Special topics.(1)

Storytelling

Michael M. Grant 2010

By: Gerhalou D. Belbes

BEED 4b

The word STORYTELLING is a combination of the

words "story" and "telling". It is therefore a skill

and just like any other skill, in order to be

effective at it, it needs to be enhanced and

practiced.

Story a narrative account of a real or imagined

event or events. Telling a narrative in detail;

making known. According to National Storytelling

Association f the United States of America,

STORYTELLING is the art of using language,

vocalization and/or physical movement and

gesture to reveal the elements and images of a

specific, live audience.

Stories are use

to share

experien

ce

attitudes

wisdom

beliefs

Values

habits

Stories have been present in society for as

long as mankind exists. It has ben used for

many different purposes. They have been

present in every culture everywhere to:

> entertain

> inform

> persuade

>instill moral values

> transmit culture

> inspire

Good stories have the following elements or tools for their

messages to be more effectively conveyed their audience and

listeners:

Charact

ers

•perform

the

action

and

make

the story

happen.

Setting

•shows

the

listeners

where

the story

is taking

place

Plot

•tells in

chronolog

ical order

what

happens

in the

story.

Conflict

•provide

s the

contreve

rsy in

the

story.

•make

the story

more

interesti

ng.

Theme•indicates

what the

story all

about

• could

include

findings

one's

happiness

friendship,

love etc.

. As stories have been perceived by many to have a great

power to capture the attention of its audience, they have

also become one of the most effective ways to present

lessons and subject contents no matter what the subject is.

Telling stories have been used in the teaching - learning

process to make lessons come alive. Teachers are expected

to become excellent story tellers. The world's literary

culture is very rich. Teachers may use a variety of tools to

give life to their every day lessons

Stories PoemsComic

strips

Song

lyrics Movie

Editoria

l/

feature

s

Part of being an effective storyteller requires

three(3) preliminary steps:

1.Finding the

correct story

There are many stories

that teachers can work

with. The idea is to find

the right one.

You have to consider the

ff:

• appropriateness to the

topic

• length and complexity of

the story

• time and availability

materials available.

2. Know your

audience

This Preliminary step is in direct relation

with the first one. Your audience spells a

lot difference in the story that you going

present.

• age of the teachers

•vocabulary ability of learners

• size of your audience

3. Pre-readingOnce you have chosen your story and have

identified your audience, it is now time to pay a

more in-depth attention to how you are going to tell

your story. Here are some guidelines:

• Read and re-read the story

• analyze where the major/interesting points in the

story are:

• Decide where to stop or pause for effect.

• Identify with the characters in the story.

The National Capital Language Resource Center

(NCLRC) in Washington, DC discussed the reason why

teachers need to use pre-reading activities.

During this part, teachers may:

> assess student's background knowledge of the topic and linguistic content of the text

> give students the background knowledge necessary for comprehension of the text, or active the existing knowledge that the student posse

> clarity any cultural information which may be necessary to comprehend he passage

> make students aware of the type of text they will be reading and the purpose(s) for reading

>provide opportunities for group or collaborative work and for class discussion activities.

Some strategies for pre-reading

may include: ♥ Anticipation Guides- according to frank smith (1978)allow the reader to make prediction about the text that well be read by eliminating possibilities that unlikely.

♥ Motive Question- question given prior to telling the story. Students will to pay attention to answer the question at the end of the story.

♥ Opinion nares/ Questionnaires - are useful tools for helping readers examine their own values, attitudes , opinions or related experiences before they interact with book characters (Reasoner,1976)

♥ Brainstorming - students may examine and talk about the illustration on cover page or the title of the book.

♥ Concept Mapping / Mind Mapping - a type of brainstorming where you place the title / subject of the story as the main idea and gather the student's around it.

♥ KWL Chart-A chart divided into three columns ( What I know?, What I want to know? And What I Have to Learned?)

Well-known proponent of the Theory of Multiple Intelligence. Howard Gardner said, "well, if storytelling is important, then narrative ability, or your ability to put into words or use someone else has put into word effectively is important too,,

Effective storytellers can make words come alive. They can

make the audience and listeners sees, taste, hear, smell and

feel what the characters in the story are feeling.

According to Barry McWilliams, these are essential delivery

elements.

Sincerity and Whole – heartiness – story

teller should deliver the story honest and

earnestly credits must be given to the author

illustrator and publisher of the.

Enthusiasm- storyteller should show genuine

excitement in the story this will make the listener

feel how great a story list.

Animation- storyteller are

animated beings they put

together gestures body

language, eye contact, facial

expression and protection of

the voice to deliver then story

well.

McWilliams further added particular oral

storytelling skills that storytellers must

process:

• Emphasis – when telling a story are should know

when to stress a word a phrase or an entire

dialogue for effect.

• Repetition- Sometimes words and lives must

repeated and to get the desired feeling and

emotions.

• Transition- This is the transfer from one part of

the story to another necessary in reflection of the

voice and pacing of the words make transitions

very smooth.

• Pause – storytellers stop for a at any point in

the story for effect or to check for

understanding by asking questions.

• Proportion- this refers to the bulk to

information presented in a part of the story.

A storyteller should what part of the story of

being presented to that he/she can make the

necessary adjustment that would suit. The

time allotted the attention span of the

audience and listeners.

In storyteller it is important that the listener are

engaged all throughout the process. This will ensure

better understanding of the story and more reflective

thinking end. Here are some suggested strategies to

keep the listeners in tune with the storyteller.

* Active involvement of the listeners- use the

audience to read a part of the story or yell out words or

dialogues do some action and answer some question.

• Shifts and projection of the voice - a sudden change

in the pitch tone and volume of the storyteller voice

can sustain and regain the attention of the listeners.

• An unexpected twist in the narration- this keeps the

listeners anticipating what well happen .

* Constant animation- this keep the listeners due to the

listeners to the storytellers every gesture, facial

expression and body language.

Thank you