Why should you use storytelling to teach English?

Richard Cleeve
Children sat outdoors reading a book together
Reading time: 5 minutes

Stories can make us laugh, cry or tremble with fear. They can teach us valuable life lessons and transport us to other worlds. They've been around since the beginning of language itself, but can they actually help us learn a language?

Stories are one of the most useful tools when teaching children English. Not only do they help with listening and reading skills, but they can also support speaking and writing skills by providing context, language and structure. 

Very young learners may already be familiar with stories – they may hear them in daycare, school or at home with their parents. Therefore, incorporating these into their language classes may help them to feel more comfortable in their surroundings. And if children feel comfortable, they are more likely to be receptive to learning. 

Storytelling usually happens as part of a group in the classroom. This means that it becomes a bonding activity for children where they can communicate and subconsciously pick up the key language. While having fun listening and interacting with the story, they soak up information without even realizing they’re learning.

So, what storytelling activities can we use with young learners? Let’s find out. 

Practical activities for storytelling with young learners

Often, we think of storytelling simply as reading a book aloud to children. Yet, there are other activities you can do. These include:

1. Choral repetition

To get young children interacting with the story, first read out a sentence alone. Then, have the children repeat the line with you as a group. Repeat as many times as necessary, until the children feel confident with the language. 

2. Individual repetition

If your learners are happy to, ask them individually to repeat the sentence after you. Make sure each one has a turn and praise them for being brave and trying to use the language. 

3. Play acting

An activity that works well with children is to act out the story’s characters. For example, there may be animals, fairies, monsters or other exciting characters that they can each act. 

Ask them to make the noises of the animals, the wind, or the scenery to create an atmosphere while you read. This gets them interacting with the story and the rest of the group, which will help their communication and listening comprehension skills. 

4. Use puppets or dolls

Young learners react particularly well to visual aids and realia. Why not use puppets or dolls to act out the characters, or even ask students to have a go with them? They will engage more with the story and the language.  

5. Dive into the pictures

Children’s story books are usually quite visual with illustrations and pictures. Make the most of these while telling the story. Try asking students questions about the images to get them using the vocabulary. 

You could ask them, “what can you see?”, “what’s he wearing?” or “can you find an apple?”. This is another great way to reinforce the vocabulary they’re learning in class. 

Use these activities individually or incorporate a mix into your lessons. Either way, storytelling will help your learners with more than just developing their English language skills. 

Storytelling with adult language learners

While we often think of storytelling as a pastime for children, it can also be a useful language learning activity for adults. 

Stories are part of our daily lives, from news to social media to books and movies. Therefore, they can be extremely beneficial tools for English language learning. 

Yet, the way we approach storytelling as a class activity for adults differs to that of young learners. While we typically read fairy tales to young children, we can bring in a much wider range of content for adults, such as:

  • News stories – There may be a current news story that learners are interested in. Ask them to bring in an article to retell in class.  
  • Traditional folk stories – Ask learners what traditional folk tales or ghost stories they were told as children growing up in their hometowns. This can be really interesting for both language and cultural awareness.  
  • Personal life stories – Our lives are a series of short stories that can make for very interesting reading. You can either ask students to share stories in class orally or have them write up a “chapter” from their lives to tell the class. It could be something funny that happened to them or an anecdote from their childhood, for example. 
  • Movie plots – Ask students what their favorite movies are and have them either tell the group the summary of the plot or write it up to share at the end of the lesson.
  • Advertisements – There are some fantastic advertisements which tell mini stories in under three minutes. Have students choose one, show it to the class and discuss it as a group. 

Storytelling can be a wonderful language learning tool for both children and adults. If you’re looking for a new way to engage, inspire and motivate your learners, why not try it in your next class? 

Check out our readers

More blogs from Pearson

  • Two business people working together on a tablet
    How to politely say no in business English
    By Charlotte Guest
    Reading time: 3 minutes

    Knowing how to say “no” politely is an important communication skill in the workplace. Whether you are declining a meeting, turning down a request or rejecting a business proposal, the way you respond can affect professional relationships.

    For English learners, saying no can feel especially difficult. Many people worry about sounding rude, unhelpful or unfriendly. The good news is that Business English includes many polite and professional phrases that help you refuse requests clearly while still showing respect.

    Here are five useful ways to politely say no in Business English, with examples and tips for when to use them.

    1. “Thank you for considering me, but I must respectfully decline.”

    This phrase is polite, professional and direct. It shows appreciation for the opportunity while making your decision clear.

    When to use it

    • Declining a job offer
    • Turning down a business proposal
    • Refusing a formal invitation

    Example

    “Thank you for considering me, but I must respectfully decline the offer at this time.”

    Why it works

    This phrase sounds professional because it:

    • Starts with appreciation
    • Communicates your answer clearly
    • Maintains a respectful tone

    2. “I appreciate your interest but, unfortunately, I’m unable to commit at this time.”

    This expression is useful when you cannot accept something because of time, workload or other responsibilities.

    When to use it

    • Declining extra work
    • Saying no to projects
    • Refusing invitations professionally

    Example

    “I appreciate your interest but, unfortunately, I’m unable to commit at this time due to other priorities.”

    Why it works

    This phrase helps soften the refusal and explains that your decision is based on circumstances rather than the person themselves.

    3. “I understand where you’re coming from, but I don’t think it’s the right fit for me.”

    This is a good phrase for situations where you want to disagree politely or decline an offer that does not meet your needs.

    When to use it

    • Declining a service or product
    • Rejecting a business idea
    • Turning down partnerships

    Example

    “I understand where you’re coming from, but I don’t think it’s the right fit for our team right now.”

    Why it works

    The phrase shows empathy first before giving your opinion. This helps keep the conversation positive and respectful.

    4. “Thank you for the opportunity, but I’m afraid it’s not something I can take on right now.”

    This phrase is useful when you may be interested in the future, but cannot accept now.

    When to use it

    • Declining freelance work
    • Refusing additional responsibilities
    • Saying no to speaking events or collaborations

    Example

    “Thank you for the opportunity, but I’m afraid it’s not something I can take on right now.”

    Why it works

    This response sounds polite and professional without completely closing the door to future opportunities.

    5. “Thank you for thinking of me, but I won’t be able to.”

    This is a shorter and more informal way to politely say no.

    When to use it

    • Declining small requests
    • Saying no to casual invitations
    • Refusing minor tasks

    Example

    “Thank you for thinking of me, but I won’t be able to attend the meeting tomorrow.”

    Why it works

    It is simple, clear and friendly. However, it works best in less formal business situations.

  • Students studying together at a table
    What students wish they’d done earlier when planning to study in the USA
    By Abi Fordham
    Reading time: 2 minutes

    If you spend enough time reading student forums, Reddit threads or comment sections about studying in the USA, you begin to notice a pattern.

    There’s plenty of advice about what students should do next. But much less about what they wish they’d done earlier.

    Those reflections usually appear later in the process, after applications have been submitted or deadlines have passed. Often, they come with a sense of hindsight: “I wish I’d known this sooner.”

    For students still early in the process, planning ahead can make everything feel far more manageable – and these tips are here to help.

    Starting earlier helps more than you think

    One of the most common reflections from students is that they waited until something felt urgent.

    Until a deadline appeared. Until a university responded. Until friends started applying.

    By that point, the process often felt rushed and stressful.

    Students who started earlier didn’t necessarily have everything figured out. In many cases, they simply gave themselves more time to think clearly, explore options and make decisions without pressure.

    Starting early doesn’t mean completing everything immediately. It simply means beginning before the process becomes overwhelming.

    Many students don’t realize how much flexibility they have

    Many students assume there is only one way to complete each step of the study abroad process. One test format. One timeline. One fixed path.

    In reality, there are now more flexible options available to students applying to universities in the USA.

    For example, some English language tests can now be taken from home, making it easier for students to fit preparation and testing around school, work or other commitments. This can reduce travel time, scheduling difficulties and unnecessary stress earlier in the application journey.

    Having more flexibility often helps students feel more in control of the process overall.

    Comparing timelines usually creates more stress

    This is something that comes up constantly in student discussions online.

    One student already has an offer. Another has booked their English test. Someone else is still deciding where to apply.

    It’s easy to feel behind, even when you’re not.

    What many students realize later is that study abroad timelines are rarely comparable. Different universities, application requirements, intake dates and personal circumstances all affect how long the process takes.

    The students who felt most confident were usually the ones focused on their own next step rather than someone else’s progress.

    Small steps create momentum

    Another common theme in student reflections is the importance of momentum.

    Not huge achievements. Just consistent progress.

    Researching universities. Booking a test. Submitting one document. Sending one email.

    Small actions help the process feel more realistic and manageable. Over time, they build confidence and make studying abroad feel achievable rather than distant.

    Confidence often comes later than expected

    Many students spend the early stages of the process questioning themselves.

    Am I choosing the right university?
    Am I applying at the right time?
    Am I making the right decisions?

    Later, many reflect that they were more prepared than they initially believed.

    The process itself teaches students how to make decisions, adapt to uncertainty and move forward even without having every answer immediately.

    Waiting until you feel completely ready can sometimes unnecessarily delay progress.

    Final thoughts

    Planning to study in the USA is a major decision, and it’s normal for the process to feel uncertain at times. But many students later realise that starting earlier, staying focused on manageable steps and avoiding unnecessary comparison made the experience much easier.

    You do not need to have everything figured out straight away. Often, the most helpful thing is simply beginning.

  • A teacher working on a interactive whiteboard
    Low-prep activities for busy language teachers
    By Charlotte Guest
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    Teaching a language requires time, effort and planning. Many teachers want creative lessons but often don't have time to prepare activities. Luckily, effective language practice doesn't have to be complex.

    Simple activities can still enhance students' speaking, listening, reading and vocabulary skills. Low-prep activities are versatile, suitable for teens or adults, online or in person, and across various language levels.

    Below are some easy classroom activities that require minimal preparation while keeping students active and engaged.

    1. Would you rather…?

    This activity is simple, fun and great for speaking practice.

    Write two choices on the board and ask students which one they prefer.

    For example:

    • Would you rather live in the mountains or by the sea?
    • Would you rather travel by train or plane?
    • Would you rather work at night or in the morning?

    Students discuss their answers in pairs or small groups.

    Why it works

    • Encourages speaking
    • Builds confidence
    • Helps students explain opinions
    • Easy to adapt for different levels

    Ask higher-level students to explain their reasons in more detail.

    2. The one-minute talk

    Choose a simple topic and give students one minute to speak.

    Topics can include:

    • My favorite food
    • A place I want to visit
    • My daily routine
    • A good movie I watched
    • My perfect weekend

    Students can speak in pairs, small groups or in front of the class.

    Why it works

    • Improves fluency
    • Builds speaking confidence
    • Requires no materials
    • Helps students think quickly in English

    If students feel nervous, give them one minute to prepare their ideas first.