"Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair" : fairy tales in English teaching

Abstract

This thesis focuses on the benefits of using fairy tales and storytelling in the English teaching classroom, centered around a story pack that utilizes the story of Rapunzel in English teaching in the eighth grade of compulsory school. Storytelling applies natural elements of language acquisition and can, therefore, be applied to language teaching in a natural way, helping students practice their language skills and creativity. Findings show that there are many ways to use fairy tales in language teaching, resulting in a diverse collection of activities and lessons. The first part of this project focuses on characteristics of fairy tales, theories, and methodologies in language teaching in Icelandic schools, and a description of the project. The second part is the story pack, including a unit plan, lesson plans for six lessons, and assessment rubrics.