I love stories because my dad used to tell me stories all the time, especially when we went to his farm. My dad is from Santander, Colombia, and his farm was three or four miles from the highway. We had to walk or ride in on a mule to get to the farm! The farm didn’t have electricity so, by 6pm, it was very dark. Also, we didn’t have TV, video games, phones, or anything like that, so we would light up a candle. Then, we sat around my dad, and he started telling us stories about his childhood, about his friends, and about their farm. It was magical! I remember staying there for hours.
We Remember Stories
Stories from my dad were told to me when I was 11 and 12 years old. I still remember them, especially when someone in my family starts to tell one of them. In this blog post, I’m talking about why stories are powerful. Then, I’m going to tell you how to incorporate them into your classes by sharing 5 activities. In episode 17 of Growing with Proficiency – The Podcast, I also share a story of a past student that I recently had a conversation with and how she still remembered one of my stories. Click above to listen.
Why Stories Are Powerful
We understand the structure of a narrative
We already understand that there is a beginning, a problem, a resolution, and an ending to a story. Whether a story is in oral or written form, we are familiar with the flow of a story.
We educate through stories
When we listen to a story, we understand the feelings, values, and beliefs of others. Stories also bring us together. As a group, we all feel the emotions of the story and the characters together. Individually, we can also connect with a special character. Stories are also great for language acquisition. I talk about this in episode 17 of the podcast. Listen above.
Stories are flexible
As a storyteller, you control the story. If your students need a fast story, you can shorten one or make it longer if they are engaged in it. Stories allow you to be flexible and meet the needs of your students.
How To Tell Stories In Your Classes
Story Listening
Story listening was developed by Dr. Mason. I love story listening, because it’s so simple, yet powerful. Basically, you have a storyteller who tells a story about a legend. When you tell the story, you draw and write the story. You also identify language that the students probably won’t comprehend because they have yet to be exposed to it. The idea is to just tell a story and make it comprehensible.
Story Asking
With story asking, you create a story with your students. I start with a basic script I have in my mind about language I want my students to become familiar with. Then, I have my students help me with the details of the story. I give an example of this in episode 17 of the podcast this week.
Story Telling
According to the National Storytelling Network, storytelling is the interactive art of using words and actions to reveal the elements and images of a story, while encouraging the listeners imagination. I like to tell nonfiction stories to my students. I tell the same story to both levels of my classes because, again, as a storyteller, I can adjust the language to meet my students’ needs. I love to ask questions because I want to check their understanding and that they’re following the story. I also ask questions so they can connect with the story.
5 Activities To Do After A Story
#1 Write the story
After I finish the story, I tell my students that we are going to rewrite the story together. I do this with students of all levels, and I don’t care if they do this in Spanish or English because I write it in Spanish on the board or projector. They will still be exposed to the target language.
#2 Illustrate the story
This is a no-prep activity for you. I hand out blank paper and tell my students to fold it into six or eight boxes. Then, I tell them to illustrate the story. This still allows them to process the language.
#3 Create a parallel story
After the story, I ask my students to underline 5-7 events in the story. Then, they create a parallel story. The students may only be changing a few words, but they are using the language. For upper levels, they can write a spin off of the story.
#4 Create a character autopsy
In episode 9 of Growing with Proficiency – The Podcast, I describe a character autopsy. Listen HERE. Students choose one character from the story and draw their profile. After drawing the character’s body parts, they write a sentence related to that body part. For example, for the head, a student writes one sentence about a thought that the character had; in the mouth, a quote that the character said; in the heart, a feeling, and so on.
#5 Play using the story
Play is not only fun but also engaging. Play games, create a booklet, or design a game around the story and characters. I highly suggest that you make sure to use text in whatever form of play you choose to do. Listen to episode 17 for more details about these 5 activities to do after a story.
I hope you find these strategies and activities helpful for telling stories in your classes. I am also hosting a plan-together, live event on January 25 at 8pm Eastern Time, where you and I can plan a unit together that will be perfect for next month. You will also have access to a free video series. Sign up here and let’s plan together!
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