Oral stories have laid the foundation for practically every form of literature. Using these stories in your high school classroom is a powerful way to celebrate diverse voices and incorporate an engaging variety of storytelling modes.
The following are my 3 favorite oral stories to use in high school World Lit. If you’re short on time, scroll to the bottom of this post to download the free lesson.
What is oral storytelling?
Oral storytelling, simply put, is a form of verbal narration that is usually told to or performed for an audience.
This form of storytelling signifies more than just a story told aloud. It is a rich tradition that has allowed many cultures to entertain one another, communicate their values, and relay their history.
An oral story is often told by a narrator who may or may not be personally connected to the story (although in many instances there is some connection, even if it is a distant one). Elements of an oral storyteller’s craft include body language, expression, intonation, and more. These elements, obviously, do not exits when we read print stories, making oral stories unique and powerful in their own way.
Using Oral Stories in World Literature
In the first unit of our World Literature curriculum, students encounter short stories from around the globe with an emphasis on various literary elements. The synthesizing question to evaluate throughout these stories and texts is: “What is the danger of a single story?”
On day 6 of the unit, students will listen to 3 short oral stories featured on The Moth podcast. Each story will draw them in with the details and emphasize elements of conflict within each narrator. With the essential question lens, you will love the discussion that sparks from these stories and their takeaway messages!
This unit will set the stage for your entire World Literature curriculum. As you learn more about each of these oral stories, I hope it leaves you with anticipation as students learn about how diverse literature shapes us!
“When the Heart Is Full” by Fatou Wurie
Fatou Wurie is a renowned scholar, communicator, and advocate for public healthcare worldwide. In her oral narrative, she describes a journey back to her childhood homeland of Sierra Leone. There, she spends time reconnecting with her grandmother, who raised her.
As her grandmother becomes ill and ultimately passes away, Fatou is faced with a difficult cultural tradition that juxtaposes her grandmother’s life experiences with her own. She gratefully realizes her grandmother’s impact on the trajectory of her life. At the same time, she feels the weight of being an outsider to the community.
Students will connect with Fatou’s deep love for her grandmother and feel the tug of her conflicting emotions surrounding her grandmother’s values.
Watch this story here: When The Heart Is Full.
Note: In the teacher lesson plan, we have included a content warning regarding the mention of controversial initiation rituals. Even so, this story provides a powerful opportunity for discussion around empathy-building and cultural sensitivity. I encourage you to take a listen!
I guarantee that this ten-minute episode will leave students with a deepened understanding of the impact of cultural traditions and inspire them to consider the influence of their own family members.
“Knock Offs” by Edgar Ruiz Jr.
In “Knock Offs,” Edgar Ruiz Jr. intersperses comedy with cultural quips about fashion, neighborhood life, and the typical adolescent angst that can exist between parents and children.
Edgar travels to Puerto Rico to stay with his father for the summer and discovers his sneakers – his only pair – have been stolen. His father, somewhat begrudgingly, takes him to buy a new pair. Edgar believes he will fully experience his father’s love for him by the amount he is willing to spend.
Edgar ultimately describes how a pair of cheap, no-name sneakers helped him understand his father and see him in a new light. Your students will love the universal emphasis on sneakers as icons of acceptance and value.
(And, you might just get your students to share their own sneaker stories too!)
Every student can identify with some element of parent-child disagreements over money and appearance. As Edgar reveals the shift in his perception of his father, your students might come to their own realizations, too.
The story ends with a full circle moment of understanding. It may even leave your students evaluating an invaluable connection to their own lives.
Watch Edgar Ruiz Jr.’s story here: “Knock Offs” by Edgar Ruiz Jr.
“My Dangerous Beauty Mission” by Esther Ngumbi
Esther Ngumbi’s story has elements that draw in every listener. She shares about her upbringing in Kenya and the value her mother placed on education.
Her real-life narrative is like many timeless coming-of-age stories as she struggles to understand her mother’s values while navigating her own desires to fit in with her peers through her appearance.
Her desire to fit in leads her to a precarious situation, and she risks facing her mother’s wrath. Not only will students be on the edge of their seats with Esher’s lively storytelling, but they will also recognize the emphasis on external appearance that can extend beyond time and cultures.
Ultimately, Esther explains coming to terms with her mother’s expectations and how she forged her own path forward.
Watch Esther’s story here: “My Dangerous Beauty Mission” by Esther Ngumbi.
As students consider, “the danger of a single story,” these 3 oral stories will leave a lasting impact.
Free World Literature Lesson Plan
Want to try out these 3 short stories with your high school world literature class? Download this free lesson on analyzing conflict in oral short stories. Plus, you will receive print-and-go handouts ready for students to complete as they listen to each episode!
Allow your students to pick an episode, jigsaw stories in groups, or listen all together. You won’t regret bringing these engaging tales into your classroom and celebrating diverse literature through oral storytelling!
More World Lit. Resources in the English Teacher Vault
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