{ digital storytelling in efl classrooms by svetlana kuznetsova
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Digital Storytelling in EFL classrooms
By Svetlana Kuznetsova
Human beings are natural storytellers
Storytelling in EFL classrooms develops: Speaking skills Listening skills Creative thinking
Digital stories are short, personal, multimedia pieces that people can make for themselves. They're 'mini-movies’.
They can combine:• Photographs• Video• Animation• Sound• Music• Narrative voice
Daniel Meadows
A Perfect Format for a Digital Story:
• Words: 250-300 • Images: 12-15• Length: about 2 minutes
The Pros of DS in EFL classroom
Digital Storytelling Projects develop:
• Speaking• Listening• Writing• Reading• Creative thinking• Computer literacy• Learner Autonomy• Confidence
They can be used with students of any level.
Part IWorking with the New York Times DS project “One in Eight Million”
What is ‘One in 8 Million’?
• Emmy winning DS project
• 54 three-minute episodes. Each episode is a unique story of a New York resident that combines black/white photographs and an audio narrative.
How to use ‘One in 8 Million’?
For classroom use choose a slow speaker, e.g. The Walker;
• Pre-watching – Prediction task• Pre-watching – Guess the title task• While-watching task – Comprehension
questions • While-watching task – Think of a suitable
story • After-watching – Write a story for the
voiceover• After-watching – Vocabulary work;
Discussion
Enliven your coursebook
• JOBS: the Rooky Detective• ART: the Art Restorer• FAMILY: the Only Child• HOBBIES: the Mambo Dancer• CITY LIFE: the Boat Dweller• CRIME: the Uncertain Gang
Member
Analyze how the digital stories are made:
• The content of the photos• The sequence of the photos• How the voiceover matches the
images• How the mood is created
What students like about ‘One in 8 Million”
• Compelling stories
• Beautiful photographs
• Listening to different varieties of English
• Transcribing speeches
• Learning interesting words and phrases
• Authenticity of the material
PART 2: CREATING A DIGITAL STORY PROJECTINTRODUCING YOURSELF IN SOUND/IMAGE
• To improve four language skills• To expand technology literacy• To develop learner autonomy• To build confidence
Project Steps
• Think of a story idea• Write a narrative for the voiceover• Submit the text for correction• Improve the text• Select photos for the story• Arrange the photos in sequence• Record the narrative• Choose the soundtrack (if you wish)• Put all the pieces together
Student feedback about the project
• ‘The project helped to improve my pronunciation.’
• ‘The part I liked the most was making the video for my story.’
• ‘Choosing the pictures was the best part. I looked through a lot of pictures that brought back some memories.’
• ‘I learned a lot of new words when writing the script.’
• ‘I finally learned to work with Windows Movie Maker. It’s easy to use.’
• ‘I loved watching my mates’ presentations.’
