From the Editor

Twice a month, Jamie Keddie sends out the LessonStream Post – a story or storytelling idea for the classroom. It's free to sign up and you can do so here: https://lessonstream.com

Here is an example of what you might get…

 

Two calls for help

Not so long ago, a teacher friend of mine posted a question on Facebook:

Hello everyone,
I really need some help.
I have to give a class on the topic of misunderstandings and I am trying to find a YouTube video to introduce the subject.
Any suggestions?
Thanks!

My suggestion was the "Young German coast guard" – a classic YouTube video. Perhaps you remember it? It goes like this –

It's the young German coast guard's first day at work and he is being shown around the control room by a superior. The superior then pats him on the back and leaves him to it.

He's only been alone for a few minutes when a distress call from a ship comes in.

"Mayday, mayday. Can you hear us? Please help. We are sinking. I repeat: we ... are ... sinking."

The young German coast guard leans forward and speaks into the radio. He says:

(Wait for it ...)

"What are you sinking about?"

Then we cut to the message that says: "Improve your English".

It's an advert for Berlitz.

The teacher seemed happy with this suggestion. And I felt happy to have helped.

 

It's all about the story 

In this case, it might seem like we are using video to introduce a topic. But in fact, it's much less about the material and more about the story that it offers. The story is what it's all about.

There's a principle in the LessonStream Story Course which says that in order to introduce a topic, issue, dilemma, debate, controversy, discussion point or whatever, you always have to start with a story.

In the language classroom, the story will usually come from materials: a short film, a photograph, an art image, a text, a song, or in this case – an advert.

The story could also come from us – the human beings at the front of the class. But for some reason, however, we often don't see ourselves as a resource in this way.

It's a shame. If I was learning a new language, I would much prefer to hear a short anecdote from my teacher than to watch a YouTube video.

 

Something that language teachers just aren't supposed to do

I was interested to know what the teacher on Facebook thought about this so I dropped her a line. I asked if, instead of looking for a video to introduce the topic, she had considered sharing a short personal experience about a misunderstanding.

She said, "You're right. It seems so obvious now that you say it. I've had quite a few funny misunderstandings. It just hadn't occurred to me to use them."

Then she thought a bit more and said something very interesting: "It's weird, I can't really work out why. But it seems like something that language teachers just aren't supposed to – to tell stories."

 

Watch the video here

Please check the Pilgrims in Segovia Teacher Training courses 2026 at Pilgrims website.