Learning English is not easy; it takes a lot of time to learn the grammar, spelling, vocabulary, pronunciation, and other aspects of the language. The learning journey is a very enriching experience, indeed. You don't want to forget something you have learned easily. So, you must use an effective method to learn a language. Exploring English through folktales and stories is such a way.
Folktales carry values, historical insights, and moral lessons that have been passed down through different generations. These tales are very engaging and provide a different perspective to understand a language.
Reasons folktales and stories are effective
The traditional folktales are packed with idiomatic expressions and rich vocabulary. The people back in those days used different phrases and words to express their thoughts which you won't find in modern books. Idiomatic expressions tell a lot about the culture of a place. So, by listening to folktales and stories or reading about them you can expand your vocabulary and learn many idioms that you can later use in your writing or speech. For example, in the folktale "Jack and the Beanstalk", you will come across words like 'beanstalk' and 'golden goose' that you won't find in the modern vocabulary.Understanding culture
Folktales represent the cultures from which they originated. When you read these interesting stories, you learn many things about that culture, including its values, norms, and traditions. So, when you read English folktales and stories, you know about the English culture in a much better way than reading other books. Many stories teach moral lessons that are part of the English culture. For example, the folktale "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" is about how important it is to be honest all the time and avoid lying. If you lie there will be difficult consequences.Engaging and memorable
You will notice that when you memorize a list of words or phrases, you tend to forget them easily. But when these words are put into an engaging and narrative structure with interesting storylines, characters, and moral lessons, you will remember them easily. Folktales have a repetitive nature that also helps in the retention process.
Tips for learning English using folktales and stories
Simply reading any folktale to learn English won't help. You need to apply some techniques to learn the language effectively. Here are some tips that may be helpful.Choose the right folktales
Not all folktales are rich in vocabulary and provide good moral lessons. So, choose the well-known folktales to begin with. As you become more familiar with these stories, you can read lesser-known stories. You can teach your children good English by telling them stories such as "Cinderella" or "Little Red Riding Hood." These stories have been passed on from generation to generation and still remain popular. Your children will be very interested to hear them and in the process, they will learn new words and moral lessons.Use multiple formats
You must become attached to folktales in various formats. You should not only read books but also listen to storytelling and watch movies adapted from these stories. This will provide you with a 360-degree learning experience which will turn out to be very effective. Now you will find many online resources like audiobooks and podcasts that can give you a more enriching English language learning experience.Analyze structure
If you are reading folktales for the purpose of learning the English language, then you should do more than just know the story. You must analyze the sentence structure, use of verbs, and style of writing. This way you will understand the grammatical aspect of English. For example, you can break down a passage from the story and identify the different parts of speech, adjectives, and other things.Practice storytelling
You won't recall what you have learned from folktales unless you share the stories with others repetitively. By practicing storytelling, you can improve your English-speaking skills. You can pair up with a friend to practice storytelling.Make use of visual aids
You must use visual aids to recall folktales. You can use illustrations, mind maps, or storyboards to remember vocabulary, grammatical structure, plot, and characters of the story. In the storyboard, you can highlight the important characters and events.Think of the moral lessons
Try to relate the moral lessons you have learned from folktales with your personal experience with the English culture.You can make use of folktales better by using these techniques. By applying these you can retain the new things you have learned for a long time.
Examples of folktales effective for learning English
Not all folktales are interesting and beneficial in learning English. If your objective is to learn English effectively, then here are some suggestions about stories you must read.The Pied Piper of Hamelin
It is a popular German folktale that has been adapted into English. The famous story is about a piper who helps a town to get rid of rat infestation. However, the townsmen didn't pay him for the service he provided. So, in retaliation, he takes away the children of the town with his enchanting piper tune. In this story, you will come across various verb tenses, idiomatic expressions, and descriptive language.The Gingerbread Man
It is an English folktale about a gingerbread man. He comes to life but runs away from different pursuers. By reading this story you can practice repetitive verbs and phrases. You will also learn new words related to animals and food.The Fisherman and His Wife
It is also a German folktale adapted to English and other languages. The story is of a fisherman who catches a magical fish. The astonishing thing about the fish is that it can grant any wish. The fisherman's wife got greedy and asked for more which led to their downfall. You will come across complex sentence structures related to nature. You will learn what consequences can happen if you are greedy.Beauty and the Beast
It is a famous French folktale that has been adapted into English. It's about a beautiful young woman who falls in love with a beast. But the beast is actually a prince who has been under a curse for many years. The story is about love and sacrifice. You will see the use of dialogue and descriptive language in this story.If you want to teach English effectively then incorporate storytelling sessions. Here the learners will know about language from different perspectives. Their English learning journey will be enjoyable and fruitful.
