{ digital storytelling in efl classrooms by svetlana kuznetsova

{

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.’

Thank you for attention!

Svetlana Kuznetsovaskuznetsova07@gmail.com