Using Urban Legends Using Urban Legends in the Oral Training in the Oral Training

ClassroomClassroom

Michael C. ChengMichael C. Cheng

National Chengchi UniversityNational Chengchi Universitymikecc@nccu.edu.twmikecc@nccu.edu.tw

Using Urban Legends in the Oral Using Urban Legends in the Oral Training ClassroomTraining Classroom

What is an urban legend?What is an urban legend? Why use urban legends as the Why use urban legends as the

basis of a class activity?basis of a class activity? My urban legend speaking activity.My urban legend speaking activity. Using urban legends in other Using urban legends in other

classes.classes.

Definition of Urban Legend from Definition of Urban Legend from "The Vanishing Hitchhiker""The Vanishing Hitchhiker"

Urban legends "are realistic stories concerning rUrban legends "are realistic stories concerning recent events (or alleged events) with an ironic or ecent events (or alleged events) with an ironic or supernatural twist. They are an integral part of Asupernatural twist. They are an integral part of Anglo-American culture and are told and believed nglo-American culture and are told and believed by some of the most sophisticated "folk" of modeby some of the most sophisticated "folk" of modern society–young people, urbanites, and the well rn society–young people, urbanites, and the well educated. educated.

Jan Harold Brunvand, 1981 Jan Harold Brunvand, 1981

What is an urban legend?What is an urban legend?

An An urban legendurban legend is an apocryphal story told as true, concerning some ho is an apocryphal story told as true, concerning some horrific, amusing or ironic aspect of modern life. rrific, amusing or ironic aspect of modern life.

The phrase entered the popular vocabulary in the early 1980s with the puThe phrase entered the popular vocabulary in the early 1980s with the publication of folklorist Jan Harold Brunvand's earliest books on the subject, blication of folklorist Jan Harold Brunvand's earliest books on the subject, beginning with "beginning with "The Vanishing HitchhikerThe Vanishing Hitchhiker" (W.W. Norton: 1981). Though t" (W.W. Norton: 1981). Though the term seems to have become synonymous in common parlance with "fahe term seems to have become synonymous in common parlance with "false belief," it denotes a more complex and subtle social phenomenon havilse belief," it denotes a more complex and subtle social phenomenon having to do with the production and transmission of folk narratives — narrativng to do with the production and transmission of folk narratives — narratives which are indeed usually false, but which can, on rare occasions, prove es which are indeed usually false, but which can, on rare occasions, prove to be true. to be true.

http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/faq/blfaq-urbanlegend.htmhttp://urbanlegends.about.com/library/faq/blfaq-urbanlegend.htm

As defined by folklorists, an urban As defined by folklorists, an urban legend will typically exhibit the legend will typically exhibit the

following characteristics:following characteristics: It is a narrative. It is a narrative. It is alleged to be true. It is alleged to be true. It is plausible enough to be believed. It is plausible enough to be believed. It is of spontaneous (or, at any rate, indeterminate) origin. It is of spontaneous (or, at any rate, indeterminate) origin. It varies in the telling. It varies in the telling. It is attributed to a secondhand source (e.g., "a friend of a It is attributed to a secondhand source (e.g., "a friend of a

friend," "my sister's hairdresser's husband," etc.). friend," "my sister's hairdresser's husband," etc.). It is passed along from individual to individual in oral or wrIt is passed along from individual to individual in oral or wr

itten form (e.g., fax, photocopy or email). itten form (e.g., fax, photocopy or email). It may take the form of a cautionary tale warning against tIt may take the form of a cautionary tale warning against t

he dangers of modern life or imprudent or taboo behaviorhe dangers of modern life or imprudent or taboo behaviors. s.

http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/faq/blfaq-urbanlegend.htmhttp://urbanlegends.about.com/library/faq/blfaq-urbanlegend.htm

Jan Harold Brunvald. "The Vanishing HitJan Harold Brunvald. "The Vanishing Hitchhiker: American Urban Legends & Theichhiker: American Urban Legends & Their Meanings." W.W. Norton. 1981.r Meanings." W.W. Norton. 1981.

Stories collected since the 1960's.Stories collected since the 1960's.

Oral storytelling traditionOral storytelling tradition

Where do you find urban legends?Where do you find urban legends?

BooksBooks ComicsComics MagazinesMagazines Academic JournalsAcademic Journals MoviesMovies Television ShowsTelevision Shows WebsitesWebsites

Urban Legend TopicsUrban Legend Topics

ULRP.htmlULRP.html

Urban Legend Reference PageUrban Legend Reference Pagewww.snopes.comwww.snopes.com

Why use urban legends in class?Why use urban legends in class?

Language and cultureLanguage and culture Real world situationsReal world situations High InterestHigh Interest Gradation of difficultyGradation of difficulty Dramatic potentialDramatic potential ExpandabilityExpandability

Urban Legends Urban Legends Speaking ActivitySpeaking Activity

Urban Legends Speaking Urban Legends Speaking ActivityActivity

Introduce TopicIntroduce Topic

Urban Legends Speaking Urban Legends Speaking ActivityActivity

Introduce Topic Introduce Topic

Elicit definition of an Urban Elicit definition of an Urban LegendLegend

Elicit definition of an Urban Elicit definition of an Urban LegendLegend

Describe different types of urban Describe different types of urban legends legends

Urban Legends Speaking Urban Legends Speaking ActivityActivity

Introduce Topic Introduce Topic

Elicit definition of an Urban LegendElicit definition of an Urban Legend

-- Describe different types of urban legends-- Describe different types of urban legends

Describe features of the Urban Describe features of the Urban Legend that students are going to Legend that students are going to telltell

Describe features of the Urban Describe features of the Urban Legend that students are going to Legend that students are going to

telltell Catch attention with your introductionCatch attention with your introduction Happened to someone that you have a Happened to someone that you have a

connection toconnection to Add specific details to make it sound like it Add specific details to make it sound like it

happened locallyhappened locally Add vivid descriptions to make it interestingAdd vivid descriptions to make it interesting Finish by stating that it is a true storyFinish by stating that it is a true story Be aware of cultural differences between Be aware of cultural differences between

the original story and your local version the original story and your local version

Urban Legends Speaking Urban Legends Speaking ActivityActivity

Introduce Topic Introduce Topic Elicit definition of an Urban LegendElicit definition of an Urban Legend Describe features of the Urban Describe features of the Urban

Legend that students are going to Legend that students are going to telltell

Practice telling an Urban Legend Practice telling an Urban Legend

Practice telling an Urban LegendPractice telling an Urban Legend

Elicit a basic outline of the story; Elicit a basic outline of the story; categorize the Urban Legendcategorize the Urban Legend

-- Show how to catch attention with your -- Show how to catch attention with your introductionintroduction -- Provide additional vocabulary for each -- Provide additional vocabulary for each

frame frame of the cartoonof the cartoon -- This can include descriptions of the person -- This can include descriptions of the person you heard the story fromyou heard the story from -- Consider local details you can add in-- Consider local details you can add in -- Vivid descriptions for the contents of each -- Vivid descriptions for the contents of each frameframe

Model the Urban Legend Model the Urban Legend

-- Show how to catch attention with your -- Show how to catch attention with your

introductionintroduction Have groups of students practice telling Have groups of students practice telling

the Urban Legendthe Urban Legend Have some students demonstrate; provide Have some students demonstrate; provide

feedbackfeedback Students work on revising their Urban Students work on revising their Urban

LegendsLegends

Urban Legends Speaking Urban Legends Speaking Activity Activity

Introduce Topic Introduce Topic Elicit definition of an Urban LegendElicit definition of an Urban Legend Describe features of the Urban Legend Describe features of the Urban Legend

that students are going to tellthat students are going to tell Practice telling an Urban LegendPractice telling an Urban Legend Tell another Urban LegendTell another Urban Legend

Tell another Urban LegendTell another Urban Legend

Distribute different urban legends to each Distribute different urban legends to each studentstudent

Allow time to read, ask questions, and practice Allow time to read, ask questions, and practice their versions of the Urban Legendstheir versions of the Urban Legends

Pairs of students tell Urban Legends to each Pairs of students tell Urban Legends to each otherother

Volunteers can tell their Urban Legend to the Volunteers can tell their Urban Legend to the entire class.entire class.

Other possible class Other possible class activitiesactivities

Dramatic performancesDramatic performances

True stories vs. False storiesTrue stories vs. False stories

Using urban legends in other classesUsing urban legends in other classes Writing Writing -- Write your own urban legend-- Write your own urban legend Critical ThinkingCritical Thinking -- Discuss what makes an urban legend believable-- Discuss what makes an urban legend believable -- Examine internet hoaxes-- Examine internet hoaxes -- Try to determine which stories are real and which -- Try to determine which stories are real and which ones are fakeones are fake Cultural DiscussionsCultural Discussions -- Discuss differences in lifestyle-- Discuss differences in lifestyle -- Discuss the moral of an urban legend-- Discuss the moral of an urban legend -- Compare Chinese versions of urban legends to -- Compare Chinese versions of urban legends to American versionsAmerican versions Brainstorm about your classesBrainstorm about your classes