Once upon a Time: Using Stories in the Language Classroom (Cambridge Handbooks for Language Teachers) [Paperback]

John Morgan (Author), Mario Rinvolucri (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521272629 | ISBN-13: 978-0521272629 | Publication Date: January 27, 1984

Stories can provide a highly motivating, engaging and realistic source of genuine language interaction in the classroom. They are 'living language' in which the teacher (or student storyteller) becomes the source of language, and the listeners are actively involved in understanding. The authors argue from experience that almost everyone can tell stories convincingly, especially given an outline to work from. A very wide range of these outlines, from many cultures and sources, are provided. These can be used by the teacher as a resource for a variety of activities for students from beginner to advanced levels, including listening comprehension, grammar practice, oral production and fluency practice, but above all for exposure to real spoken language.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'It is a great source of ideas, a valuable guide to developing a useful skill in teaching, and a book you can dip into for your own interest.' Atesol Newsletter

'Using the techniques described in this book will produce classroom activities which are enjoyable, collaborative, creative, learner-centered and personally valid for the learner.' Illinois Tesol

Book Description

A wide range of motivating and engaging stories from many cultures and sources.

Product Details

• Paperback: 132 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (January 27, 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521272629
• ISBN-13: 978-0521272629
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,732,307 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Old but Useful, May 19, 2000

By 

Anna Varna - See all my reviews

This review is from: Once upon a Time: Using Stories in the Language Classroom (Cambridge Handbooks for Language Teachers) (Paperback)

This is a nice small book about how to use stories in the classroom of foreign language teaching. There is a brief introduction about the how and the why of using stories in the classroom and the rest of the book presents many stories in a concise form and suggestions on how to use them with students. There are many different stories drawn form many different fields and traditions: African myths, Indian legends, European stories, Jewish stories, fairy tales, Christian stories and more. I found very useful the introduction as well as the stories but the suggestions on how to use them either seem very complicated to follow or very simple for a class of teenagers of this decade. Anyway the collection of stories is excellent.