2.2 Speaking – Narrating Personal Experiences / Events and Short Stories

 

Speaking – Narrating Personal Experiences

(PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH – 20 Marks)

Introduction

Speaking is a vital communicative skill that enables individuals to express ideas, emotions, and experiences effectively. Narrating personal experiences is an important speaking activity that helps learners develop fluency, confidence, coherence, and emotional expression. In professional and academic contexts, sharing personal experiences enhances interpersonal communication, builds rapport, and improves presentation skills.

According to English for Science & Technology (Cambridge University Press, 2021), speaking tasks that involve personal narration encourage meaningful interaction and real-life communication.

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Meaning of Narrating Personal Experiences

Narrating personal experiences refers to verbally describing real-life events or situations that a speaker has personally encountered. These experiences may include academic achievements, challenges faced, memorable incidents, learning moments, or life-changing events.

Such narration focuses on:

• What happened

• When and where it happened

• How it happened

• Feelings and lessons learned

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Importance of Narrating Personal Experiences

Narrating personal experiences plays a significant role in developing communication skills:

1. Improves Fluency – Encourages continuous speech without hesitation.

2. Builds Confidence – Helps speakers overcome stage fear.

3. Enhances Emotional Expression – Allows sharing of feelings naturally.

4. Develops Logical Thinking – Experiences are narrated in a structured manner.

5. Useful in Professional Life – Helpful in interviews, meetings, and presentations.

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Structure of a Personal Experience Narrative

A good narration should follow a clear structure:

1. Introduction

• Brief background of the experience

• Time and place of the event

2. Body

• Description of the event

• Actions taken

• Challenges or situations faced

3. Conclusion

• Outcome of the experience

• Lessons learned or impact on life

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Language Features Used

While narrating personal experiences, the following language features are commonly used:

• Past Tense (Simple Past, Past Continuous)

• First-person pronouns (I, my, we)

• Sequence markers (first, then, finally)

• Descriptive vocabulary

• Appropriate tone and clarity

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Sample Speech: Narrating a Personal Experience

Topic: My First Stage Experience

Good morning everyone.
Today, I would like to share one of my most memorable personal experiences — my first stage performance.

When I was in my first year of college, I was selected to deliver a welcome speech during our college orientation program. Initially, I felt extremely nervous and lacked confidence. Standing in front of a large audience was a challenging task for me.

However, I prepared well, practiced my speech repeatedly, and received encouragement from my teachers and friends. On the day of the event, though I was anxious, I gathered my courage and delivered my speech confidently. To my surprise, the audience responded positively and appreciated my performance.

This experience taught me the importance of preparation, self-confidence, and courage. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking and motivated me to actively participate in many events thereafter.

Thank you.

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Role of Teachers and Classroom Activities

Teachers play a crucial role by:

• Conducting role-plays and storytelling sessions

• Encouraging students to share real-life experiences

• Providing constructive feedback

Activities like group discussions, presentations, and storytelling help students enhance narration skills.

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Conclusion

Narrating personal experiences is an effective speaking activity that enhances fluency, confidence, and clarity of expression. It helps learners communicate naturally and meaningfully. Mastery of this skill is essential for academic success and professional growth.

Thus, narrating personal experiences is an integral component of Professional English.

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Speaking – Events and Short Stories

(Professional English)

Introduction

Speaking skills play a vital role in professional and academic communication. Among various speaking activities, narrating events and short stories helps learners develop fluency, confidence, coherence, and clarity. This activity enhances the ability to organize thoughts, use appropriate vocabulary, and express ideas logically. In the Professional English curriculum, speaking on events and short stories trains students to communicate effectively in real-life and workplace situations.

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Meaning of Speaking: Events and Short Stories

• Speaking about events involves describing real-life incidents such as personal experiences, college functions, seminars, festivals, or professional situations.

• Speaking short stories involves narrating fictional or moral-based stories in a structured and engaging manner.

Both forms require:

• Clear introduction

• Logical sequence of ideas

• Proper voice modulation

• Appropriate language and expressions

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Structure of Speaking an Event

1. Introduction – What the event is and when it occurred

2. Background – Place, people involved, and purpose

3. Main Event – Key moments and activities

4. Outcome – Result or impact of the event

5. Conclusion – Learning or experience gained

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Structure of Speaking a Short Story

1. Opening – Setting and characters

2. Development – Problem or conflict

3. Climax – Turning point

4. Resolution – Solution to the problem

5. Moral/Message – Lesson learned

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Sample: Speaking on an Event

Topic: College Technical Symposium

Good morning everyone.
Today, I would like to speak about a technical symposium conducted at our college last year. The event was organized by the Department of Information Technology and included paper presentations, coding contests, and workshops. Students from various colleges participated enthusiastically. I took part in the coding competition, which helped me improve my problem-solving skills. The event enhanced my technical knowledge and teamwork abilities. Overall, it was a memorable and enriching experience.

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Sample: Speaking a Short Story

Topic: The Honest Woodcutter

Once there lived an honest woodcutter near a forest. One day, while cutting wood near a river, his axe fell into the water. He cried helplessly. A fairy appeared and tested his honesty by showing him a golden and a silver axe. The woodcutter refused them and accepted only his iron axe. Pleased with his honesty, the fairy rewarded him with all three axes.
Moral: Honesty is always rewarded.

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Importance of Speaking Events and Stories

• Improves communication and presentation skills

• Builds confidence and public speaking ability

• Enhances vocabulary and grammar usage

• Develops logical thinking and creativity

• Useful for interviews, meetings, and leadership roles

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Tips for Effective Speaking

• Maintain eye contact

• Use simple and clear language

• Speak confidently with proper pauses

• Avoid memorizing; speak naturally

• Practice regularly

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Conclusion

Speaking on events and short stories is an essential component of professional communication. It develops fluency, confidence, and expressive ability among learners. Regular practice of such speaking activities prepares students for academic success and professional excellence.

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References

1. Veena Selvam et al., English for Science & Technology, Cambridge University Press, 2021.

2. Dr. J. Anbazhagan Vijay, Communicative English, Global Publishers, Chennai, 2017.

3. Raman, Meenakshi & Sharma, Sangeeta (2019). Professional English. Oxford University Press.

4. Dr. V. Chellammal, Learning to Communicate, Allied Publishing House, 2003.

5. Using English, Orient Blackswan, Chennai, 2017.

6. OER – Authentic Open Educational Resources.