Not the End of My Tale

 A New School Year: Around the world in weekly lessons Each year I plan a framework with one theme for the whole year. Although I believe in being flexible and adapting to my students’ needs, I also want a structure to give us all an idea of where we are and where we are headed. This year my framework is… An Around the World Virtual Trip . With all this stay-at-home time, I know that I am ready to head out on an adventure to explore new places. Of course, this time it is all virtual. One of the curriculum requirements for mother tongue lessons is to learn about the country where the language is spoken, in this case English. There are quite a few countries where English is spoken, and we will visit many of them virtually this year, spending one to two weeks in each country or place . You may be wondering what we will do in each country. Here is where the students get to choose and make decisions. Before we even “arrive” at each destination, we will send questions to someone living ...

  I had the privilege today to hold a storytelling workshop for a group of teachers. By using oral storytelling, teachers can improve concentration and motivation in their students. This is a common problem with language teachers (and perhaps even class teachers) of students who do not pay attention or ones who lack motivation.  Just imagine if you could solve that problem by having a story in your toolbox that you can tell to the whole group at the drop of a hat (or the blink of an eye). Let me explain how storytelling works with your brain for an optimal learning situation. First, according to recent educational neuroscience, the brain needs three things to be able to learn and move information to long-term memory. Education needs to be meaningful, relevant and enjoyable. By telling an oral story, you can stimulate the brain of the listener to relax  (letting go of stress that prohibits learning when the amygdala is overactive). For many, the act of listening to a sto...