From Campfire to Classroom: An Application of Talking Circles and Storytelling in Hospitality Management Education

Native American Indians have used Talking Circles and storytelling as the foundation of oral tradition for thousands of years. In this research note, I describe how Talking Circles were used to encourage safe communication to produce a community based on sharing and empathy. Storytelling helps people solve problems, explain concepts, and marry past experience with future decisions. This research note examines one practical application of Talking Circles and storytelling in a hospitality management communications course as well as how this practice could be used in other hospitality courses at the same institution through traditional or digital communication channels. Although Talking Circles and storytelling are ancient communication rituals, they are being implemented today through digital means such as online courses, social media, and the Internet. Digital technology may encourage new forms of Talking Circles and storytelling that could be used to create collaborative communication platforms for positive social change.