Using Legends and Authentic Stories in a TPRS Classroom

TPRS National Conference

July 2005

by Julie Baird

Why Use Legends and Authentic Stories

  1. Contain the culture of the people
  2. Help students learn what natives already know
  3. Survived the test of time
  4. Are enduring stories that offer teachable moments

Step 1

  1. Identify why you want to use a legend or native story.
  2. Looking for useful vocabulary
  3. Looking for cultural aspects
  4. Don’t be overly concerned with the archaic language of some native stories. They can be rewritten.

Step 2

  1. Read the story and identify in which level it should be taught.
  2. Highlight the vocabulary and constructions that are too difficult for that level.
  3. Decide if you can rework the highlighted words or phrases to make the story comprehensible for your students.
  1. If yes, continue with this story
  2. If no, find another native story

Step 3

  1. Rewrite the story to make it acceptable for the level in which you plan to use it.
  1. Simplify the vocabulary if necessary
  2. Change the tense, if necessary
  3. Simplify the constructions, if necessary
  1. While working the story, keep the story line in mind, but don’t hold tight to the original language. It’s OK to change to Goethe text to Kindergarten-German.

Step 4

  1. Identify the unknown vocabulary that the students must prelearn to understand the story.
  2. Make 2 lists of vocab words
  1. Vocab that should be acquired
  2. Vocab that is critical to the story but not useful outside of the story

Step 5

  1. Take the vocab that should be acquired and design PMS’s with them. Teach these words through a normal TPRS lesson.
  2. List the non-critical words with their meanings and include these with the reading.

Step 6

  1. After you’ve TPRSed the words that should be acquired, read the native story. Students should be able to read it with ease.

The Goose Girl

by the Grimm Brothers

1) Underline the words and phrases that needed to changed

2) Change these words to vocabulary that is more suitable for the level of instruction

There was once upon a time an old queen whose husband had been dead for many years, and she had a beautiful daughter. When the princess grew up she was betrothed to a prince who lived at a great distance. When the time came for her to be married, and she had to journey forth into the distant kingdom, the aged queen packed up for her many costly vessels of silver and gold, and trinkets also of gold and silver, and cups and jewels, in short, everything which appertained to a royal dowry, for she loved her child with all her heart.

She likewise sent her maid-in-waiting, who was to ride with her, and hand her over to the bridegroom, and each had a horse for the journey, but the horse of the king's daughter was called Falada, and could speak. So when the hour of parting had come, the aged mother went into her bedroom, took a small knife and cut her finger with it until it bled. Then she held a white handkerchief to it into which she let three drops of blood fall, gave it to her daughter and said, "Dear child, preserve this carefully, it will be of service to you on your way."

Using Legends, TPRS National Conference, July 2005 Julie BairdPage 1