EASY ENGLISH CONVERSATION: How to tell a story in English

Summary

In this video, Emma teaches viewers how to tell a story in English, emphasizing the importance of storytelling in conversations with friends, family, and coworkers. She explains common expressions to introduce stories, such as 'Did I ever tell you about the time when...' and 'That reminds me of...'. Emma highlights the need to keep stories concise, use signal words to indicate the sequence of events, and choose appropriate verb tenses like the past and past continuous. She also offers tips on ending stories effectively and recommends watching English talk shows to improve storytelling skills.

Takeaways

• 😄 Telling stories is an important conversational skill in English.
• 🗣️ Common expressions are used to signal the start of a story, such as 'Did I ever tell you about the time when...'
• 🔗 Phrases like 'Oh, that reminds me' and 'Let me tell you about' are used to connect a current conversation to a personal story.
• 📚 It's important to pay attention to the listener's cues to gauge their interest and adjust the length of the story accordingly.
• 📉 English speakers typically prefer shorter stories unless the narrative is exceptionally engaging.
• 📚 Signal words like 'first', 'then', 'next', 'later', and 'finally' help organize and clarify the sequence of events in a story.
• 👂 Listener engagement, such as asking 'Then what happened?', indicates interest in the story being told.
• 🕒 Past tense is the most common tense used in storytelling, with simple past and past continuous tenses being particularly popular.
• 🔚 Ending a story with phrases like 'Can you believe that?' or 'I'll never forget it' signals to the listener that the story is over.
• 😐 If the listener's reaction is underwhelming, saying 'I guess you had to be there' acknowledges that the story may not have translated well.
• 📺 Watching English talk shows is recommended to improve storytelling skills by observing native speakers.

Q & A

What is the main topic of Emma's video?

The main topic of Emma's video is teaching viewers how to tell a story in English.

Why is storytelling an important conversation skill according to Emma?

Storytelling is an important conversation skill because it is often used in interactions with friends, family, or coworkers to share experiences or past events.

What is the purpose of using expressions to introduce a story in conversation?

Expressions are used to introduce a story as a signal to the listener that a story is about to be told, preparing them for the narrative.

Can you provide an example of how Emma's father introduces a story?

Emma's father often introduces a story by saying, 'Did I ever tell you about the time when...' followed by the event or situation.

What is another common way to introduce a story as mentioned by Emma?

Another common way to introduce a story is by saying 'Oh, that reminds me. That reminds me of when...' which is used when something someone else says triggers a memory of a related story.

How does the phrase 'Let me tell you about' function in storytelling?

The phrase 'Let me tell you about' is used as an introduction to a story, setting the stage for the storyteller to share their experience or event.

What does Emma suggest to do when telling stories in English regarding the story's length?

Emma suggests being careful about the length of a story, as English speakers often prefer shorter stories and have a shorter attention span.

Why is it important to pay attention to the listener's cues when telling a story?

Paying attention to the listener's cues is important to gauge their interest and engagement, and to adjust the storytelling accordingly to maintain their attention.

What are signal words and how do they help in storytelling?

Signal words are words that indicate the sequence or direction of the story, such as 'first', 'then', 'next', 'later', and 'finally'. They help organize the story and make it easier for the listener to follow.

What does Emma recommend to improve storytelling skills?

Emma recommends listening to native speakers tell stories, such as by watching English talk shows, to improve storytelling skills by hearing different models and styles.

How can viewers practice what they learned from Emma's video?

Viewers can practice by visiting Emma's website at www.engvid.com, where they can take a quiz on the topics discussed, and by subscribing to her channel for more resources on learning English.

What verb tenses are commonly used when telling stories in English according to the video?

The simple past tense and the past continuous tense are commonly used when telling stories in English.

How does Emma describe the use of the past continuous tense in storytelling?

Emma describes the past continuous tense as useful for describing background activities or situations that were in progress at the time of the story, often using 'was' + verb-ing form.

What are some phrases Emma suggests to use at the end of a story to signal its conclusion?

Some phrases to signal the end of a story include 'Can you believe that?', 'I'll never forget it.', 'I can't believe that happened.', and 'I guess you had to be there.'