Word for story telling

Умение рассказывать истории на английском пригодится не только в общении с друзьями и коллегами, но и во время сдачи международных экзаменов. В этой статье вы познакомитесь с подборкой английской лексики, которая поможет структурировать мысли в текст.

Beginning — Начало

Сказки, легенды и прочие литературные истории часто начинаются с фразы “Once upon a time…” — Давным-давно / Однажды. Однако если ваша история не имеет отношения к книжным историям и связана больше с личным опытом, пользуйтесь следующими фразами:

It reminded me about/of … — Это напомнило мне о…
Did I ever tell you about … — Я когда-нибудь рассказывал тебе о…
Hearing your story reminds me of when … — Твоя история напомнила мне о том, когда …
Something similar happened to me… — Похожая история произошла и со мной …

Sequencing — Последовательность истории

Чтобы слушатель не потерялся в последовательности действий, используйте следующие слова-связки:

First of all, I … — Сначала / Во-первых, я …
Secondly, I … — Во-вторых,
Previously (before that) … — Ранее …
Then (after that) … — Далее/Затем …
Later (on) … — Позже …
Finally … — В итоге

К словам-связкам часто относят союзы и наречия, такие как:

because — потому что
as a result — в результате
although — однако
in short — вкратце

English Tenses — Времена английского языка для описания историй

Чтобы история была понятна и интересна слушателю, чаще всего используют Present и Past Simple Tense (Простое настоящее и простое прошедшее время).

К примеру, так можно рассказывать шутки:

— How do celebrities stay cool?
— They have many fans.

Используйте настоящее время, чтобы придать драматичности рассказу:

The year is 1915. People are worried about surviving wars and hunger — Год 1915. Люди беспокоятся о том, как пережить войну и голод.

Формы прошедшего времени помогут рассказать о событиях в хронологическом порядке.

I immediately booked the flight, packed my suitcase and left for the airport — Я сразу же забронировал билет, собрал чемодан и уехал в аэропорт.

Прошедшее продолжительное время (past continuous) часто используют для описания местности, картины и прочих деталей рассказа:

It was pouring, but we kept driving through some dark woods — Лил дождь, но мы продолжали ехать через темные леса.

При выборе английской лексики всегда учитывайте возраст и интересы аудитории. Многие сленговые выражения будут неуместны во время деловых встреч, при этом формальная речь будет лишней в кругу друзей где-то в баре. Английские истории выглядят красочнее с большим набором фразовых глаголов и прилагательных.

The weather was boiling hot. So we could easily fry an egg right on gthe hood of our car — Погода стояла жаркая. Мы запросто могли пожарить яичницу прямо на капоте нашей машины.

NB! Storytelling — это эффективный способ практики разговорного английского в группе от 2-х человек. Один из участников составляет первое предложение и следующий учащийся продолжает историю своим предложением. Таким образом за короткое время может получиться целый рассказ. При этом все участники смогут использовать новую грамматику или лексику, а также улучшить навыки восприятия английской речи.

Переходите на эту статью, чтобы узнать, как можно учить английский язык через игры.

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Telling stories is common in any language. Think of all the situations in which you might tell a story in everyday life:

• Talking about last weekend to a friend.
• Giving details about something that happened during a job interview.
• Relating information about your family to your children.
• Telling colleagues about what happened on a business trip.

In each of these situations—and many others—you provide information about something that happened in the past. To help your audience understand your stories, you need to link this information from the past together. One of the most important ways to link ideas is to sequence them. The passages below are good examples of sequenced ideas. Read the examples and then measure your understanding with a quiz. The answers are at the bottom.

EXAMPLE PASSAGE: A Conference in Chicago

Last week, I visited Chicago to attend a business conference. While I was there, I decided to visit the Art Institute of Chicago. To start off, my flight was delayed. Next, the airline lost my luggage, so I had to wait for two hours at the airport while they tracked it down. Unexpectedly, the luggage had been set aside and forgotten.

As soon as they found my luggage, I found a taxi and rode into town. During the ride into town, the driver told me about his last visit to the Art Institute. After I had arrived safely, everything began to go smoothly. The business conference was very interesting, and I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the institute. Finally, I caught my flight back to Seattle.

Luckily, everything went smoothly. I arrived home just in time to kiss my daughter goodnight.

Sequencing Steps

Sequencing refers to the order in which events happened. Sequencing is often made easier by the use of transition words. Following are some of the most common words and expressions used to sequence when writing or speaking.

Beginning your story

Create the beginning of your story with these expressions. Use a comma after the introductory phrase.

• First of all,
• To start off with,
• Initially,
• To begin with,

Examples of these beginning phrases in use include:

• To begin with, I began my education in London.
• First of all, I opened the cupboard.
• To start off with, we decided our destination was New York.
• Initially, I thought it was a bad idea.

Continuing the story

You can continue the story with the following expressions, or use a time clause beginning with «as soon as» or «after.» When using a time clause, use the past simple after the time expression, such as:

• Then,
• After that,
• Next,
• As soon as / When + full clause,
• …but then
• Immediately,

Examples of using these continuing phrases in a story include:

• Then, I started to get worried.
• After that, we knew that there would be no problem!
• Next, we decided on our strategy.
• As soon as we arrived, we unpacked our bags.
• We were sure everything was ready, but then we discovered some unexpected problems.
• Immediately, I telephoned my friend Tom.

Interruptions and Adding New Elements to the Story

You can use the following expressions to add suspense to your story:

• Suddenly,
• Unexpectedly,

Examples of using these interrupting phrases or turning to a new element include:

• Suddenly, a child burst into the room with a note for Ms. Smith.
• Unexpectedly, the people in the room didn’t agree with the mayor.

Ending the Story

Mark the end of your story with these introductory phrases:

• Finally,
• In the end,
• Eventually,

Examples of using these ending words in a story include:

• Finally, I flew to London for my meeting with Jack.
• In the end, he decided to postpone the project.
• Eventually, we became tired and returned home.

When you tell stories, you will also need to give reasons for actions. Review tips on linking your ideas and providing reasons for your actions to help you understand how to do so.

Events Occurring at the Same Time

The use of «while» and «as» introduce a dependent clause and require an independent clause to complete your sentence. «During» is used with a noun, noun phrase, or noun clause and does not require a subject and object. The construction for this kind of sentence is:

• While / As + subject + verb + dependent clause or independent clause + while / as + subject + verb

An example of using «while» in a sentence is:

• While I was giving the presentation, a member of the audience asked an interesting question.
• Jennifer told her story as I prepared dinner.

The construction for using «during» in a sentence is:

• During + noun (noun clause)

Examples of using «during» in a sentence include:

• During the meeting, Jack came over and asked me a few questions.
• We explored a number of approaches during the presentation. 

Test Your Knowledge!

Provide an appropriate sequencing word to fill in the blanks. The answers follow the quiz.

My friend and I visited Rome last summer. (1) ________, we flew from New York to Rome in first class. It was fantastic! (2) _________ we arrived in Rome, we (3) ______ went to the hotel and took a long nap. (4) ________, we went out to find a great restaurant for dinner. (5) ________, a scooter appeared out of nowhere and almost hit me! The rest of the trip had no surprises. (6) __________, we began to explore Rome. (7) ________ the afternoons, we visited ruins and museums. At night, we hit the clubs and wandered the streets. One night, (8) ________ I was getting some ice cream, I saw an old friend from high school. Imagine that! (9) _________, we caught our flight back to New York. We were happy and ready to begin work again.

Multiple answers are possible for some of the blanks:

1. First of all / To start off with / Initially / To begin with
2. As soon as / When
3. immediately
4. Then / After that / Next 
5. Suddenly / Unexpectedly 
6. Then / After that / Next 
7. During
8. While / As 
9. Finally / In the end / Eventually

Telling stories is typical in any language as we normally share about our past activities or experiences and what we observe. Since it is almost always part of conversations, storytelling is a skill that any person should get better at to communicate effectively and connect with other people. Learning how to tell your story in an organized and easy to understand way will help you to make your listener visualize what happened through your words. To guide you on how to effectively tell your story, follow the tips provided below.

1. Use beginning phrases to start a story

Although you may hear in some movies and books that telling stories are started with “once upon a time” this is not commonly used  in real life. Beginning your story in this manner, makes your story sound fictional. In typical conversations, storytelling begins after being asked with a question “what happened?” Start by having an introduction to your story so your conversation partner will have an idea of what you are going to talk about. Use beginning phrases to cue your listeners that a story is about to be opened. 

Beginning phrases that you can use are: 

“It all started when…”

“To begin…”

“It all began when…”

2. Provide a background to set the scene of your story

Introduce to your listeners the setting of your story. By providing them a clear background, they will be able to imagine the scene of the story and feel as if they’re there. You can include details about who is involved, where it took place, and what you were doing at that time.

3. Talk about real events and challenges

One way of making your story relatable is by telling real events. Many are tempted to look good in their narrative and portray to be perfect, however, this can make your story less interesting. Some may find it boring, unrelatable, and even sound boasting. Don’t strive to be perfect-looking in your stories but be honest and real. If you are going to talk about success or victories, refrain from omitting the challenges you faced along the way. People are interested in what’s relatable, and mentioning about struggles and how you overcome them is something that many can relate with. A story with a perfect life will sound unreal, and fictional. Hence when sharing real stories of real people or your personal story, do not try to invent a “perfect” character or plot nor create a story that you think your listener would prefer to hear.

4. Choose relevant content 

Include details that are important to be mentioned in the story and omit the ones that aren’t needed. Overly detailed stories are hard to follow thus can create a rambling feel. You can share relevant content by involving details in your experience that you think are relatable to your listeners.

5. Use sequencing words

Continue giving details in the story in an organized way by including proper sequencing of events. As they hear the events occurred step by step, they can easily follow, link the details and visualize events chronologically. Smoothly transition your story from event to event by using sequencing words.

Sequencing words that you can use to continue or connect your story are:

 “First of all…”

“Previously..”

“Next…”

“After that…”

“Finally…”

“In the end…”

6. Use interruption words to create suspense

While you are telling your story, you may want to add some elements to avoid the same flow in the story or make it even more interesting. To hint your listeners that something surprising or important is about to happen, use words that introduce interruptions. This will make your listener tune in and listen to you a bit more closely.

Interrupting phrases to add new elements in the story include:

Suddenly

Unexpectedly

7. Use linking words

Throughout your storytelling, you might need to give reasons for actions, mention contrasting information, or share about a result. Instead of presenting these details in a straightforward manner, weave them together by using linking words. Connecting the details well until you reach the end of the narrative will make it more story-like. Presenting events separately will make any narrative sound choppy thus break the listener’s experience in the story. Keep your story flow logical, to keep your listener engaged and interested. 

Good Transitional words you can use are:

 “Because….”

“As a result..”

“Although…”

8. Use time words

Time words will enable your listener to know when the events took place. It will also allow them to better imagine the situation and determine how recent or old it was. Time words can be placed at the beginning or end of a sentence.

Examples of time words

yesterday 

today 

this morning 

last night

9. Describe emotions

Make your stories compelling by communicating the emotions that you experienced. Interesting stories don’t just present details of when, where and what happened, but also include what triggered action and how you felt. By describing your emotions, your listeners can understand what you felt at that time. It also creates a sense of immersion as they go through an emotional experience while listening to your story. If they felt the same way, then you have established a connection. To do this, use words that can create and describe strong emotions

Example: 

“The news was so shocking.”

“I was speechless.”

“It was devastating.”

10. Use sensory words

Make your story come alive by using words that talk about your senses. Including as many senses as possible will guide your listener to connect and picture what you are describing. Use words that tell about sound, taste, texture, smell, and look.

 11. Use appropriate adjectives

When writing your story don’t just show but tell. Use different adjectives to draw a picture while telling your story. Adjectives help create better mental images and make your story more colorful and dramatic. Use interesting words to make your story more interesting. Also, if you’re going to tell about something related to change, tell both the observable and inner changes instead of just saying the word “change.” Moreover, make your adjectives appropriate according to the kind of story you are telling. If you are sharing a sad story, use sad adjectives, if it’s a happy story then use happy-sounding adjectives.

12. Tell your story in English to reach more people

While it is good to share your story in your vernacular language, there are also a lot of advantages in sharing your story in English. If you are communicating with people who speak in a different language, they can understand your story if you shared it in English. Meanwhile, if you are writing your story in English, you will also be able to reach more people including the ones living in other countries.

13. Use colloquial and casual words

People like to listen to stories to be amused, entertained, and be inspired. Storytelling often happens during a casual conversation when people want to slow down or destress. In their relaxed state, people would want to listen to a story that is easy to understand. If the story is too complex, they will eventually lose their interest in listening to it. Hence, when telling a story avoid using jargon and technical words. Use casual words or layman’s terms instead. By using everyday words that you and your listener use, they will be able to be more connected to your story. Moreover, you sound more natural and genuine hence relatable.

14. Use the word “said”

Part of telling stories is quoting what other people said that may have resulted in triggering some events or actions in the story. To talk about the speech of other people, use the past tense of “say” which is “said”. 

Example:

“Peter said…”

“My friend said…”

“He said…”

15. Use correct tenses

When telling stories, you can use a variety of tenses to give a hint of when the action took place. Mostly, you will be using past tense to tell events that happened in the past. Meanwhile when talking about the things that do not change, use the present tense.

16. End your story well

When you are about to wrap up your narrative, prepare your listener to disengage from your story. Abruptly ending a story will make them feel left hanging. End your narrative well by telling what finally happened in your story. Use a key phrase or word as well to hint that your story is about to end. 

Some ending phrases and words you can use are: 

“Finally…”

“In the end…”

“Lastly…”

Conclusion

People often listen to stories as part of engaging in a relaxing conversation or out of curiosity. Make sure to connect with your listeners and include details that are relevant to them. The content, the words that you use in your story, and how you deliver it will determine how it will impact others.

Improve your skill in telling a story by learning more useful expressions. LingualBox offers courses that will help you to take your conversation skills to the next level. Try our 2 free trial classes today!

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• Intermediate
• presentation

Рассказывание историй — одно из самых естественных действий в нашей жизни. Мы постоянно рассказываем о том, как прошел день, болтаем с друзьями, читаем истории в интернете и слышим их. Это настолько естественно для человека любого возраста, и обязательно нужно использовать в обучении иностранному языку.

Что же такое storytelling?

Метод сторителлинг — это изучение языка с помощью небольших историй на разные темы. Истории позволяют использовать аутентичный материал, помогают отработать грамматику и лексику, способствуют развитию воображения, говорения, аудирования, письма. Этот прием отлично подходит самыми разными возрастными группами, детям, а также подросткам и взрослым. Атмосфера на таких занятиях самая непринужденная.

Как использовать storytelling на уроках

Учитель рассказывает историю:

Вариант 2. Преподаватель рассказывает историю в качестве warm up, введения в тему или презентации новой лексики и грамматики. Например, история для презентации слова “exhausted”:
I would like to tell you a story about my first job. When I was a student I worked as a waiter. I worked for 10 hours almost every day, I was running to the kitchen and back to the tables all the time, I was always on feet. Can you imagine how I felt at the end of the day? Yes, I was tired, very tired. I had no energy. I was exhausted. So how did I feel? (tired) What word did I use to say “very tired”? (exhausted).
Студенты составляют историю:
Вариант 3. Подготовьте несколько картинок / слов (слова можно оформить в виде wordcloud) или предложений по теме урока. Студенты вытаскивают несколько картинок / слов / предложений и составляют историю с ними. Студенты могут составлять истории устно или письменно. Можно также использовать story cubes или комиксы.
Вариант 4. После прочтения текста, студенты пересказывают историю с опорой на картинки, ключевые слова.
Вариант 5. Попросите студентов изменить конец истории или изменить историю, используя другой жанр. Например, написать “Goldilock and Three Bears” в романтическом стиле или “Red Riding Hood” в детективном стиле.
Вариант 6. Дайте студентам начало истории (можно даже сделать пропуски или вставить картинки вместо изученных слов) и они должны составить продолжение истории.
Вариант 7. Дайте студента небольшую картинку, можно создать интригу и дать часть картинки. Попросите студентов составить рассказ, ответив на вопросы. Например:
Who is it? Where is he?
What is he doing? What is he holding?
What is going to happen next?

Студенты могут составить и собственные истории. Можно помочь им, попросив придерживаться плана или вместе на занятие обсудив возможные варианты.

План работы создания своей истории:

• Choose the genre for your story.
• Describe your main character.
• Choose the location of the action.
• Describe what happens to the main character.
• Describe what happens at the end of the story.

Онлайн-инструменты для создания историй:

1. Voicethread, Vocaroo — аудиозапись истории.
2. Befunky — создание коллажей, серии картинок.
3. Superlame — создание облаков с текстом.
4. Wordcloud — создание облаков со словами .
5. Zimmertwins — создание анимационной истории.
6. Toondoo — создание комиксов.
7. Storybird — создание истории в виде книги.
8. Slidestory — наложение звука на картинку.

Используете ли вы сторителлинг на уроках? Какие задания нравятся больше всего? Какие используете или хотите попробовать?