NET Scheme News 2025 Spring issue 47

3 NET Scheme News Issue 47 2 NET Scheme News Issue 47 Storytelling is magical. “Storytelling has the power to engage,influence,teach and inspire listeners”professed Lani Peterson (2017). This magical power is performed during the ‘English Storytelling for Children’ sessions at the Hong Kong Public Libraries. The power of storytelling is immense as it helps one to bring focus on all the senses and fosters imagination. Global research has substantiated these findings and confirmed that storytelling is a key tool in children’s cognitive development. Not only does it help improve children’s language skills, but young minds are also sharpened in amazing ways. These include learning new vocabulary, comprehending the world better, as well as boosting critical and creative thinking,empathy and speaking skills. Against this background, the ‘English Storytelling for Children’ programme was launched. It is a territory- wide collaboration between the NET Section and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), which provides a platform, beyond homes and school campuses, for children to enjoy sharing and listening to stories. The programme has also provided opportunities for NETs to join this volunteer service as storytellers. Since the inception of the programme in 2015, more than 100 volunteer storytellers have actively engaged our children from as young as three. Our storytellers are creative and dramatic. Skillfully, they manipulate words, voices and actions so that the young audiences can interact with the stories, spark imagination and make meaning of them. To make storytelling fun and memorable, props, including puppets, are incorporated to get children involved. Various types of questions are also built-in to help children think ahead and to join in so that they can co-construct the story. This boosts children’s creativity and confidence in expressing themselves, as well as strengthening their social skills as they explore different views and feelings during the process. Isn’t storytelling just magical? At our cozy libraries, we’re bringing tales to life and whisking families off to enchanted worlds.With each story, we’re spreading love, boosting confidence, and uncovering everyday wonders.The best part? These stories stay with families long after they leave, and we all (including us storytellers) make fantastic friends along the way. – Theresa Cheung My participation as a storyteller in the Hong Kong Public Libraries programme ‘English Storytelling for Children’ was a fun and rewarding experience.Children loved experiencing books coming to life,and participated wholeheartedly in sessions that were educational and enjoyable.I highly recommend this programme for children and families in general.– Akin Jeje The programme provides an opportunity for NETs to share their enjoyment of reading and storytelling more widely in the community. The sessions are very much enjoyed and appreciated by the children who are engaged by the various activities that NETs from diverse backgrounds offer. – Nick Ward Last year I had the opportunity to become a guest storyteller at the Hong Kong Public Libraries. I enjoyed the experience so much that I signed up to volunteer again this year! The benefits of reading English stories to young children in the Hong Kong Public Libraries is two-fold. Professionally, it gives me a chance to share books for the love of reading. Outside exam pressure, both myself and children listeners have fun in a different way than we would as teacher and student in a classroom setting. Personally, I explore parts of Hong Kong that are communities rather than tourist attractions. I can gain a deeper understanding of the Hong Kong people and place. – Bernadette O’Connor The programme has also nurtured cultural exchange and enhanced family literacy development. Besides communicating in the English medium, storytelling sessions in Nepalese, Hindi and Urdu are also conducted by bilingual storytellers. These have provided an opportunity for children from ethnic minorities to enhance understanding of their own culture as well as strengthen their cultural identity. For other children, attending bilingual storytelling sessions has exposed them to diverse cultures and language systems, thus gaining better understanding of the multicultural communities in our city. Everyone loves a good story. The power of storytelling is reiterated by Philip Pullman, a renowned author, “After nourishment, shelter and companionship, stories are the thing we need most in the world.” This explains why we, both young and old, love telling and listening to stories. It is gratifying to see the ‘English Storytelling for Children’ programme growing more and more popular and serving more and more young members in our community. Catherine Lam, Literacy Programme Consultant NET Section Below are reflections on the power of storytelling by some of our storytellers: References Chugh, Chandril (2024) The Role of Storytelling in Child Development Psychology. https://drchandrilchugh.com/blog/role-of-storytelling-in-child-development-psychology/ Peterson, Lani (2017) The Science Behind the Art of Storytelling. Harvard Business Publishing The storytelling sessions at public libraries engaged local students and their families through bilingual narratives, promoting community and cultural exchange. Families took part enthusiastically, enjoying the stories and deepening their appreciation of diverse cultures. Despite challenges in reaching a wider audience, the sessions strengthened connections and enriched the storytelling tradition within our community. – Abuzar Abbasi I always enjoy being a part of the ‘English Storytelling for Children’ Programme. Sharing the joy of reading with children in the Hong Kong Public Libraries is both fun and rewarding. It’s a great way to give back to the community one or two weekend afternoons each year. – Stephen Cooley As a volunteer bilingual storyteller in the Hong Kong Public Libraries, I have found sharing stories in Nepalese and English magical,transformative and creative.It is a unique platformwhere children from diverse backgrounds embrace a global perspective, create connections without language barriers and enrich the community nurturing harmony and unity. – Lok Prasad Dahal I’ve done storytelling sessions all over Hong Kong; from Central Library in Causeway Bay, to Kowloon Public Library in Ho Man Tin, and even to Cheung Chau! Despite the different locations, the attitudes of the children are always the same — they are always so excited to hear a new story. I am always greeted by big smiles and eager questions, and each session is always a whole lot of fun. – Abbey Johnson Being a storyteller brings me immense joy as I engage children with powerful narratives. I cherish the connections formed through their questions and responses. Adapting to different age groups —whether during warm-ups,planning extended activities — enhances engagement.Their smiles and laughter make it all worthwhile, and I continually learn more about myself through reflecting on my strengths and weaknesses. – Elisabeth Kong I had an incredible first experience volunteering for storytelling at the public library. The children’s engagement was heartwarming; their laughter and wide-eyed wonder made the stories come alive. It was rewarding to see their imaginations spark, and I felt a profound connection with them. I can’t wait to return! – Riddhi Bakrania I’ve been doing the library storytelling sessions for a number of years now and it’s such an enjoyable time with the children. I teach in a secondary school so I value having this time with the younger ones, getting a chance to absorb their enthusiasm for learning. My students are very reluctant readers in high school so it’s great to participate in this programme to try and nurture the love of books and storytelling in the children while they’re young.– Andrea McCarville The Magical Power of Storytelling English Storytelling for Children