Speaking: Storytelling & Narrative Skills A2
Describing Your Typical Day
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.
☀️ 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.
- 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 order)
Describe the main parts of your day (morning, afternoon). Use Sequencers and Connectors from the toolkit below to link your ideas.
- 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."
Your Storytelling Toolkit 🧰
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, 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. Use your notes from Activity 1 and the toolkit words to tell the story of your typical day. Listen carefully to your partner's story and ask one follow-up question at the end. Then, switch roles.
Key Vocabulary
- 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.
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.