Module -Storytelling
Involving learners
Involving the learners while telling a story may be done in explicit or more implicit ways.
Implicit involvement is primarily through vivid, descriptive, engaging storytelling: By experiencing the story, identifying with it, sympathising with the characters, thinking about the problems or issues or challenges, weighing up decisions, the listeners are part of the story.
This can be further supported by the storyteller:
- by asking specific questions that stimulate reflection
- by short pauses in speech at crucial/critical points in the story
- by questioning/asking looks
- ...
Eplicit involvement of learners during storytelling particularly supports their active engagement with and appropriation of the story. However, it needs to be prepared and thought through as part of the storytelling process, in order
- to do justice to the story and not to break it.
- to suit and benefit the purpose for which the story is being used
- Work with call and response (repeat phrases or sounds at regular intervals throughout the story) - very helpful, for example, in foreign language lessons or to pick up a "motto"/"wisdom" later.
- Interrupt the story at relevant or prominent points and ask the learners, e.g. who knows similar people/situations/problems as the one characterised, who has been to the place of the story before, etc.
- Interrupt the story at decision points and ask learners about the possible options, the possible consequences or how they would decide/what they would do
- Leave the end of the story open (for the moment) and let the participants tell - in pairs, as a group ...
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