IMPROVING ENGLISH SPEAKING SKILLS THROUGH STORYTELLING AMONG FIFTH-GRADE LEARNERS: AN ACTION RESEARCH STUDY IN DONG THAP PROVINCE, VIETNAM

Authors

  • Huỳnh Thị Tú MA Candidate, Dong Thap University, Vietnam
  • Huỳnh Thị Nhĩ Academic Consultant, SADEC EDUCATION; Visiting Lecturer, Dong Thap University and Mekong University, Vietnam

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v13i7.6757

Keywords:

English speaking skills, storytelling, action research, communicative language teaching, primary education, Vietnam

Abstract

This study investigates the effectiveness of storytelling as a pedagogical tool for enhancing English-speaking skills among fifth-grade students in Dong Thap Province, Vietnam. Conducted as an action research project, the study involved 35 students over a 12-week period. Storytelling activities, including retelling, role-play, dramatization, and group storytelling, were implemented to foster oral communication. Data were collected through pre- and post-tests, classroom observations, questionnaires, and interviews. Results indicate that storytelling significantly improved students’ pronunciation, vocabulary retention, fluency, and confidence, while also fostering motivation, creativity, and collaborative learning. The findings contribute to global discussions on communicative language teaching, highlighting storytelling as a culturally responsive, low-cost, and impactful approach for resource-limited contexts.

Author Biographies

  • Huỳnh Thị Tú, MA Candidate, Dong Thap University, Vietnam

    Huỳnh Thị Tú is an MA Candidate of Dong Thap University, specializing in Theory and Methodology in English Language Teaching. Her research interests include second language acquisition, L1 transfer, error analysis, and communicative pedagogy in EFL contexts. She has experience teaching English to teenage learners in private language centers in Vietnam and is committed to exploring effective strategies that balance fluency development with accuracy-focused instruction.

  • Huỳnh Thị Nhĩ, Academic Consultant, SADEC EDUCATION; Visiting Lecturer, Dong Thap University and Mekong University, Vietnam

    Dr. Huỳnh Thị Nhĩ is an Academic Consultant at SADEC EDUCATION and a visiting lecturer at Dong Thap University and Mekong University, Vietnam. She holds a PhD. in Linguistics and Applied Linguistics from the Social Science Academic Institution in Ho Chi Minh City. With over 40 years of teaching experience, her interests focus on English language pedagogy, language acquisition, and the development of effective English training programs. Her research interests include second language acquisition, language transfer, phonological interference, and communicative pedagogy in EFL contexts. She has extensive experience teaching English to learners in Vietnam and is committed to developing instructional approaches that balance fluency with accuracy, particularly in teenage and young adult classrooms.

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Published

2026-05-29

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 7 (2026)

Section

Articles

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