Self-experienced storytelling in an authentic context to facilitate EFL writing

Abstract

Our study explored EFL writing skills in relation to self-experience in an authentic learning context with the help of a mobile application. Two authentic writing activities (‘Tell your story’ and ‘Describe your context’) were designed and compared to see if they resulted in significant differences in EFL writing performance and writing behavior. The results showed that the experimental group who completed the “tell your story” exercise exhibited significantly better writing performance than the control group who completed the “describe your context” exercise’. More specifically, the experimental group used more vivid words and vocabulary to write about their surrounding contexts than the control group. Our observation and study results showed that using authentic materials in storytelling exercises motivate students to share their experiences, which not only improves students’ general EFL writing skills but also enhances their confidence to use English in real situations.

Keywords:

• Authentic learning
• English writing
• storytelling
• descriptive and narrative
• image recognition

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

Our thanks to NCU in Taiwan and National Economics University NEU in Vietnam for funding us conducting this research.

Notes on contributors

Thi-Huyen Nguyen

Dr. Thi-Huyen Nguyen received her Ph.D from Graduate Institute of Network Learning Technology, National Central University, Taiwan in Jan 2019 . Nguyen has extensive research background on the ubiquitous learning, technological and pedagogical issues in authentic learning environment. In recent 3 years (2016–2019), she obtained some publications on very quality educational technology journals and conferences.

Wu-Yuin Hwang

Dr. Wu-Yuin Hwang, is currently a distinguished Professor of the Graduate Institute of Network Learning Technology, National Central University, Taiwan. Dr. Hwang received the Ta-You Wu, Memorial Award from National Science Council in 2005. His current research interests are related to integration of IOT, Robots and multimedia sensors of mobile devices for interactions among human and all things in AR contexts like smart agriculture, buildings and campus. In the recent 10 years (2007–2017), Dr. Hwang is also ranked in top 7 scholars of the world in terms of high quality journal publication performance of instructional design and technology.

Xuan-Lam Pham

Dr. Xuan-Lam Pham is the Head of Information Technology in National Economics University, he is a Computer science lecturer doing research about practical applications of advanced educational technologies. He has extensive research background and experience on the ubiquitous, mobile, and online Learning with multiple accepted publications on high-impact factor journals (ISI, SSCI) and prestigious international conferences (ICCE, ICALT etc.).

Thao Pham

Thao Pham is a lecturer in Information Technology at National Economics University, Vietnam. He currently doing his PhD in Graduate Institute of Network learning Technology, National Central University, Taiwan. His research interest includes educational technology and computational thinking.