Skip to main content

Disgrifiad

In this task, a class of English undergraduates in a course on media and communication participated in storytelling activities. The teacher used “The Moth” story slam format (https://themoth.org/stories) to have learners tell stories which “are true as remembered by the storyteller and always told live, without notes.”

The task outline is as follows:

1. Learn about The Moth story format
2. Prepare a story on a chosen theme and deliver it in class (Optional: be part of the Moth jury to choose winners for grand slam in last class)
3. Record your story as you tell it in class, and upload it to share with the teacher
4. Listen to recording with individual feedback from the teacher, and consult general suggestions for improvement
5. Write a reaction to this experience, including response to feedback, in a final reflective paper.

The task sequence thus began with the analysis of videos of stories on website to identify features of the stories that serve to engage the audience, shape stories into a conflict/resolution format, and bring them to a satisfying conclusion. The class then chose three story slam themes from the website, and students signed up to tell a story on the topic assigned for class on a particular date.

Each presenter recorded their story during class with a smartphone, and uploaded the recording to their own SoundCloud account for language feedback from the teacher. A panel of three or four students in the audience volunteered to judge the stories on a given day, awarding points for respecting the conflict/resolution format, meeting a 5-minute time limit, and matching the day’s theme. Two winners from each of the three story slam class sessions told a new story on the last day of class (for extra credit).

Clips

In the second video, Lucinda gives recounts a story on the same theme:

WATER: Prepare a five-minute story involving the culprit of all wetness, WATER. Think rain, the kiddie pool, the ocean, the bathtub, a puddle, thirst, the great amoebae abode, 92% of your blood, snow when it is relaxed, laundry, your fish tank or tears. Water, water everywhere.

The main phases of her story, as shown by the chapter edited into the footage, are these:

    SETTING THE SCENE THE PROBLEM A LITTLE DETAIL MORE PROBLEMS THE SURPRISE EVEN BETTER BETTER YET THE KICKER AND THE MORAL OF THE STORY
Select Video
Select Video
Select Video

Manylion

Addysgeg Learners using their own resources;Real-world outcome
Iaith Darged Saesneg
Technoleg Ffôn symudol
Maes Bywyd a Diwylliant Cyflwyniad Llafar
Oedran 17-21
Lefel B2 Canolradd Uchaf
Sector Addysg Addysg Uwch

Adnoddau iTILT cysylltiedig

What if…” – Visualisation of focus on form to introduce if-clauses type 3″””

This lesson for intermediate learners of English focused on the introduction of if-clauses type 3. The lesson begins with an advertisement poster of the movie Christmas Carol;which is…

ChatterPix task in a German primary school

In this task, a group of fourth-grade learners use a combination of two apps to create a virtual tour of London. The final outcomes were displayed in their…

Daily routines: drag and drop for speaking practice

This class of first year secondary school learners of English in France (age 11-12) is working on a speaking exercise on the topic of daily routines. Learners come…