Prepared by: George Jason Zaki Zafri Patrick Paul

GENERAL PRINCIPLE

Storytelling is an art.
we must be ourselves but more so.
If you are quiet and shy then be quiet and shy in your telling and emphasize your quietness and shyness and it will come over as strength

Speak clearly so that the listener can understand the words spoken but also to organize ideas so that the listener can follow the story.

Express the feelings and ideas behind the story

Aims for a storyteller

Create a vivid mental image of what is happening in the minds of the listener.

You must like or admire the story you choose or you will tell it without conviction. Of course, you will try to choose a story the listeners will like but you can never be sure about that.

Modifying a Story

to maximize the chance of the listeners understanding the story and appreciating the feelings expressed: - words and phrases - tenses - sentence complexity

Preparing the Story

Deciding which key items will be made understandable before the story and which during the story. Deciding if you are going to chat about related subjects before beginning the story in order to produce listening readiness.

Preparing the listeners. Listening readiness.

Arranging the seating in a different way eg in a semi-circle. Sitting in a place or on a chair or desk corner which they have come to associate with stories. Adopting a body position which they have come to associate with your telling of stories. Quietly making sure they are comfortable, not hidden from you, have nothing on their knees which they might drop.
Intriguing them and focusing their minds on relevant content and language eg through chatting and asking questions.

Music: perhaps the same music every time you are going to tell a story.

Cueing their expectations with: a story corner, a story carpet, a story bag or coat or scarf or box or puppet which they have come to associate with your telling of stories.

Intriguing them with a story box or other object.

Insisting quietly on total silence and stillness.

Voice Projection

Props

Diction

Intonation
Craft of Storytelling

Poise

Time

Gesture

Body movement

Facial expression

VOICE PROJECTION
Voice projection is the strength of speaking or singing whereby the voice is used loudly and clearly.
Sounds relaxed Pronunciation is clear - Clarity of speech is important. Speed is controlled - insert a longer pause just before or just after you

introduce a new idea.

Tone is varied - When we speak naturally, we change our tone of voice in accordance with what we are saying. This makes us sound more dynamic and is key to holding children's attention. Smile and be cheerful - the voice will instinctively sound more natural and relax if you smile now and then while you are speaking.

Diction

Style of speaking or writing as dependent upon choice of words: good diction. (dictionary.com)

Teacher has to determine what style and tone of the story chosen because it reflect the use of.

Tone, pitch, volume, and the speaking rate of words changes according to how we feel.

Steadiness; stability: intellectual poise.

A condition whereby the storyteller should be relaxed in his/ her presentation of the story.

Showing poise and confidence when speaking in front of others comes with practice and experience.

Performing gives storyteller confidence when standing in front of an audience.

They build a certain poise, which is really the ability to be yourself and feel relaxed even when standing in front of a crowd.

One of the most important ways to bring your story to life is by using gestures.
Should be from waist height up so everyone in the audience can see them. Should be done simultaneously (at the same time) with the words that fit the gesture.

Be careful! Too many gestures can be distracting to the audience and the story.

Gesture

Gestures should always be done at the microphone, not away from it.

Another way in which storytellers show as they tell.

The face can heighten characterization

Facial Expression

Just as one's face communicates feelings and reinforces what one says in everyday interactions

The storyteller's face conveys the emotional aspect of descriptive information and gives listeners cues to attitudes.

Body language helps tell the story.

Expression of abstract concepts Body Movement

Relationships

Expression of feelings

Action

Props

'Props' is short for 'properties', which are the physical things used on stage in drama productions.

Props have symbolic value for one or more characters. (Example: Cinderella s glass shoes) Can be useful but it is best that they be kept simple

so as not to distract from the storytelling or absorb

energy and time.

They work best when they fit in well with some

action or participation in a story.