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Thoughts Following Chennai Sangamam 2011

It would be great to bring storytellers from Tamilnadu's five eco-cultural zones (Seashore, Agricultural areas, Pasture areas, Dry areas, and Mountain Forests) into schools -- Govt and private schools, Tamil and English mediums, year round, throughout Tamilnadu and beyond! This could include performances of, discussion about, and training in storytelling (for students and teachers).

Such activity could help students learn about traditional Tamil culture, and could also improve their communication skills. It could help them to develop their imaginations and creativity, as well as their abilities to articulate, express, and organise their thoughts and feelings.

Storytellers could also brought into public libraries -- on Saturday mornings, for example. Here the emphasis might be on storytelling-and-listening as a bridge to storywriting-and-reading.

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Posted by Eric Miller, PhD, Director, World Storytelling Institute / Chennai Storytelling Association, www.storytellinginstitute.org , eric@storytellinginstitute.org , 98403 94282.