LET ME TELL A STORY
Storytelling for beginners: Learnings from Convergys and Adarna House
“Next to hunger and thirst, our most basic human need is for storytelling.” – Khalil Gibran
We all enjoy being told stories, and as adults, we have an opportunity to use storytelling as a way to inspire the love of reading among children. This is the opportunity that was presented to me as one of the Convergys employees invited to be trained in the art of storytelling so that I could train others. It is part of Convergys’ “Give A Bag of Hope” program this year to include storytelling sessions for public school elementary students to whom employees will be donating bags with school supplies and books.
A beginner in storytelling: Things I’ve learned
For most people, the word “storyteller” usually evokes images of an adult reading a short story from a book, while the participants actively listen. While the picture may seem accurate, storytelling is not all about just reading, because it may also involve some principles of acting. Being an effective and efficient storyteller is like being a stage performer, wherein he or she reaches out to the audience and asks them to participate. The storyteller speaks from the heart, is lively, interactive, and capable of firing up everyone’s imagination.
That said, the performance of the storyteller should not outshine the significance of the book or story. Always remember to be humble. This is not about you or the ability to be an excellent storyteller. It is all about encouraging the love for reading.
Being a storyteller is not easy since you have to keep everyone’s attention for the duration of the performance. Is it even possible? The answer is yes! All you have to do is to choose a good book that is exciting, fun to read, and able to drive people to action. You have to select the story based on the age group of the listeners, gender, character, and social or cultural background. You don’t need to memorize the content of the book, but like performances, you have to be familiar with the material. Carefully read and study the book several times.
Most importantly, remember to fall in love with it. These are among the many things I learned.
The most interesting part of the workshop was when we witnessed the young, talented, flexible future storytellers emerging from our training. All were equipped with confidence, voice modulation and acting skills. I am grateful to Miss Dyali Justo, Adarna House master storyteller and workshop facilitator, for this wonderful opportunity to develop skills in this kind of art. Giving hope Convergys’ Give a Bag of Hope program for 2016 has commenced and the school visits are fast approaching. Everyone has worked together to achieve one goal, which is to empower the young through education. We will not just give bags, but we will also give hope. On the day of the school visit, Convergys volunteers will not just distribute the bags of hope but will also tell stories. Our mission is to promote the love for reading through storytelling and I hope that in this way, kids would enjoy the experience of having “ates and kuyas” share a story. (Eleazar R. Cabardo Jr. is a trainer in Convergys Cebu and a participant of the Give a Bag of Hope project.)