Storytelling for Language Learning
SAMUEL AND THE TAXI DRIVERS
Over the course of a two week trip to Mid Asia, I found myself in several taxis alongside my host and good friend, Samuel. Though he and I were the passengers, Samuel took the “driver’s seat” of the conversation. He gently guided our driver toward the topic of a Biblical story he had ready to share. Samuel had learned several stories in both the trade language and the local language. He had also been a student of the culture and had determined almost everyone discussed a few particular subjects every day. Regular, repeated discussion revolved around family, construction, money, work, health, beauty and upcoming holidays. Samuel would prayerfully seek to bridge from one of these talks to a story from the Bible.“Do you keep the fast (Ramadan Fasting)?” Samuel asked our Muslim driver as we were in a taxi on the way to the airport. Naturally, the answer was in the affirmative, unless he had a good excuse to skip the locally practiced religious fast. Samuel politely asked if he could share a story from the Injil about fasting. When he was given permission, Samuel shared the parable about the Religious Leader and the Tax Collector (Luke18). Often this story would lead to further discussion. Most taxi drivers could identify with one character or the other in the story. Sometimes the taxi drivers would say the religious leader in the story was just like their own religious leaders! Samuel would gently point out that the story teaches God is more concerned about the inward condition of the person than the outward forms of religion. God hears our prayers if we are truly repentant, regardless of our outward practice. Usually, these concepts were new for our taxi drivers to consider. Sometimes this leads to another story from Holy Scripture, depending on the course of the conversation.
BECOMING A STORYTELLER
Storytelling among our target audience can begin as early as in the first few months of language learning. A veteran worker shared how she coaches new field members to learn a new language using the story of the Woman and the Coin by reducing the story to simple language:
The woman has ten coins.
The woman has nine coins.
One coin is not here.
One coin is not there.
One coin is over there.
The woman is happy.
LANGUAGE LEARNING AND STORIES
Language learners can integrate stories into their language program for effective language acquisition. For learners using the Growing Participator Approach, phase 2 is also called the Story Building Phase. Learners are encouraged to use wordless picture stories to increase the ability to talk and understand. In Phase 3, called the Shared Story Phase, learners will hear and discuss “bridge stories” and will tell simple stories with multiple relationships. In these advancing stages of language learning, Bible stories can be used, as appropriate, with acquaintances and new friends among the host community.
Here’s an example of Jesus Calms the Storm simplified for use in early language learning:
The friends of Jesus got in the boat. Jesus got in the boat.
Jesus slept in the boat.
A storm came.
The friends were afraid.
Jesus stopped the storm.
Simplified stories from God’s Word can be a great launching point for language learning. Here are Simplified Scripture Stories for Language Learning (downloads as a zip file) to spur your language learning on. Pictures of stories can also be a great resource to begin discussing Bible stories with language helpers. Many free Bible Illustrations can be found at Free Bible Images. Try these language activities using pictures:
- Ask your language helper to listen to the story and then describe the picture.
- Ask your language helper to read the story to you if the text is available.
- Have your helper ask simple questions: Who, what, when, where, and why?
- Have your helper make True/False statements about the picture.
- Learn a simple explanation of each picture.
- Tell the story of the picture set in a simple format.
- Record your helper reading the story. Practice listening.
- Read the story with assistance.
- Discuss difficult grammar construction in the story.
- Make a vocabulary list of unfamiliar words.
- Develop astorying route of people with whom to share your stories
- Act the story out with your helper or a group.
- Advanced: Describe the characters in the story.
- Advanced: Describe in greater detail the thoughts and feelings of the characters.
- Advanced: Tell the story in different tenses (past, present, or future).
CALL TO ACTION:
What Scripture story will you share this week?
What Scripture stories have you shared recently with your people?
What responses did you get?