Oral storytelling via WhatsApp voice notes as a tool to improve adult learners’ fluency
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22458/ie.v28i45.6303Palabras clave:
participatory research, oral expression, storytelling, mobile communication, adult education, language instructionResumen
Speaking fluency is regarded as a necessary component for success in the EFL classroom. A2-level adult learners at a language center consistently demonstrate difficulties in oral performance, exhibiting short, hesitant responses and numerous instances of self-correction, attributed to an overemphasis on achieving grammatical accuracy. To address this gap, this action research investigated the effects of oral storytelling through WhatsApp voice notes in a group of six adult participants. The intervention consisted of seven sessions where participants collaboratively created a story by recording sequential audio notes based on teacher prompts, which were later used for in class storytelling. The study included pre and post intervention tests analysed with an analytic fluency rubric examining words per minute (WPM), pauses, and instances of self-correction. The results were positive: all participants demonstrated an increase in their overall fluency score. Specifically, five out of six participants reduced their number of pauses, and four out of six increased their WPM. These findings suggest that the intervention successfully promoted uninterrupted speech over self-monitoring. The positive outcome is primarily attributed to the combination of the engaging, familiar communication tool and the students’ commitment, which fostered a range of positive emotions, from reduced initial anxiety to feelings of pride and confidence.
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Derechos de autor 2026 Innovaciones Educativas
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