapper

4. Short segment and long segment practice

5. Video – ‘Fast Clapper Talks’

Weeks: 11~15

Course Content:

1. Guan Kou Huo – ‘Children,’ ‘Naming Dishes’

2. Body posture instruction: changes in hand gestures, use of eye-contact, swaying body naturally

3. Video – ‘Guan Kou Huo’ for cross talks monologue and cross talks duo

Weeks: 16~20

Course Content:

1. Cross talks duo – short segment practice

2. Learning about setting up and delivering jokes and techniques to do them properly

3. Common cross talks techniques practice – ‘prepping for jokes,’ ‘raising and then dropping,’ ‘language with character,’ ‘against all norms’

4. Video – ‘Cross Talks Monologue,’ ‘Cross Talks Duo,’ and ‘Group Cross Talks’

Weeks: 21~25

Course Content:

1. Cross talks duo – ‘Celebrity Dress Up’

2. Introducing cross talks duo – roles of visible and hidden faces and each of their techniques

3. Costume and make-up for visible face and the use of strike block

4. Practice in segments, learn minor script editing

Weeks: 26~30

Course Content:

1. Cross talks drama – ‘Finding Plum Blossom in the Snow’

2. Horse whip basics – Riding, walking, and getting off a horse, and how to use a horse whip

3. Group cross talks performance in synchronization

4. Group performance on stage

Learning Reinforcement Curriculum

Class Recitation｜Classes: middle grade Yu-Tsai classes｜Time: three weeks

Course Content:

1. Chinese textbook – recitation instruction

2. Content appreciation – analyze the text before reciting, marking important points and punctuations

3. Steps to getting on stage – instruct techniques on stage entering deportment, introduction, script opening posture, script title reciting, reciting main text

Final Presentation Practice｜Classes: Grade Four Class Zhi, Grade Four Class Ren｜Time: three weeks

Course Content:：

1. Selecting hosts from both classes

2. Learn the use of microphone

3. Arrangement and changes in team formation

4. Team chemistry and bonding for cohesiveness

5. Formation for getting on and off the stage between shows

6. Final practice video appreciation and discussion

Instruction for in-school related competitions (English singing competition, readers’ theater, storytelling, speech contest)｜Time: according to the competition

Course Content:

1. Teach the whole class about the required techniques for each event and aspects of the event to focus on

2. Invite class representatives to practice in front of the class, the class will discuss and provide feedbacks

Goal:

1. Building stage confidence

2. Training for reacting and improvising on the spot

3. Team bonding and cooperation

Source: Ms. Li｜Text: the Original Artsy Shuo-Chang Posse ｜ Pictures: the Original Artsy Shuo-Chang Posse