The storybook project is currently taking place at SK Tiga Papan, Kudat, Sabah. The objectives of the project are to:
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Stage one - Storytelling Workshop
In September 2014 parents, teachers, community members, two local artists and ELTDP mentors came together to share and record local stories. In groups participants told stories remembered from childhood and teachers wrote down the stories. At the end of the workshop 18 stories had been written in Rungus, Malay or English.
Stage Two - Storyboarding Session
The English teachers, artists and ELTDP mentors chose three stories to make into books. Storyboards were drawn for each book. The teachers and mentors wrote English text suitable for level one pupils. A local speaker of Rungus, Malay and English was able to help translate the stories and advise on the key parts of each story.
Stage Three - Book Production
Linda Lingard of Oyez! books attended the 2013 ELTDP Symposium and was very enthusiastic about publishing local stories. She was able to offer advice on the number of pages, space for text and the publishing process. In January 2015 illustrations, text and audio recordings were sent to Linda for publication, ready for presentation at the ELTDP Symposium in March 2015.
In September 2014 parents, teachers, community members, two local artists and ELTDP mentors came together to share and record local stories. In groups participants told stories remembered from childhood and teachers wrote down the stories. At the end of the workshop 18 stories had been written in Rungus, Malay or English.
Stage Two - Storyboarding Session
The English teachers, artists and ELTDP mentors chose three stories to make into books. Storyboards were drawn for each book. The teachers and mentors wrote English text suitable for level one pupils. A local speaker of Rungus, Malay and English was able to help translate the stories and advise on the key parts of each story.
Stage Three - Book Production
Linda Lingard of Oyez! books attended the 2013 ELTDP Symposium and was very enthusiastic about publishing local stories. She was able to offer advice on the number of pages, space for text and the publishing process. In January 2015 illustrations, text and audio recordings were sent to Linda for publication, ready for presentation at the ELTDP Symposium in March 2015.
Any profits from the books will go to SK Tiga Papan.
We hope to put the money towards buying more books, upgrading the library and community reading projects.
"Once upon a time, an invitation was shared,
With everyone in the village, to come to school prepared. For a story-telling morning, in Rungus and Malay, Sharing stories heard as children, and still enjoyed today. They nervously arrived, in groups of threes and fours, Sat down tensely wondering, what surprises were in store. “Can you all remember, stories you were told? Stories only known here, legends? Tales of old?” | Some endings were different, some stories strange but true, Some were very sad, and some were funny too. Stories about their villages, none of them the same, Stories about Tasu, and Itut-Itut who lost his name. “Let’s make them into books, that our children all can read, And then our past is saved,” “Yes!” the parents all agreed. And so the books were made, lovely paintings put beside, The stories from the past, to celebrate with great pride." |
This article is contributed by Fiona Wright, Anna White and Mike White, teachers of the British Council ELTDP, based in Kudat. Following are some pictures at the ELTDP symposium in Kuching, 4-6 March, where the two books from the Storybook Project were first shown.