Using storytelling to guide L2 pronunciation development

Storytelling is a central component of human communication and relationship building. For thousands of years, stories have been used to inspire and educate, to pass on knowledge to the next generation, to share personal passions and life histories and to make meaningful connections with others. Developing the ability to tell one’s story is clearly important, but in a second language (L2), achieving this aim can be quite challenging. This is especially true if problematic pronunciation gets in the way.

What personal stories does the L2 learner wish to share? What kind of connections do they wish to make with other people? This is the starting point. The L2 learner’s own stories, told first in the learner’s L1, become the platform for pronunciation instruction. This talk will discuss five keys to developing clear and fluent pronunciation (based on Baker, 2021), using storytelling as the vehicle for not only this development, but for the development of learners’ overall speaking competence and willingness to communicate as well.