Umeå University's logo

The study is about aesthetic learning processes in the subject English. The purpose of the study is to investigate whether aesthetic learning processes in the form of drama can contribute to a development in fourth graders’ command of grammatical tense in English. This is investigated by interviews combined with a test in grammatical tense with five students in year 4. The study is based on three research questions that are investigated and answered:

- How does the aesthetic learning processes affect the students' verbal use of tense?

- What similarities and differences can be seen in the students‘ verbal use of tenses?

The study consists of a theoretical and an empirical part where the focus is on aestheticlearning processes with input from the expression form drama and partly a non-aesthetic learning that leans towards a lesson with teaching materials in the subject English. The theoretical part is based on the socio-cultural perspective with a view of aesthetic learning. In this study, it has emerged that aesthetic learning processes such as aids strengthen students' opportunities to achieve knowledge of the spoken English where tense is in focus. Body language and the senses are also an important part that helps the students to consolidate English skills in a simpler way. If aesthetic and non-aesthetic learning are combined, there will be a relationship between the two forms of learning that leads to a varied learning in English teaching in primary school.