and I'm so excited to share a lesson today

on how to tell a great story in English.

One of the best parts about today's lesson is that

not only will it improve your English language skills,

but it will also help you to tell

a great story in any language.

And when you can tell a great story,

you can truly connect with the other humans in your life.

So let's get started.

Today's lesson is going to go through a few things.

Number one, we'll learn about the power of storytelling.

Number two, we'll learn how to open a story in English.

Number three, we'll learn how to transition

through different events within a story in English.

Number four, we'll learn how to end

or wrap up a story in English.

Number five, this is my favorite part,

we'll learn a secret to telling

a really compelling and interesting story.

Number six, I'm going to share a story

from my own life and we'll see if you can pick out

keywords within the story.

Okay, so let's jump right in.

So, number one.

The power of storytelling.

Human beings have been telling stories

since the beginning of time.

Maybe even before they could talk with their gestures.

storytelling is said to be a human's oldest art form.

Our brains love stories so much that when we can make sense

of the world around us in story form

there are reward centers in the brain that light up.

So we tell stories to teach each other things,

to express our emotions, to connect with each other.

And so when we can make sense

of the world around us in story form,

it allows people listening to us

to more easily connect with what we're saying.

It's easier for them to remember what we're saying

and it's more fun for them to listen

to what we're saying while we talk.

So, now that we know a little bit

about the power of storytelling

let's talk about how to begin a story in English.

Many stories in English begin

after the question, what happened is asked.

So for example, if I'm in a conversation

and someone asks me, Teela, how are you?

And I say, mm, I'm okay I'm feeling a little sad.

They might ask, why what happened?

And this is my chance to begin a story.

So if someone asks you, what happened?

It's your chance to tell a story.

From this point, there are two things we should do.

The first is to use a keyword or phrase

that lets our listeners know a story is about to begin.

So we can use a word or phrase like one day,

it all began when, initially, it all started when.

Yeah those are some really good ones.

From there after we use a keyword or phrase

we want to set the scene.

So we want to let the listener know

who is involved and where they are.

So they can imagine the scene of the story.

For example I might start a story out like,

it all started when I was hiking.

So right there I use a keyword or phrase,

it all started when,

to let my listener know I'm beginning a story

and then I said, I was hiking, when I was hiking.

So I let them know the character me, I'm involved,

and they can imagine what I was doing.

I was hiking so I was in the woods.

Okay now we've begun our story.

Let's learn a little bit

about how to transition from event to event

within the story as it unfolds.

So to transition from event to event,

again we want to use a few keywords or phrases.

Some that are really great for this

are words or phrases like then,

when, let's see here then,

when, next, and suddenly.

Suddenly is a really great one.

So let's revisit our story.

It all started when I was hiking

and suddenly the trail became very steep

and I tripped and I fell.

Then when I looked in my pocket

I noticed my phone was gone.

After that I searched everywhere.

Okay so you may have noticed I used the words

then, after that, when and also the word suddenly.

So suddenly is an excellent word for us to use

because it lets the listener know

that something surprising and important is about to happen.

So they should tune in and listen a bit more closely.

So suddenly is a great word for you to use in a story.

Okay now let's learn

how to end or how to wrap up a story in English.

To wrap up a story in English,

we want to use a few key phrases or words

that let the listener know,

okay the story is about to end,

so that they can disengage from the story.

So words that are helpful to end a story

are something like maybe, in the end or eventually

or finally, basically.

So let's revisit the story

we've been telling throughout our lesson today.

It all started when I was hiking

and suddenly the trail became very steep.

I tripped and I fell.

Later when looked in my pocket,

I noticed my phone was gone.

After that I searched frantically all over.

I searched and I searched until it became dark.

Eventually, it became too dark to see.

In the end, I went home empty handed and heavy-hearted.

Okay so to wrap up our story

I used the word eventually and in the end

to let the listener know

we're coming to the end of the story.

All right.

So now I want to share with you

a little secret for making your stories

really compelling and interesting.

So one thing that I like to do

when I tell a story is to involve words,

to use words that show my emotion.

So as I was telling this story,

I used the word frantically and the word heavyhearted.

This lets listeners really feel what I'm saying,

so more than just an experience of listening

now they're also having an experience of feeling,

of kind of being there with me as I tell the story.

And so that little trick takes your stories

from something that is just understood

kind of from a logical perspective

to something that becomes an emotional experience

and something that your listeners won't soon forget.

All right.

It's time for me to tell a story of my own.

As I tell this story see if you can

identify keywords and phrases

that are important to storytelling.

Okay.

So one day I was at the train station in Chicago.

I went to an ATM and I took out some money.

Then I went and I sat down at a table.

I noticed that there was a man sitting next to me

and he was talking on the phone.

So I decided to listen a little closer

to what he was saying.

I noticed that he was really upset

and he was saying his wallet had been stolen

and now he couldn't afford a ticket for a train home.

Suddenly I looked down and I noticed

that he was wearing the exact same cowboy boots

that my own father often wears.

In this moment I realized that he could be someone's dad.

I was filled with so much compassion

for him and I decided that I would give him some money.

It turned out that I had taken the exact right amount

of money out of the ATM

that he would need for his train ticket home.

I walked over to him.

I offered him the money and he started crying

and thanking me over and over again.

In the end, this experience taught me

that we are all in this together

and when we have a chance to support or someone else,

it is an honor and a privilege to be able to do so.

Okay.

I really enjoyed sharing this lesson

with you today on storytelling.

Remember to begin a story, use a word or phrase

that lets the listener know a story is about to begin.

Also set the scene.

Draw your audience in so they can imagine where you are.

Next, use words that will help you transition

from scene to scene or event to event.

Finally, use keywords or phrases

that let the listener know that the story

is coming to an end and that they can disengage,

and if you really want to tell a compelling

and engaging story,

make sure that you include your own emotions

or the emotions of the character

as they move through the story.

This will give the listener

an actual experience of the story as it unfolds.

Thank you guys so much for joining me for this lesson.

I look forward to our next lesson together.

See you later.