1. Listen carefully to the story or information
2. Remember the main points: Who was in the story? What happened? Where did it happen? When did it happen? How did it end?
3. Put events in order using words like first, next, then, and last
4. Use your own words instead of copying exactly what you heard

Here is a short story:

Last week, a boy named Baraka was walking to school. Suddenly, a car hit him while he was crossing the road. People rushed him to the hospital. After treatment, Baraka got better and went home.

Retelling the story:

First, a boy named Baraka was walking to school. Next, a car hit him while he was crossing the road. Then, people quickly took him to the hospital. Finally, after receiving treatment, Baraka got better and returned home.

Notice how the retelling keeps all the important information but uses different words and time-order words (first, next, then, finally).

When preparing to retell, ask yourself these questions:

• Who were the main characters?
• What happened at the beginning of the story?
• What happened in the middle?
• How did the story end?
• What was the important message or lesson?

You can also retell a story using pictures. Look at the pictures in order, from the first picture to the last. Tell what happens in each picture, and connect them together to tell the whole story.

• Retell means telling what you heard in your own words
• Use first, next, then, last to show the order of events
• Include the main characters and what happened to them
• Tell how the story ends
• Keep your retelling clear and easy to understand

In Tanzania, you can use retelling skills when you want to tell your family about something you heard on the radio or at school. For example, after listening to a news report about rain coming to your village, you can retell that information to your parents in your own words so they know when to prepare for planting their maize or cassava.