Course Description

Storytelling in English teaching and learning is a highly effective method that can be used to enhance the language learning experience. It can be used to teach different aspects of language, such as grammar, vocabulary, and language structures, in a more engaging and interactive way. Using storytelling as a teaching tool allows students to develop their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in a natural and authentic way. Furthermore, storytelling is an excellent way to build students’ critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and imagination skills. This method is useful for all ages and levels of language learners, from young children to adult learners. It is also flexible, as it can be used with different materials and resources, such as traditional stories, news articles, songs, and more. Storytelling can be used in different ways in class, for example, as a listening activity, as a speaking activity, as a reading activity, and as a writing activity. Storytelling can be integrated into different areas of the curriculum and it can be used to support cross-curricular learning. It is also a way to connect language learning with students’ own culture and interests.

This training course is designed for educators who want to incorporate storytelling into their English language teaching. Through a combination of lectures, group discussions, and hands-on activities, participants will learn how to use storytelling as a method for teaching vocabulary, grammar, and language structures, as well as for developing listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. By the end of the course, participants will have the knowledge and skills to create and implement their own storytelling activities in their classrooms.

Learning Outcomes

Successful graduates of the course will have the knowledge and skills to do the following:

• Understand the theoretical foundations of storytelling in language teaching and its benefits for language acquisition
• Acquire strategies for selecting and adapting appropriate materials for storytelling activities
• Develop the ability to integrate storytelling into lesson plans and design interactive activities that enhance student engagement and language development
• Learn techniques for providing feedback and guidance to students throughout the learning process
• Reflect on personal teaching practice and develop action plans for incorporating storytelling into own classroom
• Be able to use multimodal storytelling to enhance students’ comprehension and engagement
• Understand how storytelling can be used for vocabulary and writing skills development
• Understand how storytelling can be used for cultural understanding and appreciation.
• Be able to evaluate the effectiveness of storytelling in language teaching and develop a plan for future implementation

Course Details

 
TARGET GROUP

Professionals in the education sector (e.g., teachers, guidance counselors, principals, and administrators at elementary, middle, higher education, vocational institutions, kindergartens and pre-primary schools) and non-governmental organization (NGO) staff.

METHODOLOGY

The methodology of this training course is centered around providing educators with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively integrate storytelling into their English teaching and learning practice. The course begins with an overview of the theoretical foundations of storytelling in language teaching, including the benefits and potential challenges of using storytelling as a teaching method. The course will then focus on providing participants with a variety of practical strategies and techniques for integrating storytelling into their own teaching practice. This may include activities such as selecting and adapting appropriate materials, developing lesson plans, and using different techniques to activate students’ prior knowledge and build their language skills. Throughout the course, participants will have the opportunity to practice and apply what they have learned through a series of interactive activities, such as role-playing, games, and discussions. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to receive feedback and guidance from the course facilitator, as well as from their peers, to support their professional development. The course will also include opportunities for participants to reflect on their own teaching practice and develop action plans for incorporating storytelling into their own classroom. The overall goal of the course is to empower educators to effectively use storytelling to create engaging and interactive learning experiences for their students.

Course Objectives

• Understanding the Role of Storytelling: Introduce the concept of storytelling and its significance in English language teaching and learning.
• Elements of a Story: Teach the essential elements of a story, including characters, setting, plot, conflict, and resolution, and how they can be effectively used in language learning.
• Storytelling Techniques: Develop participants’ skills in storytelling techniques, such as voice modulation, facial expressions, and gestures, to make stories engaging.
• Selection of Stories: Equip participants with the ability to select appropriate stories that are culturally relevant and age-appropriate for English language learners.
• Story Creation: Encourage participants to create their own stories, and understand how story creation can facilitate language learning and creativity.
• Integrating Storytelling in Lesson Plans: Demonstrate how to integrate storytelling into lesson plans to enhance vocabulary, grammar, and language comprehension.
• Using Technology in Storytelling: Introduce participants to various technologies and tools that can be used to create digital stories or enhance storytelling experiences.
• Listening and Comprehension Skills: Show how storytelling can be used to improve students’ listening and comprehension skills in English.
• Cultural Context in Stories: Discuss the importance of cultural context in stories and how it can be used to promote cultural understanding and awareness among students.
• Storytelling for Different Learning Styles: Explore how storytelling can be adapted to suit different learning styles, including visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners.
• Assessing Language Skills through Storytelling: Teach methods for assessing students’ language skills through storytelling activities.
• Building Communication Skills: Use storytelling as a tool to build students’ oral and written communication skills in English.
• Encouraging Student Participation: Develop strategies for encouraging student participation and interaction during storytelling activities.
• Ethical Considerations in Storytelling: Address ethical considerations in storytelling, such as sensitivity to cultural differences, avoiding stereotypes, and respecting intellectual property.
• Reflecting and Providing Feedback: Teach participants how to reflect on storytelling activities and provide constructive feedback to students on their language use and storytelling skills.

Tentative Schedule

Day 1 – ARRIVAL DAY

• Welcoming activities
• Ice-breaking activities
• Overview of the course and its objectives
• Theoretical foundations of storytelling in language teaching

Day 2 – SELECTING AND ADAPTING MATERIALS FOR STORYTELLING ACTIVITIES

• Strategies for selecting appropriate materials
• Adapting materials for specific language levels and abilities
• Improvisation
• Relationship between narrator, audience and story
• Educational function of stories in teaching English

Day 3 – STORYTELLING FOR VOCABULARY AND WRITING SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING

• Techniques for vocabulary instruction through storytelling
• Using storytelling to teach new words and phrases in context
• Incorporating elements of storytelling into writing assignments
• Incorporating stories from different cultures to enhance students’ cultural understanding
• Using storytelling to teach cultural norms, customs, and values

Day 4 – INTEGRATING STORYTELLING INTO LESSON PLANS

• Designing interactive activities
• Incorporating storytelling into existing lesson plans
• Use of stories in foreign language education settings
• The effect of storytelling on the subconscious in english language teaching
• Story writing activities
• Choosing a topic and defining your purposes
• Practical examples (speakers, lecturers explain complex concepts, simplify abstract concretization)

Day 5 – REFLECTING ON PERSONAL TEACHING PRACTICE

• Self-evaluation of current teaching practice
• Developing an action plan for incorporating storytelling into own classroom
• Giving target words, idioms, proverbs, question patterns, grammar rules by being internalized without realizing it in the natural flow of narration
• Sample storytelling activities used in teaching English
• Writing an effective script

Day 6 – MULTIMODAL STORYTELLING

• Techniques for incorporating visual aids, videos, and audio recordings
• Gaining a deeper understanding of the visual language of illustration
• Enhancing students’ comprehension and engagement through the use of different mediums
• Example lesson plan using film
• From listening to telling

 Day 7 – DEPARTURE DAY

• Course evaluation, feedback, discussion and wrap-up
• Certificate ceremony
• Cultural activities

*The schedule describes likely activities but may differ significantly based on the requests of the participants, and the trainer delivering the specific session. Course modifications are subject to the trainer’s discretion. If you would like to discuss a specific topic, please indicate it at least 4 weeks in advance.

Our courses usually include two cultural activities. Further information is available on the webpage of each course.