Speaking: Storytelling & Narrative Skills B1 - Lesson 1: Structuring a Personal Story (Beginning, Middle, End)

Speaking: Storytelling & Narrative Skills B1

Structuring a Personal Story

What you will learn: By the end of this lesson, you will be able to structure a simple personal story with a clear beginning, middle, and end.

Conversation Scenario: A Funny Market Mishap 💬

Listen to Vanna tell her friend Kimsan a story. Notice how it has three clear parts.

Kimsan: You look happy today, Vanna! What's new?

Vanna: (Laughing) I'm just remembering what happened yesterday.

--- The Beginning ---

Vanna: I went to Phsar Kandal after work to buy some mangoes. I was in a hurry and the market was very crowded.

Kimsan: Oh, I know that feeling. So what happened?

--- The Middle ---

Vanna: Well, I found a stall with beautiful mangoes. I was pointing to the ones I wanted when a man next to me with a big bag of coconuts turned around suddenly. His bag knocked over a whole pyramid of oranges! They rolled everywhere.

Kimsan: Oh no! Was the seller angry?

--- The End ---

Vanna: At first, she looked shocked. But then, everyone started laughing and helping her pick them up. The man was so apologetic, he bought ten oranges himself. In the end, it was a very funny and friendly moment.

The Three Parts of a Story

A good story is easy to follow. Think of it in three simple parts to make your storytelling clear and effective.

• 1. The Beginning (The Setup)

  This is where you set the scene and give the basic context. Answer the questions: Who? When? Where?

• 2. The Middle (The Action)

  This is the main, most eventful part of the story. Describe what happened, usually a problem or a surprise.

• 3. The End (The Resolution)

  This is how the story finishes. Explain the final outcome and how people felt.

Tips for Better Storytelling

🗣️ Pausing Between Parts

To help your listener follow your story, use short pauses between the different parts. This is like creating verbal paragraphs.

Example: "...and the market was very crowded. [short pause] Suddenly, a man next to me turned around... [short pause] In the end, everyone was laughing."

This pacing makes your story much easier to understand than speaking without any breaks. It gives the listener a moment to absorb each part of the narrative.

Practice Your Skills 🎯

Activity 1: Identify the Story Part

Read the sentences from a story about being late. Which part is it: Beginning, Middle, or End?

1. "My moto wouldn't start and then I got stuck in terrible traffic on Monivong Boulevard."
   → Part: Middle (This describes the main problem).
2. "Last Tuesday morning, I had a very important meeting with my team."
   → Part: Beginning (This sets the scene).
3. "Finally, I arrived 30 minutes late, but luckily my boss was also late!"
   → Part: End (This explains the result).

Key Vocabulary

• In the end (Phrase) | នៅទីបំផុត
  A phrase used to introduce the final result of a situation.
• Context (Noun) | បរិបទ
  The situation in which something happens; the background information.
• Eventful (Adjective) | ពេញ​ដោយ​ព្រឹត្តិការណ៍
  Full of interesting or important things that happen.
• Outcome (Noun) | លទ្ធផល
  The final result of an action or event.
• Narrative (Noun) | និទានកថា
  A story or a description of a series of events.

Your Storytelling Mission ⭐

Prepare a One-Minute Story

Your mission is to tell a short, simple story about yourself. It could be about something funny, surprising, or just something that happened this week.

1. Think of an idea: A time you tried new food? A funny conversation? A small problem?
2. Plan the 3 parts: Write one sentence for the Beginning, two for the Middle, and one for the End.
3. Practice telling it: Say it out loud to a friend. Remember to pause between the parts!