Ensure your
Story Time Success
Confidently use picture books to captivate, engage and teach English
Are you an EFL/ESL teacher struggling to keep young learners engaged during story time?
Do you worry about feeling awkward, losing their attention, or choosing the right books?
You’re not alone—and the good news is, there’s a solution!
Join Story Time Success
Is this you?
You’ve got teaching experience, you’ve even taught young learners for a while….so telling a story to your preschool and primary EFL/ESL kids should be easy, right?
You might have taken your first steps already and discovered it’s not.
What’s more, as a freelance EFL/ESL teacher you don’t have a lot of supportive colleagues to ask for advice.
Basically you want to give your kids an engaging, enjoyable experience that is going to help them learn English and give them the benefits picture books have.....and course books are lacking.
For that to be possible you need practical strategies and techniques, tips and guidance, and the chance to try things out in a safe non-judgemental space.
You need more than an article or video to watch, but at the same time you're busy and don't have weeks to spend on this.
That's where I can help.
What you'll learn
- Techniques to captivate attention – avoid distractions and keep kids engaged.
- Storyteller tools – how to use voice, gestures, props, and positioning effectively.
- Interaction strategies – when and how to involve children in storytelling.
- Techniques to enhance comprehension – make sure no one is lost without constantly testing them.
- Activity ideas for before and after story time - how to maximise language learning.
- Criteria for choosing the right books - be able to make informed choices for your context.
(maybe not this nervous 😂)
for using picture books...
(a real person, not a puppet)
What's different about this course?
Unlike passive, pre-recorded courses, this is a live, hands-on experience where you’ll actively practise storytelling, take part in discussions, and refine your skills in real time. You won’t just learn theories – you’ll try out techniques, gain immediate insights, and leave feeling confident and ready to bring stories to life in your classroom.
How it works
- Part 1 – Learn key storytelling techniques, watch demonstrations, understand story types and their choices, and gain valuable preparation tips.
- Homework Task – Watch examples, prepare a story, and reflect on your skills.
- Part 2 – Tell a story live, get feedback, dive deeper into interaction strategies, explore story retelling and activities to maximise language learning.
By the end, you’ll have real, hands-on experience and the confidence to transform storytime into a dynamic, engaging, and language-rich experience for your students
What you'll achieve
- Confidence in your storytelling skills - no more worrying about whether you're doing it right.
- Engaged kids – they'll be so excited for your story time.
- Knowing you're properly prepared and in control - you've got this!
- Creating a lasting impact on your students' language learning – you'll know how to make stories a powerful teaching tool.
- Confidence in your story choices - know what will work best for your groups.
Frequently asked questions
That’s exactly why this course exists! You don’t need to be a performer to tell picture book stories well. I’m not! You’ll learn simple, practical techniques to feel comfortable, confident, and engaging—without needing to be over-the-top or theatrical.
Absolutely! Even experienced teachers struggle with keeping kids engaged, maximizing language learning, or varying their storytelling techniques. This course will help you refine your skills, add fresh ideas, and troubleshoot common challenges.
Yes! This is a live, practical course that’s designed to be actionable and time-efficient. You’ll leave each session with skills you can immediately apply in your classroom, saving you time in lesson planning and classroom management.
You’ll need to put aside 2 hours for each of the live workshops and another hour or so for the homework task.
This is a supportive and encouraging environment! You’ll practice with fellow teachers who are in the same boat, with gentle guidance and constructive feedback to help you grow your confidence at your own pace. You’ll never be asked to do anything you really don’t want to either, and you won’t be put on the spot. The homework task is there to help you grow in confidence before you practise with others.
Unlike passive video tutorials, this course is live and interactive, so you get real-time practice, feedback, and the chance to ask questions. You won’t just watch someone else tell a story—you’ll actively develop your own skills in a hands-on way.
This course is based on real classroom experience with EFL/ESL learners and has been designed to address the exact struggles teachers face with story time. Past participants of similar training and members within my teacher membership have gained lasting confidence, better classroom engagement, and a smoother, more enjoyable storytelling experience.
If you have a change of heart within 10 days of the start date, I’m happy to issue a full refund. I don’t want you to do anything you don’t want to!
Unfortunately, I am unable to issue refunds once you have started the course itself.
About Fiona
I LOVE teaching kids through stories, but I still remember those early days.
Honestly, I felt pretty unsure about how to approach it all. It's pretty unnerving telling a story without some practical techniques, strategies and practice. Even knowing what to expect (realistically!) is a big bonus.
After 20+ years of teaching, with 12 of those dedicated to teaching and building courses around picture books, I thought it was time to share with you.
You can short cut that learning process and get on with enjoying your time with the kids.
Let’s make storytelling fun, engaging, and effective together.
Enrollment for the November course is not currently open. To have the first opportunity to grab one of the 8 places, get your name on the waiting list now. I’ll be in touch as soon as doors open.