Storytelling : a communicative approach in teaching young learners

Abstract

In this dissertation I discuss stories and their contribution to the development of a foreign language in young learners as well as to their foreign language learning programme. In the course of this study, I identify some important characteristics and needs of children and how stories can help in fulfilling these needs. I also discuss how storytelling, by both teachers and learners, as a communicative activity, can provide young learners with the opportunity of practicing the two most essential language skills required for effective communication in the foreign language, that is, expression and listening skills. Finally, I describe seven storytelling activities, as communicative activities, that can be adopted in class by foreign language teachers. The study concludes with an evaluation and a description of the procedure adopted throughout the three storytelling activities that were carried out by me in a 6A class comprising male and female pupils of ages ranging from nine to ten. Their academic standard may be described as good to very good. In order to avoid the awkwardness of referring to the pupil or teacher by he or she, I shall use she/her throughout the course of this dissertation, except in those cases when the pupil's sex is identifiable by reference to the recordings carried out as part of the study in this dissertation.