Quick Tips for Storytelling
How Do I Choose a Story?
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Choose a story that you enjoy and want to tell.
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Consider the story in relation to the group you have in mind.
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The subject and background should contain elements of familiarity.
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The main character should be relevant to your students.
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The story should contain a simple, clear plot with enough action to appeal to the imagination.
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The story should be easy to tell without too many details.
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The story should clearly, though not too obviously, make a definite moral point.
How Do I Prepare to Tell a Story?
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The most important element is to make the story your own.
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You must put the story in your own words, using your own mannerisms and your own expressions.
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You should change the story to suit your way of telling it. If it is a true story, be faithful to the facts.
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Do not memorize the story. Instead, make an effort to reproduce the events of the story as though you had actually been there.
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Do not read the story to the class. Make the effort to be convincing by the manner in which you relate it.
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Cut the story down to the bare minimum.
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Plan the opening and closing sentences exactly. Knowing exactly how you will begin and end will give you more confidence. It will also insure that you will end on the tone you intended.
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Use a variety of visual aids. You do not need to use extensive visual aids—only enough to capture a new interest every so often.
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Remember to observe the three S’s—Simplicity, Sincerity, and Spontaneity.
How Can I Enhance the Presentation of the Story?
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Use a conversational tone.
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Keep your audience in mind as you present the story.
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Rehearse the story in advance. Practice your gestures, use of visual aids, and movements. Visualize your students and their reaction as you practice.
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Vary your tone of voice according to the plot of the story. Speak faster during the more active parts, and pause a moment with a change of scene or mood.
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Keep symbolism at a bare minimum.
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Try to be interesting rather than impressive.
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Set the stage ahead of time. Write a word on the board to peak the students’ interest or place an item on a table that will connect to the story.
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Never pick a story and "tell it like it is." Tell it as if you had been there when it happened.
