India was home to a system of education that based on storytelling. The Panchatantra tales are said to have been crafted to teach some ‘laggard’ princes the intricacies of politics and governance. One of the modern practitioners of storytelling as a tool of pedagogy is Kusumika Chatterjee, 70, a recipient of the Queen’s Award.
Monalisa Patsani of Orissa POST caught up with the renowned storyteller at a two-day workshop on storytelling and teaching for primary and pre-primary teachers at the Regional Science Centre Saturday. Excerpts from the interview:
Storytelling is popular as a teaching tool abroad. Should schools in India, too, adopt this method?
Some places in India — in Kerala and in Bangalore for instance — are using storytelling as a proper teaching technique. There are some schools that think they are using the technique but are not doing it in a proper manner. One has to make things really lively when using the storytelling method of teaching. Many are not doing it the way it should be done. I have done a lot of research and trained many in the subject. Teachers have to work hard and show some interest to make classes interesting and not just go about finishing the syllabus.
What was your experience with teachers in Bhubaneswar?
I am impressed. They are very interactive and are keen to use the method. I believe they will introduce a new trend in education and blend this method with the existing system. We want to make education more lively. It should not be the old-fashioned way of rote learning without understanding anything. We must use various media to make education lively and use methods such as storytelling. Children grow confident when they are taught by such methods.
You use puppets and facial expressions during your storytelling sessions. How effective is it?
Body movements are vital in storytelling. I use my whole body, particularly my face and arms, to keep classes lively. The use of puppets and masks makes teaching even more interesting. Teachers can themselves enjoy teaching if they make it a lively experience; and if they enjoy, children, too, will enjoy learning. But we should not forget old-fashioned methods of teaching as they are also equally essential.
When we adopt lively teaching methods such as storytelling, children learn easily. They are able to understand any topic quickly.
Till what age and educational level is storytelling an effective teaching tool?
Storytelling can be used to teach any subject be it language and literature, history, geography, science or even maths. I don’t deal with science, but in Kerala, a group of teachers is teaching science through stories. Biology is taught through stories in which different parts of the body become characters and their interactions form the story. This method is useful for all classes. In Japan, an engineering professor said he had used the method to give certain lessons.
How do props help in storytelling?
For children with learning disabilities, autism and such conditions, storytelling is an effective method of teaching. When I enact characters, say, one of a witch I use props and wear masks, which help them appreciate the story and become interested in learning.
How did your transition from a dancer to a storyteller happen?
After I had established myself as a dancer in Kolkata, I used to teach elementary classical dance. But I always liked storytelling and had specialised in Tagore’s storytelling dance. Storytelling involves a lot of movement just as dance does, so it interested me. When I started promoting storytelling as a teaching method, I didn’t want to frighten teachers. I took advice from dancers such as Sanjukta Panigrahi, who advised me against including too many dance steps and expressions as teachers and students could get confused. But now things have changed a lot.
What can teachers do to improve the way they teach?
A teacher needs to be dedicated. I have been in this profession for 30 years and am still learning. Being a teacher does not mean we have learnt everything; learning should continue and one should learn any interesting method that comes one’s way and use it.
‘Once Upon a Time’ gets under way
Bhubaneswar: Kusumika Chatterjee was the key resource person at a two-day workshop that started at the Regional Science Centre here Saturday. The workshop is being organised jointly by Helen O’ Grady International and Regional Science Centre. Titled ‘Once Upon a Time’, the workshop is aimed at providing primary and pre-primary teachers with an understanding of how storytelling could be used as a teaching tool.
More than 75 teachers and principals fom schools across the city including DM School, KIIT International School, DAV, Ruchika High School, DPS Kalinga, Mother’s Public School, and Little Preschool attended the workshop. Kusumika discussed innovative methods of making classes fun, creative and interesting through stories.
Kusumika emphasised the need for involvement and engagement on the part of teachers to make the method effective. She also discussed the how mudras (hand gestures) could be used to tell a story. Teachers who attended the workshop said the workshop initiated them in a new approach to teaching. “We are privileged to have such a legendary personality demonstrate the techniques of making a class interesting,” a teacher said.
Archanna Khosla, the project coordinator of Regional Science Centre, said: “Such workshops are very effective. We will conduct more such events involving government schools and children from slums so that different communities benefit from it.” Archanna further said the centre also plans to host a workshop for parents titled ‘Connect’, Sunday. It is aimed at enabling parents to connect with emotions of children and to optimise development of their intellect.
