Storytelling
Eleanor Watts
Oxford Basics
Activities to encourage children to tell and respond to stories. This book introduces a wide range of story and activity types to stimulate young learners to use and respond to English in a creative and enjoyable way.
ELEANOR WATTS
Storytelling
Oxford Basics series
Presenting New Language
Simple Listening Activities
Simple Writing Activities
Simple Reading Activities
Simple Speaking Activities
Classroom English
Intercultural Activities
Teaching Grammar
Cross-curricular Activities
Activities Using Resources
Oxford Basics for children series
Vocabulary Activities
See the Oxford University Press ELT website at http://www.oup.com/elthttp://www.oup.com/elt (http://www.oup.com/elt) for further details.
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First published 2006
2012
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ISBN: 978 0 19 441976 5
Printed in China
Introduction
Why tell stories?
In every society, adults tell children stories to teach them about life. Stories present us with situations that parallel our own. They help us to explore relationships, hopes, fears, and ideas at a safe distance from our own lives. As stories are essential to the learning of the mother tongue, they are also invaluable to children learning a second language. Here are a few reasons why:
Stories set language in a meaningful context
Dry language drills are quickly forgotten because they don’t engage children’s interest. New language makes sense when it is used in real situations.
Storytelling is a motivator for language learning
When children are breathless to know what happens next, they will concentrate – and their brains will be alert to make sense of unfamiliar language.
Stories are enjoyable
Children learn when they are having fun. Stories are not only enjoyable for themselves; they also give scope for role play, mime, craft-work, and games – all of which are natural ways for the child to learn.
Stories link well to topics and cross-curricular work
Many stories have a theme that enables the teacher to explore popular primary topics. So, for example, in this book, The bus won’t go can serve to introduce vehicles and The Elves and the Shoemaker can introduce the topic of clothes.
Stories teach about ethical behaviour
Teachers of children are not only responsible for teaching a language but for educating decent, responsible human beings. Most children’s stories provide the bedrock for li