An application of storytelling to improve young learners' speaking skills: A case study at Hope English Center: Master's Thesis

Abstract

Learners of English, especially the younger ones are always in such a good mood for interesting stories that children find themselves motivated and excited to approach latest techniques of the English language. This study explores the application of storytelling as an effective technique to foster young learners' speaking skills. To enhance language development and oral abilities, the research investigates how storytelling can engage and motivate young learners, enabling them to actively participate not only in class but also in real-life contexts. In accordance with various theoretical frameworks and empirical evidence, the study highlights the benefits of incorporating storytelling activities into language classrooms. It examines the impact of storytelling on several aspects of speaking skills that create gaps and difficulties for young learners in general and telling stories in particular. Additionally, the study discusses practical strategies and techniques for integrating storytelling into language teaching, ultimately providing valuable insights for educators seeking to optimize young learners' speaking competence through the power of stories. Last but not least, the study employed the case study method as a guideline to explore how benifitial the storytelling technique is apllied in the young learners’ classrooms. Thus, the use of storytelling will convert to positive outcomes and this is the reason why I choose storytelling as a fruitful technique to promote young students to speak English with a positive and interested attitudes. Besides, exploring the positive influence of storytelling learning environment on our traditional education in changing the method that teachers are currently teaching and students are learning in. The findings also showed that students who attended the course with the application of storytelling achieve better results than the ones who attended the traditional method of teaching. These findings are hoped to contribute to the enhancement of young learners’ speaking skills by applying this useful technique into English language teaching and learning.