As one of the leading storytellers, Jan Blake has been performing worldwide for over twenty-five years. Specialising in stories from Africa, the Caribbean, and Arabia, she has a well-earned reputation for dynamic and generous storytelling.
As well as performing at all the major storytelling festivals both nationally and internationally, she also regularly captivates school children with mesmerising stories.
On Monday 8th June Jan visited The Philips van Horne and The College to tell some of her stories to the four groups of TTO freshers. Listening to stories is a way of experiencing the foreign language in a different, relaxed way, which is pleasant and entertaining.
From the moment Jan asked the students to response to her ‘crick’ with an enthousiastic ‘crack’, she had their full attention. She told about a princess who refused to speak, about a demonical baby girl; daughter of a king and queen, about the devil’s violin, how to manipulate fairies and how a man became blind from greed. Due to her gestures, the repetitions, her facial expression and body language it was perfectly clear to everybody what was happening and all students and teachers got involved in each story.
After listening to Jan’s intriguing stories, the students were asked to do a writing assignment based on the stories they had just been listening to.
All students and teachers really enjoyed this storytelling session and would appreciate similar sessions next school year.
Pictures can be seen in the photo gallery.