Speaking: Storytelling & Narrative Skills A2
Describing Your Typical Day
Listen to the model story here.
A Model Story: My Typical Day 📖
The first story we learn to tell is often about our own lives. Let's look at a good example, broken into three parts. Click 🔊 to hear each part.
☀️ Morning
"On a typical day, my story is quite simple. First, I usually wake up at 6:00 AM. After that, I get up and have breakfast with my family. Then, I get ready for university and go to my classes from 8:00 AM until noon."
🕛 Afternoon
"After class, I often eat lunch with my friends near the campus. I love my classes, but they can be tiring. In the afternoon, I usually study in the library for a few hours."
🌙 Evening
"Finally, in the evening, I have dinner with my family, and we watch some TV before I go to bed at around 10:00 PM."
Structuring Your Daily Story
A good story has a clear beginning, middle, and end. Use this structure for your day:
- The Opening
Start with a phrase to set the scene. Examples: "On a typical day...", "On weekdays...", "My day usually starts at..."
- The Body (in order)
Describe the main parts of your day (morning, afternoon). Use Sequencers and Connectors from the toolkit below to link your ideas.
- The Closing
Describe your evening and signal the end of the story with Finally. Example: "Finally, I go to bed at about 11 PM."
Your Storytelling Toolkit 🧰 (Click 🔊)
These words are the tools that connect your story and make it flow smoothly.
Sequencers (Order Words)
- First,
- Then,
- Next,
- After that,
- Finally,
Connectors (Joining Words)
- and
- but
- so
- because
Tips for Better Storytelling
🗣️ Narrative Intonation & Pausing
When you tell a story, your voice should not be flat. Use pausing and intonation to guide your listener.
- Pause after sequencers. This signals that a new part of the story is beginning. Notice the comma after these words.
Example: "In the morning, [pause] I go to school." - Speak in thought groups. Connect your words smoothly. Don't speak word-by-word.
Example: "I-have-breakfast / with-my-family."
Practice Your Storytelling 🎯
Activity 1: Brainstorm Your Day
Think about your own typical day. On a piece of paper (or below), write 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 or practice alone. Use your notes from Activity 1 and the toolkit words (Sequencers, Connectors) to tell the story of your typical day aloud. Try to use pauses and good rhythm.
Example Start: "On a typical day, first I..."
Key Vocabulary (Click 🔊)
- Storytelling / Narrative The skill of telling a story.
- A typical day A normal, regular day.
- In the morning The first part of the day.
- In the afternoon The middle part of the day, after lunch.
- In the evening The part of the day before bed.
- Sequencer Words that show the order of events (First, Then, Next...).
- Connector Words that join ideas (and, but, so...).
Your Storytelling Mission ⭐
This week, 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 without notes. If you can, record your voice on your phone and listen to your own storytelling. Notice your fluency, pausing, and use of sequencers like First, Then, After that, Finally.