Storytelling is More Than Speech

I know when people hear the word storytelling, they probably think of their childhood and how their parents read them bed time stories. We'll there is so much more to it than just that, and storytelling is an art that can remain with a person all of their life.

FAU offers a class that is focused on storytelling. Now when I signed up for this class I was going in for an easy "A". As the class progressed from its first evening I began to realize that I was actually going to have to work in this class. You see, storytelling is not like taking speech and it is most definitely not just talking in front of a class. Storytelling involves properly choosing a story to tell, reducing the story as to hit all the highlights and main ideas, but to not drag on forever.

Storytelling involves tone, vocal range, motions, an organized train of thought from beginning to end. All of which are very important, but the most important thing about storytelling is the words you choose to tell your story.

Dr. Caren Neile is the professor of this class and she is fantastic! She teaches the class with such enthusiasm that not only do you have to participate, but you want to. Dr. Neile has a number of publications and is the founding director of the South Florida Storytelling Project, which is an organization that uses storytelling throughout the community for good causes and entertainment at events.

This class was extremely hands on and I recommend it to anyone who is looking for a fun and eventful class. By the way, I did get an "A"!

GO OWLS!

http://www.fau.edu/scms/neile.php

http://www.fau.edu/communications/mediarelations/Releases0109/010920.php