Korean Language Practice / ETA system
ETA system is effective not only in Korean language practice but also in any language learning or practice.
ETA system can do much more in Socialization and/or Re-socialization with its features of gathering people and giving them chances to discuss anything they want to talk about. Click here to know the ETA process.
the ETA system
INDEX
• What is the ETA system?
• How does the ETA system work
• Categories of ETA
• The ETA system can be operated in
• What to expect
• What is required
WHAT IS the ETA system?
ETA, Education Through Acting, refers to the process that participants go through to write a play script, rehearse and give a show of it via debate and/or discussion which is part of acting, and is a two-stage education system that affects participants through the process, and audience through the show by artistic empathy.
(Debate basically improves skills for critical thinking, data research, logical composition and arrangement and enhances oral communication skills.)
The greater effectiveness of ETA is found in social education or re-education.
At the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Cebu, the Philippines, all inmates participate in the dance rehearsal for several months to give a public dance show. It is good to give chance to concentrate on something for those who spend boring days waiting for the day of being freed. In particular, if what they do must be achieved with others, a certain degree of re-education can be possible. However, this activity has a limit in that this is not an interaction but is required and followed. It is not self-development through interaction but they have to obey the instructor’s directions. This is not much different from cramming education.
How about preparing and giving a musical show instead of a dance?
10 inmates discuss for three hours a day and write a musical play script and composers, choreographers and designers from inmates can join them to complete a show. If they do this work for six months?
The discussion they do over six months can’t be simple. A simple discussion goes over after one or two meeting and after then an in-depth discussion continues. They will talk about what they already know, have heard from others or read from books. Furthermore, they have to do their best to create a new story, which is not easy work. Discussion can’t help but goes in-depth and the responsibility of creating an artistic work makes participants concentrate on what they do. They have to open themselves, look back and get to know themselves. After a long six months of artistic work, they will be reborn as social human beings. Other inmates or audiences who watch the show are also educated through artistic empathy.
ETA is an efficient social education or re-education system that can change both participants and the audience through the process of creating a high-quality show and appreciating it.
How ETA works
ETA will be carried out in six stages below.
1st stage Choosing a theme
2nd stage Creating a story to express the theme
3rd stage Writing lines by speaking as a role
4th stage Reading (Reading the script while sitting on the chair.)
5th stage Blocking (All rehearsing process after reading.)
6th stage Show.
The first three stages can be conducted through discussion of all participants and the second three stages, under the direction of the play director.
Part of the six stages can be applied depending on the duration of the session. The first stage can be done if it is a session of a week, the first and second stage if four weeks, etc.
A session can last 1 – 24 weeks with more than three days a week and more than two hours for a meeting.
The show or script that participants will complete must be of high quality with a long running time, not a short and childish skit.
Categories of ETA
ETA can be applied as follows and each ETA operates perfectly independently.
Effective foreign language practice, unlimited creative activities, hobbies, delivering the wisdom of seniors, resolving conflicts, social intergartion, effective social re-education, relieving stress, stress relieving in the Army, healing through excretion, collective intelligence, language classes and social education for immigrants…
ACETA – Artistic Creation Education Through Acting
FLETA – Foreign Language Education Through Acting
SZETA – Socialization Education Through Acting
RSETA – Re-Socialization Education Through Acting
SRETA – Senior Related Education Through Acting
TTETA – Theatrical Therapy Education Through Acting
• ACETA – Artistic Creation Education Through Acting – Professional theatre company
The first step to preparing a show is choosing a play script, but it is not always easy because they must consider actors’ number, sex and age. It is almost impossible to find a script satisfying these factors. This can be resolved if all actors wanting to be on the stage participate in creating a script. There is another issue in choosing a script, which is copyright. Some playwrights don’t allow to change even a word from their script. This can restrict seriously the creation. If all members participate in creating a script, the freedom of creation can be guaranteed.
• FLETA – Foreign Language Education Through Acting – Schools, Language institutions, Immigration centres
Currently, the most advanced foreign language education method is Educational Theatre. However, no correction, no in-depth progress, no effective process and no habituation are the problems. ETA can resolve them and TRAIN participants with much more effectiveness.
• SZETA – Socialization Education Through Acting – Everywhere
SZETA means forming amateur play teams. Regardless of age and/or gender, teams can be formed. In a certain language or with a specific purpose, teams also can be formed. Everything depends on who organizes. Whatever the purpose, the principle is to give theatrical shows created by those who want to do.
If there are several spaces and several play directors, multiple teams can be organized at the same time. Through these activities, social education or re-education, stress relief, community solidarity and/or intergenerational communication can be performed.
With ETA, everything that can happen in a community can be discussed and resolved. Furthermore, new projects based on a discussion of various community members can be undertaken.
• RSETA – Re-Socialization Education Through Acting – Detention centers
Re-socialization education of inmates in detention centres is not easy work. The best is to be reborn as a responsible community member after realizing oneself on one’s own. ETA is the best way here because it educates without education.
• SRETA – Senior Related Education Through Acting – Adult daycare centres
Many values that seniors have acquired throughout their lives will disappear with them. If their experiences can transfer to the next generations, future generations will go through less trial and error and intergenerational conflict will be reduced. In addition, by participating in play preparation, seniors can overcome feelings of impotence accumulated by aging and be more positive in their physical and mental health because they can pour more energy into what they do.
• TTETA – Theatrical Therapy Education Through Acting – Psychiatric hospitals
There are psychodramas in some psychiatric hospitals. Or, the healing process can be applied through group discussion. However, these activities are not so effective because of its limit. In fact, one must completely out of oneself to look back on oneself, which is not easy for Psychodramas.
ETA can be an alternative. Here again, ETA doesn’t try to achieve cure patients, but it is the process of preparing a play, and patients can overcome themselves by creating an artistic work. It cures without healing.

The ETA system can be operated in
Community centers, Libraries, Schools, Corporations, Play clubs, Professional theatre companies, Social education and/or re-education institutions, Religious organizations, Foreign language institutions, Political parties, Hospitals, Detention centers, Army, Adult daycare centers…. In any play with any purpose.
in Community centers
Amateur play preparing teams – SZETA
Language practice for immigrants – FLETA
in Professional theatre company
Professional theatrical creation – ACETA
Amateur play preparing team – SZETA
Dispatching of play directors – RSETA, SRETA, TTETA
in Detention centers
Preparation of shows with inmates – RSETA
WHAT TO EXPECT
• Participants who practiced their language through ETA can find better jobs and demonstrate their abilities.
• Seniors and young people can gather together through ETA and these events can help them resolve intergenerational conflicts.
• The entire community can be encompassed for the same purpose.
What is necessary?
The biggest advantage of ETA is that nothing special is required.
Let’s take a look at arts therapies. To paint, brushes and paints are necessary; to play a musical instrument, you must have one. Furthermore, you have to know how to handle them.
To carry out ETA, no instrument or technique is necessary. Only a play director, an empty space, and participants are necessary.
The whole process will be directed by the director who is in charge of preparing a high-quality show.