A large part of Indian mythology has had an oral tradition. Many of our folktales like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata have have been told to us through the medium of stories. This culture of storytelling is critical to childhood. It also forms the basis of some of our most nostalgic memories.
Another aspect, that needs to be talked about, is the importance of stories as a tool for learning about society and our emotions. They help children learn the nuances of behaviour, morality and ethics. They also pave the way in learning of languages and cultures. Children find it easy to relate to the characters in stories- creating a shared sense of perspective and empathy. It is important that we look back at the process of learning these things. For example, while learning a language, children do not have a perfect vocabulary at first. This may come in the way of communicating their feelings. Storytelling provides a way for learners to express their emotions creatively. They fill the canvas with the perspectives of the world around them. Stories are also vital tools for helping learners ‘socialise’ using language. Engaging with stories can help the learners work on all five skills of language learning: i.e. Listening and Comprehending, Speaking, Reading and Writing.
As a pedagogical tool, storytelling allows the educator and student to build a stronger connection, while also teaching certain concepts in an interesting manner. Academic textbooks due to constraints of space, curricular changes may not provide a holistic perspective. Often, educators use stories to help immerse learners into a particular context. For instance, when studying about the Indian Independence Movement and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, textbooks may not delve into the long-lasting impact of this atrocity on Indians or give background context for why such a situation arose in the first place. The teacher, in this situations, may recount experiences from first hand accounts and encourage students to go home and ask their grandparents about their experiences. Such stories can help in shared emotions and facilitate a better understanding of ‘empathy’. This will also encourage students to ask questions about things that bother them, teaching them the importance and possible impact of their curiosity.
Stories form a cornerstone for learning. Schools and educators can make them come alive in their classes for happier learning.
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