Creative, fun, imaginative and multi-sensory – these describe the kinds of effective learning that the teachers in the Primary Teachers’ Clubs in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have been discussing. Many ideas have been tried and tested by teachers in their classes and all agree that probably the best approach to teaching English at primary level is through the use of stories. On the following pages you will find news and ideas about how to use stories in class.

Books and stories

At the World Book Day events held in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from 20 – 24 April, Cassandra Wye, a UK storyteller, showed us just how much fun storytelling can be – both for the teacher and student! She wowed her young audiences, at the Youth Theatre, National Library in Hanoi and the New World Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, through her very unusual style of interactive storytelling inspired from the circus, theatre and dance. Primary English language teachers in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City had a chance to learn some storytelling techniques and skills in workshops led by Cassandra. The suggestions below come from these workshops.

How can storytelling benefit children?

Telling stories to children helps them to develop their listening skills, focus and concentration. By actively involving the children in the telling of the story, it enhances their own use of language. It introduces them to the magic of language, the sound of and evocation of meaning. Storytelling is an invaluable tool not just for promoting spoken language, but also to develop an understanding of the function of written language and the relationship between the spoken word and the written page. Storytelling is an invaluable building block for the development of reading and writing

Why is this approach to storytelling so effective?

• By using sounds, movement and gesture together, each word used is visually or verbally reinforced. This provides more information for decoding meaning.
• The repetition of phrases in the telling, contributes to understanding. This acts as a cue to participation and provides the patterning needed by children struggling with communication.
• Asking for contributions promotes their engagement in the telling, tests comprehension and boosts self-confidence in speaking aloud. In time they will respond more and more. You can start with asking for a sound effect, for what happens next and then for alternative endings.

Above all: Storytelling brings children together as a group. It encourages them to work together in the telling of a story and develops their social and interpersonal skills. Storytelling builds rapport, enhancing the relationship between you and the children and is therefore excellent for classroom management.

Cassandra Wye tells a story
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