Why Some Students Sound Like News Reporters Telling Stories
The News Reporter Problem
A student was sharing her weekend adventure with the class.
"I go to Kyoto yesterday. I see beautiful temples. The weather is perfect."
She sounded like a CNN reporter giving a live update.
Not someone telling a story about her past.
Her English was clear. Her vocabulary was good. But something felt wrong.
The tense was all over the place.
The Tense Switching Pattern
Some students constantly mix present and past when telling stories:
"Last week, I went to a restaurant. The food is delicious. I ordered sushi and it tastes amazing. Then I walked home."
They start in past tense. Switch to present. Jump back to past.
Their brain can't pick one tense and stick with it.
Why? They've over-mastered one tense but under-practiced the other.
When they focus on the meaning they want to convey, structure falls apart.
The Listening Challenge
Native speakers expect story consistency.
Past events = past tense throughout the entire story.
When tense switches randomly, listeners get confused:
- Is this happening now or in the past?
- Are you describing or narrating?
- Should I picture this as current events?
The story loses its flow.
Why This Happens
Some language narrative patterns differ from English patterns.
Present tense feels more immediate and dramatic to some speakers.
It brings the listener into the moment.
But English storytelling follows different rules.
Plus, when students focus on content (what they want to say), they lose focus on structure (how to say it correctly).
The brain can only handle so much at once.
Recognition Exercise: Spot the Tense Break
Can you identify where the tense breaks story flow?
"Last month, I decided to visit my grandmother. I take the train to her village. The journey was long, but the scenery is beautiful. When I arrived, she makes my favorite dinner. We talked for hours about family memories."
The breaks happen at:
- "I take" (should be "I took")
- "scenery is" (should be "scenery was")
- "she makes" (should be "she made")
Notice how jarring these switches sound when you expect consistent past tense.
Shadow Reading Exercise
Find a well-told story in consistent past tense.
Read along out loud, matching the speaker's rhythm.
Feel how smooth consistent tense flow sounds:
"Yesterday, I walked to the store. I bought some groceries. The cashier was friendly. I walked home feeling satisfied."
Now try the same story with random tense switches:
"Yesterday, I walk to the store. I bought some groceries. The cashier is friendly. I walked home feeling satisfied."
The inconsistent version feels bumpy and unnatural.
Practice with The Less Said Podcast
This week's podcast episode contains natural storytelling.
Try this exercise:
- Listen for one minute of storytelling
- Notice how speakers maintain tense throughout narratives
- Feel the smooth flow of consistent past tense
- Practice shadow reading along with story sections
Remember:
English stories live in one tense at a time.
Past events stay in past tense from beginning to end.
When you expect this consistency, listening becomes much easier.
Tomorrow, we'll explore how present vs past tense distinctions create confusion in everyday conversation!