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What can we do with stories? How can we use it in classrooms? Do we even need a workshop? Is it difficult to tell stories? Perhaps yes, in this media saturated environment.
This was the beginning of an interactive and exciting workshop lead by Jeeva Raghunath.
We tell many stories with a lot of expression in our day to day life. If we buy a saree, we tell others with great enthusiasm. If we see something funny, we narrate it to our friends with a lot of expression.
We are attracted towards cartoons because of the movement, expressions, action, and exaggeration. We must try to incorporate these aspects into our stories as well. One thing to keep in mind is the attention span of kids - 20 minutes.
But why should we tell stories?
It is a joy to tell and listen to stories. Stories are a medium of communicating messages and idea; developing a sense of good behavior and aural learning through stories; increasing attention, imagination and concentration; improving vocabulary and language skills; understanding ideas and express experiences.
Teaching Tamil language through stories is like teaching chemistry through practicals. If we journey along with the child, like a child with stories then children understand lessons better. Being the age of the child you are telling the story to, enables the child to forget oneself and be a part of the journey. We should adapt similar language, feeling, interest and state of mind as the child during that time.
Where to find stories and Which kind
We have many stories within us. Journey from village to chennai; becoming a teacher; getting here are all stories. Stories can be of various kinds like moral, behavorial, about men and women, about kings, about the puranas, issues etc.
Should we tell moral stories? Should we ask what the moral is? Children these days smart. Why should we point out the moral? The child can figure out. Ask them what they like about the story. It is better not to point out morals in the story. This limits the story and blanks out the children's imagination. Children can also get confused with conflicting statements/morals from stories. Instead get children to talk about their point of view of the story.
We have made learning Tamil less important and very difficult. Our kids find learning Tamil very difficult. There is a need to simplify, so that children can learn Tamil easily.
How to tell stories
Can one just read a story and tell it? What kind of stories should we pick? Is it important that we like the story? (length, meaning, emotions, actions). Matter is important. It has to touch us . If we are able to identify with it, then we can tell the story imbuing with our experiences
Before telling a story, read the story at least five times - even if it is a known story. Understand the story from the following perspectives - Theme, Characters and plot, Vocabulary and phrases, sequence. We should think about how much goes into writing a story. When telling a story, script it in our own words to be able to tell the story smoothly. Script the story in words that are familiar. Get a sense of the length of the story. Edit it if it is too long. Remember that the attention span of children is only 20 mins. Tell in front of mirror, observe facial expressions, hand gestures. As we keep doing this we become proficient.
Try it out on a friend. Get their honest opinion and take the criticisms. Consider onself lucky if the kids like it right away. We should find the right time to tell the story. There will always be room to improve, so we should continue to work on it.
Stories should to be developed or chosen according to our own skills and comfort level. Be comfortable with ourselves, while telling the story. When telling a story, give importance to sequence, characters, description, emotions (voice). If we can see the expression on our face on all children's faces, consider that as a success.
Observe and look around, hear to sounds all the time. If teaching about a rabbit, observe its ears, eyes, speech and teeth. Appropriate gestures, sounds, voices, gait and movement is important as children observe more in terms of characterization. We are naturally worried about children's reactions. Accept the reactions as they are and don't be shy of movement.
Puppets are popular, but constraint expression. Voice modulation becomes most important then. No better puppet than yourself, the storyteller. All elements in a story need appropriate actions. Eye contact is necessary for attention. Take children into the journey of your story. Children forget the identity of the storyteller. Involving the listeners in the story. For distracted listeners, make the children repeat rhythms in the story and improvise audience participation.
Look at the story as more than a mere tool for language teaching. Multiple layers of understanding is possible. Select stories according to concepts. Maths concepts can be taught through story line. Through a story about aborigines in Australia, things about climate, Australia etc can be taught.
Demonstrations
Jeeva then demonstrated repetitive dialogues of characters in the appropriate modulation. She mentioned that this helps in development of vocabulary through repetitive narration vis a vis writing on the board
Demostrated listener participation through story of Musical Donkey.
Highlighted the importance of voice modulation and movement through the donkey and fox story
Demonstrated the use of music in story telling through Priya's day (published by Tulika Publishers)
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