• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

Stories are used in The YMCA Ad- - Creates a feeling of low-stress STORY- venture Guides program in many enjoyment settings, including meetings, cam- - Makes memories that last TELLING pouts, adventures, and car trips. Stories are both enjoyable and STORYTELLING TIPS educational-they can convey a les- Before telling any story, ask your- son and encourage questions more self these three questions: effectively than more direct meth- 1. What do I want people to feel ods. In this section you’ll learn after they hear my story? more about the benefits of story- 2. What do I want people to re- telling, best practices for present- member from mystory? ing stories that engage and en- 3. What do I want people to be- tertain, some sample stories, and lieve as a result of hearing my sources to check for story ideas. story? BENEFITS OF STORYTELLING Once you know what your purpose We use stories to communicate is, you can begin to tell a memora- information and ideas. In stories, ble story. Settle the audience and words create pictures in the minds set up the story. Devise a strategy of The YMCA Adventure Guides to keep the group focused, use an that, when combines with a moral opening question, a prop, a calm- or value, make the concept easier ing song, or creatively dive into to grasp and remember. If the sto- the story such as a way that all ryteller is successful, great stories eyes and ears are on you. Consid- Y ADVENTURE GUIDES are remembered and repeated. er these factors that contribute to Successful storytelling within a the telling of the great story: YMCA Adventure Guides program produces the following results: Plot- has one central plot in your - Creates a common focus for the story, and keeps it simple. group and a sense of together- Characters- Create (or portray) in- ness teresting and fun characters. What - Raises questions for group do they look like? How do they discussion sound? What are their mannerisms - Promotes The YMCA Adventure and motives? Be descriptive-use Guides aims, objectives, and a lot of adjectives. People need be purpose able to visualize. - Keeps special details about the Action- People like action, lots of program’s traditions alive and it. Use a lot of action verbs. Sus- ever present pense, not knowing what is going - Educates participants on other to happen next, is a particularly cultures powerful form of action. Some of - Gives adults and children time in the action should keep listeners on the spotlight to shine, exercise the edge of their seats. their creativity and imagination, Props- Use props, puppets, and develop confidence and public costumes to add a focal point, speaking skills, share a part of color, a sense of anticipation, and who they are and what they be- character to your story. lieve in, and make a point. 1 YMCA Of Metropolitan Dallas Involvement- Get listeners in- could hear him. And he walked STORY- volved by asking them to make from town to town with friends. sounds that coordinate with the And every once in a while he’d hike TELLING story, pantomime a part of the up a hill to think about what he story, or finish a line or two. wanted to do. He walked with his Continued Timing- Keep your stories short. cross up a hill called Calvary. Ask, Most stories from folklore run fie can anyone tell me this story from or seven minutes. the twenty-seventh chapter of Fluency- Practice telling your Matthew or read it? How can Jesus story several times before telling help us climb our hills of life? What it to an audience. Memorize the good habits help us to climb on the sequence of events. Don’t memo- upward way? rize the words or you’ll lose your spontaneity. The Dog and His Reflection Creative license- Feel free to A dog, to whom the butch had “bend” a story a little to make it thrown a bone, was hurrying home more colorful or suit a particular with his prize as fast as he could audience, but be true to the sto- go. As he crossed a narrow foot- ry’s key facts and mes sages. bridge, he happened to look down Passion- Be dramatic, create a and see himself reflected in the sense of anticipation, and most quite water. But the greedy dog important, never tell a story you thought he saw a real dog carrying don’t enjoy telling. a bone much bigger than his own. If Listening- Listening to stories he had stopped to think, he would Y ADVENTURE GUIDES teaches you a lot about the world have known better. But instead and people around you. You’ll hear of thinking, he dropped his bone stories as you talk to people, help- and sprang at the dog in the river- ing you build your own repertoire only to find himself, seconds lat- of stories. er; swimming for dear life to reach the shore. At last he managed to STORY IDEAS scramble out, and as stood sadly Here are some examples of sto- thinking about the good bone he ries you will enjoy telling and Circle had lost, he realized what a stupid members will enjoy hearing. do he had been. Be grateful for what you have. If Hills of Life you get greedy, you might end up Often a simple discussion can be with nothing at all. inspirational. Talk first of climbing hills-tell of great high mountains, Three Soul Bears such as Whitney (14,495 feet). Talk Once upon a time in a nursery about how hard it is to hike up the rhyme there was 1, 2, 3 bears. One mountain but how much fun it is to was a mama bear, one was a papa look down from the top. Talk about bear, and one was wee bear. One hiking up a hill as a Circle someday day they went a walkin’ in the deep soon. Tell how Jesus used to hike forest talkin’, and along came a girl everywhere he went, and when with golden curls. She knocked on he wanted to talk to a lot of peo- the door (make a knocking sound ple he’d climb up on a hill so they three times). Nobody there, so 2 YMCA Of Metropolitan Dallas she walked right in, and along a full life.” The tourist interrupter, STORY- came the 3 bears. “Someone’s “I have an MBA from Harvard and been sittin’ in my chair,” said the I can help you! You should start TELLING mama bear (sing in a high voice) by fishing long every day. You can “Someone’s been sittin’ in 29 my then sell the extra fish you catch. Continued chair,” said the papa bear (sing in With the extra revenue, you can a deep voice). “Hey, Mama, see buy a bigger boat. With the extra bear,” said the wee bear (sing in a money the large boat will bring, wee voice), someone’s been sittin’ you can buy a second one and a in my chair, woow!” “Someone’s third one and so in until you have been eatin’ my porridge,” said an entire fleet of trawlers. “In- the mama bear. “Someone’s been stead of selling your fish to a mid- eatin’ my porridge,” said papa dle man, you can negotiate direct- bear. “Hey, mama, see bear,” said ly with the processing plants and the wee bear, “Someone’s been maybe even open your own plant. eatin’ my porridge woow!” Some- You can then leave this little vil- one’s been sleepin’ in my bed,” said lage and move to Mexico City, Los the mama bear. Someone’s been Angeles, or even New York City. sleepin’ in my bed,” said the papa From there you can direct your bear. “Hey, mama, see bear,” said huge enterprise!” How long would the wee bear, Someone’s is sleep- that take?” asked the fisherman? in’ in my bed woow!” Goldie Locks Twenty, perhaps 25 years,” replied woke up and broke up the party, the tourist. And after that?” After- Bye, bye, bye, bye, said the mama ward?” That’s when it gets really Y ADVENTURE GUIDES bear. Bye, bye, bye, bye, said the interesting,” answered the tour- papa bear. Bye, bye, bye, bye, said ist laughing. “When your busi- the wee bear. And that is the story ness gets really big you can start of the three soul bears. selling stack and make millions!” “Millions? Really? And after that?” The Fisherman and the Tourist After that you’ll be able to retire, A boat docked in a tiny fishing vil- live in a tiny village near the coast. lage. A tourist complimented the Sleep late, play with your children, fisherman on the quality of his fish catch a few fish, take a siestas and asked how long it took him to with your wife, and spend your catch them. “Not very long,” an- evenings enjoying friends.” How swered the fisherman. “Well, then, do our members balance work and why didn’t you stay out longer and family? catch more?” asked the tourist. The fisherman explained that his small How the Camel got His Hump catch was sufficient to meet his Now this tale tells how the Camel needs and those of his family. The got his big hump. tourist asked, “But what do you In the beginning of years, when do with the rest of your time?” “I the world was so new-andall, and sleep late, fish a little, play with my the Animals were just beginning to children, and take a siesta with my work for Man, there was a Camel, wife.

Load more

  15

Copy Link