This January, ETA Maria Osman and her co-teacher transformed their English class into a creative hub with a lesson on recounting text inspired by a short story video from the film “Encanto.” The lesson combined storytelling, analysis, and artistic expression, offering a memorable way to explore this text type.

The lesson began with students analyzing a still image from “Encanto” to spark curiosity. Maria and her co-teacher then introduced the students to the structure of recount text—orientation, events, and reorientation—along with key language features such as past tense verbs and time conjunctions. To bring these concepts to life, students examined a short example text inspired by the clip and identified its key elements.

After watching the “Encanto” clip, students moved on to the practice phase by answering guided questions to dissect its recount elements. Then came the highlight: students worked to create vibrant comic strips retelling the story. Each panel represented a specific part of the recount structure, complete with captions and dialogue.

The lesson wrapped up with a gallery walk, during which students proudly showcased their comics and appreciated each other’s creativity. The activity didn’t just teach recount text—it brought storytelling to life in a way that made learning fun and unforgettable.

Maria Osman is currently teaching at SMK Abdurrab Pekanbaru, Riau.