Speaking: Storytelling & Narrative Skills A2 - Lesson 1
Describing Your Typical Day
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to tell a simple, well-structured story describing your typical daily routine.
A Model Story: My Typical Day in Siem Reap
The first story we learn to tell is often about our own lives. Storytelling1 combines many skills: vocabulary, grammar, and fluency. Let's look at a good example.
"On a typical day3, my narrative2 is quite simple. First, I usually wake up at 6:00 AM. After that, I get up and have breakfast with my family, usually rice porridge. Then, I get ready for university.
I go to my classes from 8:00 AM until noon. In the morning4, I feel very energetic. I love my classes, but they can be tiring. After class, I often eat lunch with my friends near the campus.
In the afternoon5, I usually study in the library. Finally, in the evening6, I have dinner with my family, and we watch some TV before I go to bed at around 10:00 PM."
Your Storytelling Toolkit
- Storytelling (Noun) | ការនិទានរឿង | The skill of telling a story. ↩
- Narrative (Noun) | ជំនាញនិទានរឿង | Another word for a story. ↩
- A typical day (Phrase) | ថ្ងៃធម្មតា | A normal, regular day. ↩
- In the morning (Phrase) | នៅពេលព្រឹក | The first part of the day. ↩
- In the afternoon (Phrase) | នៅពេលរសៀល | The middle part of the day, after lunch. ↩
- In the evening (Phrase) | នៅពេលល្ងាច | The part of the day after work/school and before bed. ↩
- Sequencers: First, Then, Next, After that, Finally.
- Connectors: and, but, so, because, or.
Narrative Intonation & Pausing
When you tell a story, your voice should not be flat. Use pausing and intonation to guide your listener.
- Pause after time phrases and sequencers. This gives the listener time to understand that a new part of the story is beginning. Notice the comma after these phrases.
- Example: "In the morning, [pause] I go to school."
- Use linking and rhythm. Connect your words into smooth thought groups. Don't speak word-by-word.
- Example: "I-have-breakfast-with-my-family."
Structuring Your Daily Story
A good story has a clear beginning, middle, and end.
1. The Opening: Start with a phrase to set the scene.
Examples: "On a typical day...", "On weekdays...", "My day usually starts at..."
2. The Body (in chronological order): Describe the main parts of your day (morning, afternoon). Use sequencers like First, Then, and Next to connect the steps. Use connectors like and and but to make your sentences more interesting.
3. The Closing: Describe your evening and signal the end of the story with Finally.
Example: "Finally, I go to bed at about 11 PM."
Practice Your Storytelling
Activity 1: Brainstorm Your Day
Think about your own typical day. On a piece of paper, write down 1-2 keywords for each part of the day.
- Morning: (e.g., wake up 6:30, eat noodles, go to work)
- Afternoon: (e.g., have lunch, finish work at 5:00)
- Evening: (e.g., cook dinner, watch TV, study English)
Activity 2: Tell Your Story
Work with a partner. Use your notes from Activity 1 to tell the story of your typical day. Your partner should listen carefully and ask one follow-up question at the end. Then, switch roles.
Your Storytelling Mission
This week in Siem Reap, your mission is to tell the story of your day.
Practice telling the story of your typical day until you can say it smoothly for about 30-45 seconds. Try not to look at your notes! If you can, record your voice on your phone and listen to your own storytelling skills. Notice your fluency, pausing, and intonation.