Storytelling for Enhancing Language Proficiency and Personal Identity

• In Event: Stories That Matter: Storytelling in Novice/Intermediate/Advanced Russian Classes

Abstract

I will explore the significant role of storytelling in enhancing language proficiency and personal identity among L2 learners, drawing insights from my study of adult multilingual students at the Defense Language Institute. By integrating theoretical frameworks with real-life narratives, I aim to demonstrate how storytelling—across visual, aural, written, and spoken forms—acts as a powerful vehicle for language acquisition and identity exploration. I will share successful practices and discuss how storytelling can be effectively employed in Intermediate and Advanced classrooms to foster a deeper connection between students, the languages they learn, and their cultural backgrounds.

Author

• Irina Poliakova, Defense Language Institute