From Quiet to Confident: How Simple Stories & Comprehensible Input Unlock ESL Speaking Skills
From Quiet to Confident: How Simple Stories & Comprehensible Input Unlock ESL Speaking Skills
Embedded Files
We get it. You just started working with a beginning English language learner and you're thinking, Where do I even start with my beginner student? How do I keep them engaged? How can I get them to start speaking confidently?
You’re not alone. Many adult literacy tutors feel a knot in their stomach when considering how to get their students to confidently speak English—one of the biggest challenges in language instruction. You want to help your students, but the traditional methods feel slow and it's hard to stay energized.
What if there was an easier technique to help your students gain confidence and intermediate fluency in the language in as little as six months? TPRS™ (Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling) is a language-teaching method that uses a high volume of Comprehensible Input (CI) to help students acquire a new language. It incorporates simple, engaging, and interactive stories that make learning fun; stories that help reduce anxiety for both you and your student(s). Think of it as teaching a language the way we all learned first: by hearing it often in contexts we understand.
Ready to see how fast and simple this method can be? See below for steps on how to incorporate Circling, Triangling, and Describing the Situation—techniques you can use in your next session!
Ready, Set, Go!
Introduction
Introduction
Consider these questions:
Are you spending more time planning complex lesson plans than you’d like?
Are your students sometimes hesitant to speak up during sessions?
What is one area of your tutoring routine you wish could be simpler?
You can use the techniques of circling, triangling, and describing the situation today to make any lesson more engaging. These are the core techniques of the Storytelling approach that you can 'sprinkle' on any lesson you teach!
Read a description of the techniques here
Want to see them described? Check out these three 5-minute videos:
Want to see them in action with students?
Watch a beginner Spanish class using TPRS here
Watch students speaking Spanish after 35 hours of instruction here
Try this: Try one of the 3 techniques you learned with a student or friend or family member
Continued Learning
Continued Learning
What is Comprehensible Input/ Storytelling? It’s a specific methodology where you:
Establish meaning: Introduce a handful of new vocabulary words, give the direct translation, write them on the board, and point to them if you need to refer to them.
Co-create a compelling, simple story with your students, using that vocabulary, and checking for understanding constantly (using Circling).
Read and then expand upon the story once it’s fully understood.
This approach allows you to use simple, engaging stories that your students care about, allowing both you and your student(s) to focus on enjoying the communication.
Want to learn more?
Watch TPRS Explained to second-language instructors
Try this: Picture prompts for instant engagement
Consider these questions:
How did it go? How do you feel about the techniques you have tried so far? Did you expect what resulted, or did something take you by surprise?
What do you want to try next?
Ready for the next steps?
Read “Teaching with Comprehensible Input: Mastering the Sweet 16 Verbs with Gestures”
Learn about incorporating reading and writing practice here
Deeper Dive
Deeper Dive
The following strategy that stretches learners into intermediate/advanced fluency gradually is for level 3 and up:
Searching for a Breakdown means introducing a structure just beyond the learner’s comfort zone, observing carefully for hesitation, and scaffolding back into comprehension.
The idea is to start by making a statement and Circling that statement and verifying each response. You can base your statement on a photograph, illustration, news story, book, magazine article, or any other visual material.
Keep asking questions until you notice your student responding with less confidence, making an error, or hesitating. That’s your clue as to what to focus on.
Begin practicing the word or phrase that the student struggled with and expand on that. Circle and Triangle that word or phrase until they’re comfortable, and then move on.
Keep the conversation going until you find another breakdown point, and then do it again—initially using Circling, Triangling, and Describing the Situation—until the student speaks with confidence, accuracy, and without hesitation once more.
Ready for the next steps?
Tutor Tip
I have been teaching ESL using TPRS' Storytelling and Comprehensible Input (CI) method since 2015, and I can tell you first-hand—it works!
Prior to that, many of my students felt discouraged by traditional classes, sharing that they rarely got speaking practice or simply didn't understand the instructions. After switching to Storytelling/CI, the shift was immediate. My students don’t just learn faster; they are actually sad when a session ends because they want to keep going with the story!
I have watched my students' confidence grow as they started speaking at work, with their children’s doctors, and even initiating conversations with strangers. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing that real-life success!
The best part? It’s fun for me, too! Now that I have the hang of it, lesson planning is simple and fast. And, at the end of every class, I can honestly say I feel energized, not drained.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE
Once you get the hang of teaching using this method, the results from using Storytelling and Comprehensible Input are surprisingly fast. You're not just getting students to answer questions; you’re truly giving them a voice—a tool that changes their everyday lives. The real reward is more connection with less prep time!
You dedicate your time to this volunteer work, and you deserve a method that honors that commitment. Once you learn the core techniques of using Comprehensible Input & Storytelling together, lesson planning becomes nearly non-existent.
Remember, you choose the stories, you guide the input, and you get to see the immediate, rewarding progress. It's truly a teaching method that works for you. Your student(s) will become more involved the more they learn. And there’s no rule about how much you apply this method–use it solely or as an augment to your lesson plans. The choice is yours!
You've now got the core strategies—Circling, Triangling, and Describing the Situation—plus a path to challenge your advanced students with Searching for a Breakdown. Remember, the heart of this entire method is keeping the input comprehensible and the student's confidence high. Language acquisition isn't a race; it's a journey fueled by fun stories and low anxiety. Trust the process, trust your new tools, and most importantly, trust your students' natural ability to acquire English.
~Kathy St. John, PAL Consultant and ESL Tutor
Share Your Thoughts
💬Join the discussion on November 20 from 12-1 pm! Bring your ideas and questions about this topic as well as any tutoring-related concerns.
💬Join the discussion on November 20 from 12-1 pm! Bring your ideas and questions about this topic as well as any tutoring-related concerns.
📝Share your experience, questions, and suggestions using this form. Have you tried implementing any of the above principles or strategies? How did it go? Are you interested in trying them but need a little support?
🎌 Would you like to learn about another topic? Explore the Instructional Learning Library here or suggest a topic on the above form.
Page updated
Report abuse