Interactive Stories
Interactive Stories or Guided Stories is the name of a teaching technique developed by Mark White, a Kyoto based language teacher/writer.
What is an Interactive Story?
The technique consists of a story, which includes both sentences and questions so that as one student reads it to the other, the listener can respond to the questions and interact with the storyteller and the story itself by making it up as they go along.
What are they for?
The goal of an interactive story is to teach narratives in graded language (like graded readers) but orally and interactively. Each episode of the story is written in successively more complex syntax. Since the progressively more complicated sentence patterns are introduced in the context of a story, the learner can learn grammar in context.
Learn more:
Things you can do with an Interactive Story
The Origin and Evolution of Interactive Stories
Interactive Stories: An Interview with Mark White
Examples of Interactive Stories:
Advanced
Upper Intermediate
World of Water
The Story of Green Willow
The Obsession
Tibetan Story
Intermediate
Yamashita’s Gold
The Water Car
The Ghost of Phra Ka Nong
The Two Lovers



[...] e, shares with us a unique teaching technique he created for his Japanese students called, Interactive Stories. He talks about where he came up with the idea, how to use Interactive Storie [...]
[...] anese students talking with one another and using their imaginations. It’s called Interactive Stories. Please have a listen. Future podcasting plans include a series of cross-cultur [...]
This is quite good efforts. This shows the true power of both the teaching and imagination.
This comes from the state-of-art by ‘Guru’ of this kind of teaching.
i must appriciate his efforts.
Thanks
jigar
Hey Jigar!
Thanks for your kind words!
Which story did you like best?
Mark
Hi Mark,
It’s good to have such a kind of material on web I was surfing through the net and i found this lovely website .
you are really good man.
I specially like the conversation with the sanyasi in India who explained vedas to you .
Its good to know that you were here in india .
can you please tell me where did you meet him?
Regards,
Rahul
Thanks Rahul
I am glad you appreciate and enjoy. Swami-Sarasvati lives at the top of Chanderakanih Pass. If you stay at Nagar in the Kullu Valley, Himachal Pradesh, you can hike over to Malana. The swami lives at the top of the pass which you have to cross on the way over. He is a great man.
Best wishes
Mark
I would like to thank you very much because I gained alot of benifts from this wep site.
I hope to make friendship with native speaker and this is my email
omerkulbus@yahoo.com
please tell me how I do to get into a interactive story with a partner.
thanks
javier, from Colombia
hi i am rahul i want to learn english iwant to speak fluent
english to get better job .your site help me a lot i always
read your sites conversation that helps me to improve my english
Thanks
Thank you Mark for your stories
they are very good to learn English and the same time i can learn about others cultures
Take care
Humberto
Hi all,
I am very glad that I came across this website.
I am using these dialogues with my students. Thank you.
I am from Brazil and feel free to add me to your msn.
Thank you again
YOUR IDEA IS APPRECIATED
hi Aaron/ Mark
I need to improve my english knowledge. i am always reading and listening your stories and conversations. i hope that i will gain a lot of benifits from your website.
Thanks & Regards
Arun(INDIA)
Mr. Mark White you r such a genius. That is such a great technique to enhave one’s english langauge.
this is very nice and so easy to learn a new language….thank you for exist people like so cool….see yaa
Hi, Mark! I am writing from Kazakhstan. Thank you so much for the job you have done. It is important not only for those who are learning the language but also for teachers of English as Second language. I liked everything on your site. Especially — your Interactive stories. I am going to try them and would like to talk to you afterwards if it is possible. Do you have any payable form for such contacts? I think I will have to ask you for more advice. I realize it will take your time to answer me. So, thank you again and hope to have your response.
Hi Zhanna
I would be very happy to talk about interactive stores some time. I have just written a new one for advanced classes and I will post it on the site soon. You can email me at studyenglishwithmark at yahoo dot com dot au if you have any questions.
cheers M
mark you are great,these conversations are fantastic.thanks for everything , have a nice day
Hi, Mark
Thank you for such an interactive way .I ‘ve just listened to The big Dream episode 1. I liked it soooooooooooo much
Great!
When you are happy, I am happy!
Hi
Good evening
If any one wants to interact through everyday conversation
This is my email address
hesham_elamer2006@yahoo.com
hi to all i want to improve my english this my mail shymaakhallaf@yahoo.com
Hi Mark,
Thank you so much for this much valuable resource! I still haven’t had enough time to go through all the stories but I’m pretty sure all of them are excellent. Actually, the whole site is awesome! You love what you do, don’t you?
Cheers from Brazil!
Hi, Mark,
I started this website reading. I have been trying to learn (Speaking & writing) since long but could not get success till date.
Could you please guide me how to become perfect in english within 5-6 months.
I am ready to sacrifice any thing.
Thanks
Naresh, Noida, india
Hi Naresh
Just work through the interactive stories with a friend. You do not have to sacrifice anything. Just work hard and you will reach your goal.
Do not give up!
hi guys, Myself from INDIA, i also need a native speaker, help me
My EMAIL ID IS : amisimply03@gmail.com
Thanks
;;;
Dear Mark
I am a teacher from Russia. I would like to thank you for the interactive stories! They are great, useful, clever! It’s very special to teach Russian speaking people English when being a Russian speaking person! The stories help! Thank you very much!!!
I am a working girl. This conversation topic are very good.
Hi Mark & Aaron
Thank you very much for your attempts on those who are in need of improving their English by means of distance learning.
I need to improve my listening .What sort of help could I have from you ? As for my second guestion, I would like to attend the Distance Delta program of Cambridge University How can I gain experience in learning about language acquisition ?
Thank you in advance and I am looking forward to getting good news soon.
sincerely yours.
Mehmet Deniz DEM?RC?O?LU
Hi Mehmet….
“I need to improve my listening .What sort of help could I have from you ? ”
We can answer questions if you have them. Just ask.
“How can I gain experience in learning about language acquisition?”
Experience? Do it. Try to learn a foreign language. Keep track of what works and what doesn’t.
Knowledge? Read about it. Start with a Google search. Read everything you can. Then discuss with other people.
Good luck….
hi, mark
At the first, i have to say that you are a kind man,
because to help leaners improving english.
and your Interactive Stories – seems interesting ^^~~
i’m from china, i also hope to improve the english, especialy oral and liesting… i think language enviroment is most important for leaners, but, i can’t find that arround me, i need friends,need communicaiton, writing,typing,speaking,liesting interactively.
my MSN is ,
i expect your email, or on-line chating…
ah~~ it’s over 3:00 am… i have to go sleep ^^
you all have a good day~
james.Yang
an english leaner from China
hi yang,this is kishore from India.I also suffered from the same problem like you.If u interested we will solve our problem through online. Thanks…
Hi…Mark,
My dear teacher i was very happy with your method are you offering to our for learning…so far i’m enjoying your lesson for my necessary basic to started my study, so i was have some a little problem with our listening…while i am starting to listen the story there was a very fast its make me to hear faster. kindly please advice me for your sugetions.
Thank you very much
vitorino,
hello Mark
how are you, many thanks for your learing english and also say thanks to Mr. AJ to infrom me many things and sent me your e.mail to countion with you….. iam reading all your story but iam also return to the dectionery to help me ….
thank you againg and iam waitng more
Dear Mark,
Could you please help me ;how can l download the story???
Have a nice day.
Sasan
how are you, many thanks for your learing english
Thank you very much I am happy
from tilahun
Ethiopian
hi mark
this is first time i see your web sit.it’s realy nice.just
i would like to see thanks for u to improve our english
you are such nice peopie.have nice day
Its very good site to learn the english pron and way of speaking.
thank u good teacher ur english lessons conversation very useful and the way of improve our studying high progres u made me so happy .
that’s a great effort of interactive english huh!!!
Hi, I read some beautiful story and I have learnt a lot of things . I am Iranian and I live in Tehran and I work In N.I.O.C.Iran has a big historical places and with 2500 years historical . I would be like you put some excellent subjects in this site and the people of the world read about them . I will study more your subjects and next time I will write my view points . with sincerly yours M.E.Ghaderi
Hi dear
very nice to u r website english conversation.
also very easy and instal to obsolutly our mind.
well thank u…
hello Mr.white I go to a english class in Iran I want to know that if I have any question can you help me
hello again Mr.white I want totell you,you are very handsome upfront
hi,
i just finished my class with adult students. they extremely like your lesson on interactive story. the role play is very beneficial.
hi!i have studied english since 4 years ago but i have difficult in listenning and speaking because i don’t usually study and have many complex words.morever,the speaker alway reads fast so i can’t follow to them.your program is good for me.it is easy to practice.
thanks for you and your program.
mark this site is powered by wordpress.
i need to help mr to flueancy my english
Dear sir………
Your web site is very help for us. Than you very much &
we respect more and more about your knowledge & valuble attempt.
I cannot obtain one of your interactive story named the Travelling companion.
Pl…let me know how can i read id.
take care! Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DEEPA
Hellow How do use this website
Thanks
S.Lakshmanan.