{"id":12301,"date":"2020-08-17T18:28:05","date_gmt":"2020-08-17T10:28:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/owis.org\/sg\/?p=12301"},"modified":"2023-10-05T18:51:38","modified_gmt":"2023-10-05T10:51:38","slug":"the-power-of-storytelling-and-why-its-an-important-skill-to-learn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/owis.org\/sg\/blog\/the-power-of-storytelling-and-why-its-an-important-skill-to-learn\/","title":{"rendered":"The Power of Storytelling: and why it’s an important skill to learn!"},"content":{"rendered":"
Who doesn\u2019t like a good story?<\/p>\n
Whether you’re at home listening to your child telling you an interesting story or at school listening to your teacher\u2019s storytelling or reading a plot twist, stories have the power to captivate, engage us and make us think.<\/p>\n
Every culture has its own tradition of storytelling: even if the story is the same, the way it is told will have its own nuances and cultural norms. It may have different origins, translations or meanings within it.<\/p>\n
A great storyteller, using vivid imagery, can change the way people think and act. As Dr. Howard Gardner, Professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, says, \u201cStories constitute the single most powerful weapon in a leader\u2019s arsenal.\u201d<\/p>\n
In recent decades, leaders like Martin Luther King, M.K. Gandhi and Nelson Mandela have used their voices and stories to inspire people to action and revolution.<\/p>\n
Across the millennia, civilisations have understood the power of stories. From the hieroglyphs of Ancient Egypt to the tapestries of Medieval Europe and Chinese shadow puppetry, the majority of cultures have used storytelling as a way to depict real-life events and influence what people remember them for. Over time these stories evolve and develop, and history is recounted.<\/p>\n Oral story-telling has its own legacy, and this is evident in many ancient cultures. It is likely to have been around ever since humans could speak a language. Our ancestors probably gathered around a fire and expressed their thoughts, beliefs, fears and heroism through oral narratives. It is often these stories that are passed on through generations. For some, the best way to learn about their culture, beliefs and history is to listen to elders, and to then pass this on to younger generations. Family traditions have been built through stories told.<\/p>\n As we approach the quarter-mark of the 21st century, governments, companies and institutions are looking towards preparing the people of today to suit future requirements. There is a need for the current generation to be aware of the workings and events of the world around them, relate to different people, cultures and situations, tell their own authentic stories and inspire people to take action from their stories. At present, there is a huge global push for sustainability and for protecting our planet. By gathering stories from across the world, this generation has the opportunity to make big changes. They can pass on their knowledge and experiences to others who will work together and continue to fight for the greater good.<\/p>\n Storytellers in society open up worlds of possibility through words and imagery. They allow us to connect to their journey and expand our own understanding of the world around us. They allow our minds to explore and help us build images.<\/p>\n When people consume the information in a story, it sparks their imaginations, and that results in discussions, ideas and potentially new initiatives, products and services. They often want to know more, to dig deeper into the story and keep it alive.<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ebony plaque of Menes (photograph); Source: Wikimedia Commons<\/h6>\n
Creating and Sharing our own Stories<\/h5>\n