Speaking: Storytelling & Narrative Skills B1 - Lesson 3: Describing Characters & Settings Simply.

Speaking: Storytelling & Narrative Skills B1 - Lesson 3: Describing Characters & Settings Simply 👤🏞️✍️

Objective: To learn and practice how to simply describe characters (appearance and personality) and settings (location and atmosphere) to make stories more vivid and engaging.

• Learn basic adjectives and phrases to describe a person's appearance.
• Learn basic adjectives and phrases to describe a person's personality.
• Learn basic adjectives and phrases to describe a place or setting.
• Practice incorporating simple character and setting descriptions into narratives.

Good stories paint a picture in the listener's mind. Describing the people (characters) and places (settings) in your story helps bring it to life. You don't need complex vocabulary; simple, well-chosen words can make a big difference in how engaging your narrative is. This lesson will focus on how to do this simply and effectively.

Describing Characters Simply

Focus on a few key details for appearance and personality.

Appearance (What they look like):

• He/She was tall/short/average height.
• He/She had long/short, dark/light hair.
• He/She was wearing a [color] shirt and [type] pants. (e.g., a blue shirt and jeans)
• He/She looked friendly/serious/tired. (Overall impression)

Personality (What they are like):

• He/She seemed kind/funny/shy.
• He/She was a very helpful/talkative/quiet person.
• I got the impression that he/she was intelligent/nervous.

Describing Settings Simply

Focus on key features, location, and atmosphere.

• It was a big/small, old/new, busy/quiet place.
• The room was bright/dark, warm/cold, tidy/messy.
• We were in a [type of place, e.g., bustling market/peaceful park].
• The atmosphere was lively/calm/tense.
• There was/were [key objects/features, e.g., many trees/a large table].

Practice Dialogue: Describing a New Colleague and Office

Read this dialogue. Notice how simple descriptions are used. Practice with a partner.

Sophea: Have you met the new graphic designer, Rina?

Dara: Not yet. What's she like?

Sophea: Well, she seems really friendly and creative. She has short, curly hair and was wearing a bright yellow top today.

Dara: Oh, cool. And what about her office space? Have you seen it?

Sophea: Yes, it's quite small, but she's made it look very cozy. There are lots of plants and colorful pictures on her desk. The atmosphere in her corner feels very calm.

Activity 1: Describe a Person or Place

Think of a person you know well OR a place you have visited in Cambodia. Prepare to describe them/it simply using 2-3 sentences for appearance/setting and 1-2 for personality/atmosphere. Click "Reveal Sample Response" for an example.

1. Describe your favorite teacher from school.

Your description:

"My favorite teacher, Ms. Leakhena, was tall and always wore colorful Khmer silk scarves. She had a very kind smile. She was a very patient and encouraging person, and she made learning fun."

2. Describe your favorite local market (e.g., Phsar Chas in Siem Reap, or a market in your town).

Your description:

"My favorite local market is always very busy and noisy, especially in the morning. There are hundreds of stalls selling fresh fruit, vegetables, and local snacks. The atmosphere is always lively and full of energy."

Activity 2: Storytelling with Description

Think of a simple story about an interaction you had with someone OR a visit to a place. Tell the story (3-5 sentences), making sure to include a simple description of the main character involved OR the main setting of your story.

Example starter: "Yesterday, I went to a new coffee shop. It was a very modern place with..."

Tips for Describing Characters & Settings Simply:

• Focus on key details: You don't need to describe everything. Choose 1-2 important details that help the listener imagine the person or place.
• Use common adjectives: At B1 level, focus on using familiar descriptive words correctly.
• Connect descriptions to the story: Make sure your descriptions are relevant to what happens in your narrative. For example, if a character's height is important to the story, mention it.
• Observe people and places around you: Pay attention to how you would describe them in simple terms. This is great practice!
• Don't worry about perfection: The goal is clear communication, not a perfect literary description.

Summary: This lesson focused on how to simply describe characters (appearance and personality) and settings (location and atmosphere) in your stories. By adding a few well-chosen descriptive details, you can make your narratives more vivid, engaging, and easier for your listeners to imagine.