Storytelling Class for Intermediate and Advanced English Language Learners/Clase de Narración de Historias para estudiantes de inglés de nivel intermedio y avanzados
¡Trabaje en su inglés mientras aprende el arte de contar historias!
¿Qué?
En estas ocho semanas de clase, aprenderán a ser expertos en narrar su propia historia. En la primera parte de la clase, aprenderán las bases de cómo se narra una buena historia escuchando muchos ejemplos y diseccionando los componentes de narrar cuentos. Como, detalles descriptivos, el ritmo, y tensión, y practicando narraciones de historias de su propia vida. En la segunda mitad, trabajarán para crear una historia más extensa de 5 a 7 minutos para representar.
Durante el curso, dando forma y practicando historias, usted aprenderá vocabulario y tendrá amplias oportunidades de practicar conversación, pronunciación y escuchar. ¡Todos cometerán errores y todos aprenderán de ellos! Esto será un ambiente de apoyo donde todos son estudiantes y todos están aprendiendo mientras entienden como hacer algo difícil. Estudiantes narraran sus propias historias en público, en frente de sus familias, amigos y una gran audiencia al final de la clase.
Para inscribirse, envíe un mensaje a Miguel via WhatsApp: (413) 347-2321
Work on your English while learning the art of storytelling!
What?
In this eight-week class, students will become experts in telling their own stories. In the first half of the course, you will learn the basics of what makes a good story by listening to many examples and breaking down the components of storytelling—such as descriptive detail, pacing, and tension—and by practicing telling little stories from your life. In the second half, you will work towards shaping a larger, 5–7-minute story to perform. Our tentative theme for our stories is “Making it in America.”
Throughout the course, by shaping and practicing stories, you will learn new vocabulary and have ample opportunity to practice speaking, pronunciation, and listening. Everybody will make mistakes, and everybody will learn from them! This will be a supportive environment where everyone is a student, and everyone is learning as they go how to do a difficult thing. Students will perform their stories in public for their family, friends, and a larger audience at the end of the class.
To sign up, send a message to Miguel via WhatsApp: (413) 347-2321
Hosted by the Literacy Network
In partnership with Storytelling Coach Sheela Clary.
Sheela Clary, story coach for this project, is a writer and freelance Italian and storytelling teacher, born and raised in South Berkshire County. She’s a Moth Story Slam winner and Grand Slam participant and has organized storytelling events locally for many years. Her essays and journalism can be found in the Berkshire Edge and on her newsletter, Clarity, at sheela.substack.com.
Supported by the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation’s Arts Build Community fund and The Mount: Edith Wharton’s Home.
2024 Storytelling Event
On Saturday, July 20, 2024, LitNet hosted its first live storytelling event at the New Marlborough Meeting House. Five LitNet learners and one tutor took the stage to tell true stories on the theme of “Challenge.” Watch a recording of the event here! You can also view individual stories on LitNet’s YouTube channel.
The Storytellers
Born in Puerto Rico, Maria Cotto moved to Massachusetts when she was nine. She has also lived in Texas and Florida and has been in the Berkshires for the past five years. Maria is a working mom with an adult son, two teenage daughters, and a well-loved dog. As you will hear, Maria did not receive a diploma when she finished high school. She has been engaged in one-on-one tutoring with LitNet math and English tutors and is working towards her high school equivalency.
Leesly Diaz was born in Bogotá, Colombia. She has been learning English with LitNet for almost two years. She loves learning new languages and she loves to dance. She lives in the Berkshires and enjoys her new life here because it is a nice place. Her favorite season is autumn. She likes the temperature in fall and the beautiful and amazing view when the leaves change colors and the trees look awesome.
Leesly's Story Photos:
Leesly's mom's dogs, Thor (French Bulldog) and Thanos (Samoyed).
Milagro Díaz was born in El Salvador. She moved to Long Island, New York in 1994 and to the Berkshires in 2010. She works as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at Integritus Healthcare. She is proud of her two daughters. Milagro enjoys singing in her church choir and baking cakes for weddings and other special occasions.
Aline Libassi was born in New York and studied romance languages at Queens College and the University of Bologna. She taught Italian, French, and Spanish in Waterbury, Torrington, and Litchfield and English at the Scuola d’Italia in New York City. Aline is an avid cook and baker and spends a part of each year at her home in Tulum, Mexico.
Aline's Story Photos:
Aline in Florence at age 8 and then again at age 55.
Bernardo Martínez is 38 years old and was born in an indigenous community in the state of Oaxaca called Totontepec Villa de Morelos. He speaks an indigenous language and has a son, César Miguel, who is ten years old. Bernardo came to the Berkshires in 2021 and works in construction. He loves music and plays the saxophone in a Latin band.
Bernando's Story Photos:
Views of Bernardo's village, Totontepec Villa de Morelos, in Oaxaca, Mexico.
Phan Soy was born and raised on a farm in Cambodia. She now lives in Lenox with her husband, an American journalist, and her eight-year-old son. Cooking brings her joy.
Phan's Story Photos:
Phan and her family in Ukraine.
