20250427 日本語 スピーチ(Lv3 Connect with Storytelling)

Introduction

Storytelling has been a form of communication throughout the history of humanity. Stories have been spoken aloud and passed down from generation to generation in every civilization around the world. The value of knowing how to tell a good, entertaining story cannot be overstated.

In this project, you will learn to apply storytelling techniques and descriptive skills to make a presentation relatable and interesting. You will draw from your own experience to craft a story and develop a personal style when telling it. You will create stories that elicit the desired emotional impact on the audience.

✅ ストーリーテリングスキル チェックリスト（Storytelling Skills Checklist）

チェック項目	Yes / No
🟦 私は魅力的なストーリーを語れる自信があります。 I am confident that I can tell an engaging story.	☐ Yes ☐ No
🟦 ストーリーを語るときに情熱を持って話しています。 I project enthusiasm when telling a story.	☐ Yes ☐ No
🟦 ストーリーで鮮やかな描写を使っています。 I use vivid descriptions in my storytelling.	☐ Yes ☐ No
🟦 感情に訴えるストーリーを語ることができます。 I can tell stories that create emotional impact.	☐ Yes ☐ No
🟦 このプロジェクトがToastmasters以外の自分の人生にもどう役立つか理解しています。 I recognize how this project applies to my life outside of Toastmasters.	☐ Yes ☐ No

The Power of Storytelling

A story is a narrative that is designed to interest, amuse, or instruct the listener. Stories have the ability to highlight important moments and memories. They can connect you to others through empathy and shared experiences.

Telling a story can be more engrossing for an audience than a typical speech or presentation. When listeners are absorbed in another’s story, their emotional response triggers the brain to create memories. The best educators fuse learning with powerful storytelling to help their students remember important facts and information.

Stories make a powerful impact as the primary point of a speech or a small part of a larger presentation. It is the speaker’s decision how to best incorporate a story into a speech for the greatest effect.

Watch the video on the following screen to see an example of how a story can enhance a speech.

Develop Your Story

Every story reflects the storyteller and her experiences. As you prepare a story to include in a speech or presentation, there are several important elements to consider.

Purpose

Stories serve many purposes in a speech. They can help you connect with an audience, overcome resistance, and form a connection that allows you to teach an important lesson or explain a difficult concept.

Stories open the door for meaningful communication. Weaving stories through a presentation can help audience members recall facts and information they might forget without a memorable story as a reference point.

Tone

Be mindful of the occasion and your audience when determining the tone and emotional content of your story. Regardless of the occasion, share a story that resonates positively with your audience. A story told at a wedding or funeral may be moving, funny, or both. The most important component in choosing your topic is relating it to the audience and the event.

Vivid Descriptions

Descriptive language paints a mental picture. When telling a story, well-chosen words evoke specific imagery to illustrate your point. A good storyteller’s eloquent descriptions can transport her audience to another place and time.

When writing your story, keep in mind the amount of time you have to deliver it to your audience. For example, if you choose to tell a story about a friend and her extraordinary life by describing a meal you shared in a beautiful location, the goal is to talk about your friend. As lovely as the trees and the view were, some of these details may have to be eliminated in order to tell the core story of your friend’s remarkable life.

Use expressive dialogue in your story. Instead of telling the audience what was said, share the actual dialogue. Write it out in the format of a script with characters saying the lines. The best storytellers take on different roles as they tell a story.

Create an Outline

An outline provides the framework for your story in the same way it does for the creation of a speech or other presentation. Planning makes all the difference when you present to an audience.

Your outline should include information about your story’s introduction, conflict, and action.

Introduction

• Summarize the main point of your story in one sentence.
• Establish the setting, including the timeframe and location, of your story.
• List the people or characters involved.

Conflict

Every  story has an issue to be resolved or challenge between two opposing forces. State the challenge to be overcome. Your challenge can becan be:

• Between a person and nature. You were stuck in the rain, trying to get home.
• Between two people. You and another both want the last sweet in a case at the market.
• Between a person and an organization. You would like to mail a letter and the post office closed five minutes before you arrived.
• Between a person and an object. Your shoe is caught in the door.

Action

• Stories move forward as characters strive to overcome the challenges they face.
• List your story’s main events and plot.
• Give your story a clear opening, body, and conclusion.

Several key points

There are Several key points to keep in mind when delivering your story.

Storytelling is a Performance

Rehearsal is important when preparing for any speech, but storytelling may require extra time. If you include dialogue, rehearse the different voices in your story. This does not mean you have to be an expert at creating characters. Even a slight variation in tone can give the impression of a different speaker.

Consider reviewing “Understanding Vocal Variety,” “Effective Body Language,” and other elective projects for guidance on effective speech delivery.

Using Body Language and Gestures

In addition to maintaining a confident speaking posture (see the elective project “Effective Body Language”), use your body to help tell your story. Facial expressions and gestures add to characterizations and bring your story to life.

Speaking in First Person

When you tell your story, do so from your own perspective. The closer the audience is to the people in the story, the more real it becomes. For example, instead of saying “A friend of mine saw…” say “I saw….” By making the story your own, you bring your audience on the adventure with you.

Pacing

Use the pace of the story to keep your audience engaged. For example, speak more quickly to show action or excitement during appropriate parts of the story. Pause to add drama to a specific section or to give your audience time to assimilate important points. Silence at the right times can have a powerful impact on an audience.

Use the menu at the bottom of the screen to return to “The Power of Storytelling—Video.” Watch the video again, paying close attention to how the speaker applies storytelling techniques to craft a speech that resonates with his audience.

• What storytelling techniques will you use to make your presentation relatable and interesting?
• How can your story outline be used to help you add detail?
• What vivid descriptions will you add to create a more engaging story?
• How can description and dialogue help you achieve your desired emotional impact on the audience?

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