Fables are delightful to read and stories in their own right, often with biting satire and wry revelations of human weaknesses. In addition, their short narratives derived from animal characters and inanimate objects often contain hidden meanings intended to make a point about human behavior or to convey a moral message or political truth within a specific language and culture.
Moreover, the cultural, language learning, and entertainment value of fables can be put to good use in an ESL learning environment where they can provide an opportunity for ESL instructors to provide English as second language students an innovative way to improve their
language development and critical thinking skills.
For example, ESL lessons plans from The Teacher’s Desk involve the use of fables to improve critical thinking and vocabulary, as well as increase fluency. http://www.teachersdesk.com/lessons/esl/fables/Fables.htm
A fable-based ESL lesson plan might also include language arts activities that allow second language acquisition students to practice their oral skills by retelling the fables in their language, and possibly with the addition of their own illustrations. In addition, incorporating the use of reading fables into an ESL curriculum can also help students to practice their foreign language vocabulary skills and improve their second language reading comprehension. Additional fable-based English language lessons and activities can include the writing of an original fable, as well as the possibility of producing a dramatic presentation of their original fable.
A variety of on-line resources featuring collections of fables include . . .
- an illustrated collection of famous fables from the University of Massachusetts Amherst that are written in both the traditional and modern style. http://www.umass.edu/aesop/index.php
- an online collection of 655 Aesop's Fables alphabetized and indexed in table format, with morals listed and Real Audio narrations, and classic images. http://www.aesopfables.com/
And by utilizing on-line resources featuring fables from around the world , ESL instructors can enhance their students cross-cultural awareness and literacy as well as to compare, contrast and build a better understanding of the stories, ideals and cultural values of different countries.
For example . . .
- Whootie Owls Stories at http://www.storiestogrowby.com/choose_body.php uses drop down menu to select a variety of stories based on age preference, continent, country, peoples, themes and various fables, folktales, myths, legends etc.
- Stories, Legend and Folktales from around the World at http://www.unc.edu/~rwilkers/title.htm offers a vast collection of fables from countries that include China, India, Egypt, Africa, Greece,
France and more.
ESL teachers who incorporate the time-tested wisdom and educational value of fables into their English language learning strategies and curriculums are sure to discover the success of the time-tested, educational methodology of enhancing their student’s second language acquisition and fluency by incorporating fables into an ESL learning environment.