English Language Educators from Ukraine and Hungary Gather for Storytelling Summer Seminar in Siófok, Hungary
This July, 48 English language educators from Ukraine and Hungary arrived in Siófok, Hungary, to participate in the exciting Summer Seminar, “Storytelling with a Purpose.” With suitcases full of expectations, the participants embarked on a week-long journey of learning, creativity, and connection, all thanks to the support of the Regional English Language Office at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, TESOL Hungary, TESOL Ukraine, and the U.S. Embassy in Budapest.
Day One: Building Community and Storytelling Foundations
The first day of the seminar was all about creating a sense of community among participants. Sessions such as “Storytelling from the Soul,” “Performance: Body Semiotics,” “Professional Stories,” and “Identity Wheels” provided a strong foundation in storytelling techniques. The day concluded with an exciting Scavenger Hunt, where participants explored the beautiful sights of Siófok in teams, fostering camaraderie and collaboration.
Day Two: Storytelling and Healing
The second day kicked off with the playful warm-up activity “My Granny in Brazilia,” followed by insightful sessions like “If Only I Knew,” “The Healing Power of Storytelling,” and a reflective “Follow-up to Morning Reading.” Participants dove deeper into the role of storytelling in personal and professional growth, with many eagerly anticipating the rest of the day’s learning experiences.
Day Three: Well-being and Silent Stories
Day three offered a special outdoor session in Terkep Park, where participants focused on well-being through freewriting, breathing exercises, and group activities. The “Silent Books” session introduced a creative technique for using silent storytelling in English teaching, followed by a hands-on activity where educators crafted their own silent books in small groups. The day wrapped up with the “Storyboarding” session, where participants explored the power of visual storytelling tools and shared their creations.
Day Four: Multimodality and Future-Ready Skills
On day four, the seminar delved into “Multimodality and Storytelling,” highlighting the importance of using various modes of communication—text, images, video, and more—in storytelling. Educators also participated in sessions like “Science in Stories,” “Boosting Students’ Soft Skills,” “Storytelling for Future Success,” and “Professional Persuasion,” all designed to spark creativity and develop essential teaching skills.
As the seminar progresses, participants are not only exploring the sights of Siófok but also preparing for their Final Group Projects. With only a few days left, the excitement continues to build, and we look forward to seeing the final presentations. Good luck to all participants, and thank you to the organizers and trainers for making this event a success!