The secrets of storytelling (narrative tenses)

This 10-page ESL lesson introduces students to effective storytelling in English, focusing on narrative tenses, strong descriptive vocabulary, and engaging dialogue techniques. It is most suitable for strong B1 and B2-level learners. This lesson is quite grammar and vocabulary-dense, and it is designed to be taught over at least two 60-minute classes, but you may choose to stretch it across three sessions depending on your students’ level and needs. Learners explore three key storytelling techniques—starting in the action, showing instead of telling, and using dialogue—while practising Past Simple, Past Continuous, Past Perfect, and Past Perfect Continuous tenses. The lesson also covers “show, don’t tell” strong verbs, descriptive adverbs, body language for emotions, and alternatives to “said” to bring stories to life.  Other lessons you might like are “The lore of Ireland“, “Elevator pitch“, and “The benefits of reading“.

Activities Overview:

1. Speaking: Students discuss the importance of storytelling, how the ability to tell engaging stories might be useful in different situations, both in business and in daily life, and what makes a story engaging.

2. Grammar – Narrative Tenses: Students read a short story and identify Past Simple, Past Continuous, Past Perfect, and Past Perfect Continuous verbs. Then they match the tenses to their storytelling purposes. To practice, students complete 2 stories with the correct narrative tense.

3. Listening: Storytelling Techniques: Learners watch a video on “3 storytelling techniques to deliver unforgettable stories” and identify the techniques. They summarise how to start in the action, show emotions through body language, and use dialogue effectively.

4. Vocabulary: Show, Don’t Tell with Adverbs: Students match sentences to their more visual alternatives using strong adverbs that show how the action was performed. Then, they complete paraphrased sentences with the correct adverb.

5. Vocabulary – Body Language for Emotions: Learners match sentences describing body movements and facial expressions to specific emotions, helping them “show” feelings rather than just “tell.”

6. Vocabulary – Dialogue Verbs: Students explore alternatives to “said” for different emotions and situations, completing examples and practising incorporating strong dialogue verbs into their own stories.

7. Story Transformation Practice: Using a bland sample story, learners transform it with the three storytelling techniques, narrative tenses, descriptive adverbs, body language, and dialogue verbs.

8. Speaking – Personal Storytelling: Students choose a personal experience or fictional scenario, plan a two-minute story, and practise telling it using the techniques learned. Guided prompts cover embarrassment, achievements, surprises, small disasters, and unexpected meetings.

This lesson combines grammar, vocabulary, and creative writing in a practical, student-centred approach to storytelling in English, helping learners confidently narrate experiences and engage listeners.