Storytelling always works well in the classroom or as homework. It allows students to incorporate the target language. It also offers the following benefits:

1. Students practice narration, or the ability to connect ideas together smoothly.

2. Students build vocabulary because they often voluntarily search dictionaries for new words.

3. Students begin to understand word choice and nuance, particularly as they go through dictionaries to find the right word.

4. Students get to exercise creativity, a skill I feel often gets forgotten in the language classroom.

The activities can be used with just about any age group or level. Of course, lower-level students will need a lot of time to complete either activity. If you decide to have students read the stories aloud, then make sure enough time remains for everyone to present their story.

Round-Robin Storytelling

Step 1: Place students in small groups of three or four. Although all students will participate in creating the story, each group must decide on the one person who will write the story down.

Step 2: One student begins the story from a few phrases pre-selected by the teacher. For example: "Once upon a time..." or "It was a dark and stormy night..." or "When Tim woke up, he just knew it would be a strange day..." The first student makes a sentence that connects to this introductory phrase.

Step 3: The next student continues the story with a sentence or two. Storytelling continues around the group during the time allotted. Other students may not edit the sentences except for grammar, in which everyone may pitch in to get this aspect correct.

Step 4: The teacher goes around and monitors or corrects as necessary. However, he shouldn't be too intrusive.

Step 5: Present the stories!

Deck of Cards Storytelling

Step 1: Arrange the class into small groups of three or four students. Distribute a deck of playing cards face down to each group. You may divide the deck in half or a third, but guarantee that each group gets at least fifteen cards (preferably more).

Step 2: The group decides on a phrase to start the story from one of several pre-selected by the teacher. The phrase usually gets students into the activity more quickly, rather than the groups agonizing over how to begin.

Step 3: The first student draws a card, and must use the number on that card in the sentence. For example, the student draws a seven of clubs, he must use the number "seven" in his sentence.

It was a dark and stormy night. It was seven o'clock when the lights went out.

Step 4: The second student draws a card, and must then use that number in the sentence. Each student may give one or two sentences, one of which must have the number. Jacks, Queens, and Kings are "Jack, "Queen," and "King" in the story respectively. An Ace may be "Ace" or "one." For example:

It was a dark and stormy night. It was seven o'clock when the lights went out. The wind was loud and the thunder was louder. Jack started to cry.

Step 5: Continue the story around the group. Other students may not edit the sentences apart from correcting grammar mistakes. Meanwhile, the teacher monitors and offers correction when necessary.

Step 6: Present the stories at the end!

I hope you like these ideas on storytelling.

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Have a great class!

Chris Cotter
www.headsupenglish.com