A Story - What and Why?

What is a story?  What is necessary for something to be a story?

               Events (plural)

               Train:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dgLEDdFddk&feature=player_embedded

               Camera: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WxcVzs88xRg

Group work - list as many ways words / images are used for creating a story

                           Words, images, movement, sounds

                                             Words – types?  Plays, songs, poetry, television / movies, books

                                             Images – cartoons, movies, puppet show, slide shows

                                             Movement - mime, dance

                                             Sounds - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-7eekV9gPc&feature=related

                              Improvisation / embellishment

                              I:  speaking or writing without preparation

                              E:  A detail, esp. one not true, added to a story to make it more interesting or entertaining.  (It was so hot that people were grilling food on the sidewalk.  Noone needed a fire)

What is the purpose of storytelling?

 

1.  They link us to our traditions and legends, to universal truths. (Love is blind).

2.  A story is a communication tool.  It engages us through emotions and connects us to each other.  We realize we are not alone. (Me too!)

3.  Stories help us to understand ourselves better. (That's why you do that thing you do - you're just like your mother!)

4.  Persuasive arguments often use stories to sway other people’s opinions and decisions. (politics)

5.  Stories help us identify ourselves, the social values of our society, and our history. (Religion)

6.  Stories help us understand the world. (Boy who cried wolf)

7.  Stories help us to expand imagination and to create something new – whether through art or industry.  (Client tells the designer what they want so the engineer can create it)

8.  We experience empathy through stories.  They help us experience something/someone else’s truth vicariously. (Mother / Father with new baby.  You feel for them.  You want to help them.)

9.  Stories help us become better people by challenging our behavior and beliefs. (Becoming vegetarian  when learning about the way animals are treated).

IF YOU MISSED CLASS, DO THIS AT HOME ALONE. 

Look at the list of stories you were supposed to put together from your life.  Tell one of them to a partner.  Your partner will video tape your speaking.  Speak for 2-5 full minutes. 

Email your videos to me:  pamilajohufs@gmail.com

Subject:  YOUR NAME, ID NUMBER, A/B STORYTELLING CLASS

Read pages 12 and 13

Make a Storybook that shows each purpose.  Add your own example for each purpose.

Remember to put your name, ID # and class (A or B)  on the last page. 

Can students open the storybird assignments?  I will add students TODAY so they can look at the assignment:  http://storybird.com/classes/hufs/storytelling/assignments/

Teacher Rules

Hi Everyone,

Here is my response to the rules you gave me.  If your rule isn't here, there are two reasons.

1.  It contradicts the rules I gave you in class. (let us use dictionaries)

2.  I didn't understand your rule, so I couldn't respond.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

See you in class!

Pamila

Teacher Rules

Understand me if my English isn’t good.

I know your level.  Don’t worry.  I do understand.  You have to speak though.
Finish and start on time / give a break / class is far / let us know if class is cancelled
If I start to go over time, please tell me!  If I’m late, call me. There is a reason!  In the past, I didn’t have breaks.  Students asked for no breaks.  Now I give breaks.  Come to class as best as you can.
Don’t speak fast / speak loudly and clearly / use simple sentences
I will do my best.  Just tell me, “Pamila, please repeat that slowly.”  Remember –YOU DON’T NEED TO UNDERSTAND EVERY WORD.  You need to understand the meaning.

If I don’t understand, please repeat / I’m trying hard even if I don’t understand / let me make a mistake / be patient / understand about cultural differences

No problem.  Just tell me you don’t understand.  You are ALWAYS allowed to make mistakes.  That is how you will learn.  I’m fairly patient. You will see.  Also, I have lived in many different cultures.   I’m very patient about that.  I hope you will understand about my culture, too.
Let us sit in groups / Name tags on the desk / group seating / call me by name
Sure, we can make name tags.  We’ll do that next week.  I won’t have assigned seating this semester, but you will have to remember your name tags.  I sometimes make silly names for my students – it is affectionate and not meant to be offensive.  If you don’t like it, tell me.  I won’t memorize your names.  I simply can’t.  (Plus, I have a dreadful memory.  Sorry.

Don’t give us homework
This is college.  You have to work, and you have to practice.  You will have some homework every week.  You can usually finish it in a short period of time.

Encourage us / be kind and fair / like your students / smile a lot / don’t be boring / listen to us / help students personally / don’t have a vertical relationship / look at us / eye contact / no sexual discrimination
I am your teacher.  I will encourage you.  I do like my students.  I’m a pretty happy, interesting person.  I do listen.  I do look at my students.  However, I have 250 students.  I CAN’T have personal relationships with each of you unless you work at it.  You can visit with me in my office during office hours. I am fair and professional.
Write big!
I use the board and the student book a lot.  You will have the material in front of you.

Don’t hurry / don’t compel me to do something / don’t make me comfortable / make grammar easy

If you need more time, please tell me.  However, sometimes you NEED to talk more quickly.  You talk slowly because you are translating.  I want you to STOP translating.  That is important.  Trust yourself. Communication is more important than grammar (in life and in this class).  You will have fun but class will be difficult sometimes.
I’m shy / help me speak in class / I can’t speak English well / Pamila should talk a lot
You will only improve if you practice.  You will have opportunities to talk.  Use those opportunities!  I will talk, but you must talk too! Everyone will have the same opportunities.

Tell stories about your life/don’t talk about your life / respect my privacy

I sometimes talk about my life.  You will sometimes talk about your life.  This is about learning to communicate.  Communication is interactive and can sometimes be very personal.  You can always say you don’t want to talk about something specific.  However, you still need to talk about the topic.  For example, if you don’t want to talk about YOUR experience, you can talk about your thoughts or another person’s experience.
Use useful vocabulary / explain vocabulary
Sure.   Also, use your dictionary and learn a new word every day!  If you don’t understand something, you need to tell me! Some people know the words, some don’t.
Turn off the air con/turn on the air con / the room is hot or cold
People have different temperatures that they like.  You can adjust it.

Be smart / be brave
I’ll do my best.

When I fall asleep in class, wake me up.

Don’t fall asleep.  You might not like the way I wake you up!  I can be LOUD!

Can we have class outside?
Yes.

Give us an active sign that you want an answer to a question.

In English, we usually raise the tone of our voices to show a question.  I will try to remember to give you a sign.  However, you must learn to recognize questions.  Foreigners at a business meeting won’t give you a sign.
I want to listen to pop songs / television shows / have an interesting lesson / play games
We will use many kinds of media in class – including pop songs.  I try to have interesting lessons.  We will definitely play games.  I will call them exercises.

Sometimes I need time off for X
Send me an email and let me know.  We will work it out.
Take care of your health / don’t be sick.
I’ll do my best.  You can help! When you sneeze or cough, cover your mouth with the inside of your elbow.  It will help keep everyone healthy.
Help me find a girlfriend
If you get me a date with Jung Woo Sung, I will consider it!