DIGITAL STORYTELLING: DEVELOPING SPEAKING SKILLS IN LEARNING FOREIGN LANGUAGES
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.main##
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.sidebar##
Published:
Apr 1, 2025
Abstract
Abstract. This study examines the role of digital storytelling in enhancing speaking skills among English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners in higher education. The research highlights digital storytelling as an innovative pedagogical tool integrating multimedia elements to foster personalized, interactive, and practical learning experiences. Based on existing literature and a case study at the Vinnytsia Institute of Trade and Economics, the study demonstrates significant improvements in students’ speaking abilities. Digital storytelling lets students personalize their learning, improve speaking skills, and develop essential soft skills. Pre- and post-test analyses confirm a marked improvement in speaking skills across multiple aspects, validating digital storytelling as an impactful educational technology. The findings underscore its potential to transform EFL classrooms, enhance students’ motivation, and create collaborative and independent learning opportunities. The study concludes with recommendations for integrating digital storytelling into language teaching to achieve optimal learning outcomes.
How to Cite
Tymoshchuk, N. (2025). DIGITAL STORYTELLING: DEVELOPING SPEAKING SKILLS IN LEARNING FOREIGN LANGUAGES. Baltic Journal of Legal and Social Sciences, (1), 64-72. https://doi.org/10.30525/2592-8813-2025-1-7
##plugins.themes.bootstrap3.article.details##
Keywords
digital storytelling, speaking skills, EFL learners, higher education, personalized learning, multimedia tools, interactive learning.
References
1. Al-Amri, H. M. (2020). Digital storytelling as a communicative language teaching based method in EFL classrooms. Arab World English Journal, 11(1), 270–281. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol11no1.20
2. Anderson, J., Chung, Y. C., Macleroy, V. (2018). Creative and critical approaches to language learning and digital technology: findings from a multilingual digital storytelling project. Language and Education, 32(3), 195–211. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09500782.2018.1430151
3. Anggeraini, Y. (2020). An Investigation of the students’ opinion on using digital storytelling in learning English. ELT-Lectura, 7(1), 47-51. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31849/elt-lectura.v7i1.3645
4. Banaszewski, T. M. (2005). Digital storytelling: Supporting digital literacy in grades 4-12 (Doctoral dissertation, Information Design and Technology, Georgia Institute of Technology).
5. Benmayor, R. (2008). Digital Storytelling as a Signature Pedagogy for the New Humanities. Arts and Humanities in Higher Education, 7(2), 188–204. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1474022208088648
6. Brown, J., Bryan, J., Brown, T. (2005). Twenty-first century literacy and technology in k-8 classrooms. Innovate: Journal of Online Education, 1(3), 1–5.
7. Chambers, G.J., Yunus, M.M. (2017). Enhancing learners’ sentence constructions via Wheel of Grammar. Pertanika Journals. Social Sciences & Humanities, 25, 1641–1650. URL: http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/resources/files/Pertanika%20PAPERS/JSSH%20Vol.%2025%20(4)%20
Dec.%202017/11%20JSSH-1617-2016-4thProof.pdf
8. Chan, B. S., Churchill, D., Chiu, K. F. (2017). Digital literacy learning in higher education through digital storytelling approach. Journal of International Education Research, 13, 1–16.
9. Chen, H. L., Chuang, Y. C. (2021). The effects of digital storytelling games on high school students’ critical thinking skills. Journal of computer assisted learning, 37(1), 265-274. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jcal.12487
10. Febriyanti, M., Susanto, S. (2017). The Use of Digital Storytelling Narrative Text to Improve Students Speaking Ability at Grade Ten SMAN 2 Bandar Lampung. LINGUISTIKA, 8(1). 31-37.
11. Gurrieri, L., Drenten, J. (2019). Visual storytelling and vulnerable health care consumers: normalising practices and social support through Instagram. Journal of Services Marketing, 33, 702–720.
12. Helmanda, C. M., Nisa, R. (2019). The analysis of students’ oral performances by using speaking scoring rubric. Jurnal Dedikasi Pendidikan, 3(2), 76-86.
13. Ivanytska, N., Dovhan, L., Tymoshchuk, N., Osaulchyk, O., Havryliuk, N. (2021). Assessment of Flipped Learning as an Innovative Method of Teaching English: A Case Study. Arab World English Journal, 12 (4), 476-486. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol12no4.31
14. Kallinikou, E., Nicolaidou, I. (2019). Digital storytelling to enhance adults’ speaking skills in learning foreign languages: A case study. Multimodal Technologies and Interaction, 3(3), 59.
15. Karakoyun, F., Kuzu, A. (2016). The investigation of preservice teachers’ and primary school students’ views about online digital storytelling. European Journal of Contemporary Education, 15(1), 51-64. DOI: https://doi.org/10.13187/ejced.2016.15.51
16. Karpenko, Y. M., Ajtay-Horváth, M. (2021). Digital Storytelling as an Educational Technology for Activating Cognitive Activity of Primary School Pupils in Foreign Language Lessons. Information Technologies and Learning Tools, 81(1), 36-45. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33407/itlt.v81i1.3149
17. Leshchenko, M., Ruban, L., Tymchuk, L. (2017). Digital Storytelling in a Foreign Language
Classroom of Higher Educational Establishments. International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies in Education, Research, and Industrial Applications, 428-439. URL: https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-1844/10000428.pdf
18. Mirza, H.S. (2020). Improving university students’ English proficiency with digital storytelling. International Online Journal of Education and Teaching (IOJET), 7(1). 84–94. URL: http://iojet.org/index.php/IOJET/article/view/668
19. Mnisi, T. (2015). Digital storytelling: Creating participatory space, addressing stigma, and enabling agency. Perspectives in Education, 33(4), 92–107.
20. Morra, S. (2024). Digital Composition, Storytelling & Multimodal Literacy: Create. URL: http://guides.library.stonybrook.edu/digitalstorytelling/create
21. Ogawa, A., Tsuchiya, Y. (2016). Designing Digital Storytelling Workshops for Vulnerable People: A Collaborative Storyweaving Model from the “Pre-story Space”. Journal of Socio-Informatics, 7(1), 25–36, 2016. URL: https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jsi/7/1/7_25/_pdf
22. Panchenko, L. F. (2020). Digital Storytelling in Adult Education: Barriers and Ways to Overcome Them. Information Technologies and Learning Tools, 79(5), 109-125. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33407/itlt.v79i5.3362
23. Pieterse, G. (2018). To see someone else’s perspective: A case for digital stories in schools. Independent Journal of Teaching and Learning, 13(1), 41–56.
24. Robin, B. (2024). What is Digital Storytelling? Educational Use of Digital Storytelling. URL: http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/page.cfm?id=27.
25. Robin, B. R. (2016). The power of digital storytelling to support teaching and learning. Digital Education Review, 30, 17–29. URL: https://revistes.ub.edu/index.php/der/article/view/16104/pdf
26. Sarıtepeci, M. (2017). Ortaokul düzeyinde dijital hikâye anlatımının yansıtıcı düşünme becerisi üzerindeki etkisinin incelenmesine yönelik deneysel bir çalışma [An Experimental Study on the Investigation of the Effect of Digital Storytelling on Reflective Thinking Ability at Middle School Level]. Bartin University Journal of Faculty of Education/ Bartın Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 6(3), 1367-1384. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14686/buefad.337772
27. Shelton, C. C., Archambault, L. M., Hale, A. E. (2017). Bringing digital storytelling to the elementary classroom: Video production for preservice teachers. Journal of Digital Learning in Teacher Education, 33(2), 58-68.
28. Shkola, І., Saliuk, B. (2022). Enhancing Students’ Speaking Skills by Using Digital Storytelling in Teaching English Language at The University. Scientific Notes of Berdiansk State Pedagogical University. Pedagogical sciences, 3, 398-405.
29. Sintonen, S., Kumpulainen, K., Vartiainen, J. (2018). Young children’s imaginative play and dynamic literacy practices in the digital age. in G Oakley (ed.), Mobile Technologies in Children’s Language and Literacy: Innovative Pedagogy in Preschool and Primary Education. Emerald, Bingley, UK,
15-28. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-78714-879-620181002
30. Stanley, N., Dillingham, B. (2023). Making Learners Click with Digital Storytelling. Improving Literacy and Communication. Language Magazine. 10 (6), 24–29. URL: https://www.languagemagazine.com/making-learners-click-with-digital-storytelling
31. Sylvester, R., Greenidge, W.L. (2009). Digital Storytelling: Extending the Potential for Struggling Writers. The Reading Teacher, 63, 284-295.
32. Tymoshchuk, N. (2022). The Implementation of E-Learning to Support Learning and Teaching Foreign Language: a Case Study in Ukrainian Higher Education. Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) 2nd Special Issue on Covid 19 Challenges (2), 233–244. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/covid2.15
33. Tymoshchuk, N. (2024). Digitalization of Philological Education in Ukraine: Opportunities and Perspectives. Baltic Journal of Legal and Social Sciences, (1), 135–142. https://doi.org/10.30525/2592-8813-2024-1-15
34. Tymoshchuk, N.M. (2009). Komunikatyvnyi pidkhid do vykladannia inozemnykh mov u vyshchykh ahrarnykh zakladakh osvity [Communicative approach to teaching foreign languages in higher agricultural educational institutions]. Visnyk Zhytomyrskoho derzhavnoho universytetu, 43, 92–95
[in Ukrainian].
35. Wahyuni, W., Sujoko, S., Sarosa, T. (2017). Improving students’ speaking skill through project-based learning (digital storytelling). English Education, 6(2), 161-168.
36. Walsh, M. (2010). Multimodal literacy: What does it mean for classroom practice. Australian Journal of Language and Literacy. 33(3), 211–239.
37. Yang, Y. T. C., Wu, W. C. I. (2012). Digital storytelling for enhancing student academic achievement, critical thinking, and learning motivation: A year-long experimental study. Computers & Education, 59(2), 339–352.
38. Zahorodna, O., Saienko, V., Tolchieva, H., Tymoshchuk, N., Kulinich, T., Shvets, N. (2022). Developing Communicative Professional Competence in Future Economic Specialists in the Conditions of Postmodernism. Postmodern Openings, 13(2), 77-96. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18662/po/13.2/444
39. Zamkova, N., Tymoshchuk, N., Havryliuk, N. (2023). Ukrainian EFL Learners’ Use and Views of Electronic Dictionaries: a Case Study in Higher Education. Arab World English Journal (AWEJ). Special Issue on Communication and Language in Virtual Spaces, 49-61. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/comm1.4
2. Anderson, J., Chung, Y. C., Macleroy, V. (2018). Creative and critical approaches to language learning and digital technology: findings from a multilingual digital storytelling project. Language and Education, 32(3), 195–211. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09500782.2018.1430151
3. Anggeraini, Y. (2020). An Investigation of the students’ opinion on using digital storytelling in learning English. ELT-Lectura, 7(1), 47-51. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31849/elt-lectura.v7i1.3645
4. Banaszewski, T. M. (2005). Digital storytelling: Supporting digital literacy in grades 4-12 (Doctoral dissertation, Information Design and Technology, Georgia Institute of Technology).
5. Benmayor, R. (2008). Digital Storytelling as a Signature Pedagogy for the New Humanities. Arts and Humanities in Higher Education, 7(2), 188–204. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1474022208088648
6. Brown, J., Bryan, J., Brown, T. (2005). Twenty-first century literacy and technology in k-8 classrooms. Innovate: Journal of Online Education, 1(3), 1–5.
7. Chambers, G.J., Yunus, M.M. (2017). Enhancing learners’ sentence constructions via Wheel of Grammar. Pertanika Journals. Social Sciences & Humanities, 25, 1641–1650. URL: http://www.pertanika.upm.edu.my/resources/files/Pertanika%20PAPERS/JSSH%20Vol.%2025%20(4)%20
Dec.%202017/11%20JSSH-1617-2016-4thProof.pdf
8. Chan, B. S., Churchill, D., Chiu, K. F. (2017). Digital literacy learning in higher education through digital storytelling approach. Journal of International Education Research, 13, 1–16.
9. Chen, H. L., Chuang, Y. C. (2021). The effects of digital storytelling games on high school students’ critical thinking skills. Journal of computer assisted learning, 37(1), 265-274. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jcal.12487
10. Febriyanti, M., Susanto, S. (2017). The Use of Digital Storytelling Narrative Text to Improve Students Speaking Ability at Grade Ten SMAN 2 Bandar Lampung. LINGUISTIKA, 8(1). 31-37.
11. Gurrieri, L., Drenten, J. (2019). Visual storytelling and vulnerable health care consumers: normalising practices and social support through Instagram. Journal of Services Marketing, 33, 702–720.
12. Helmanda, C. M., Nisa, R. (2019). The analysis of students’ oral performances by using speaking scoring rubric. Jurnal Dedikasi Pendidikan, 3(2), 76-86.
13. Ivanytska, N., Dovhan, L., Tymoshchuk, N., Osaulchyk, O., Havryliuk, N. (2021). Assessment of Flipped Learning as an Innovative Method of Teaching English: A Case Study. Arab World English Journal, 12 (4), 476-486. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol12no4.31
14. Kallinikou, E., Nicolaidou, I. (2019). Digital storytelling to enhance adults’ speaking skills in learning foreign languages: A case study. Multimodal Technologies and Interaction, 3(3), 59.
15. Karakoyun, F., Kuzu, A. (2016). The investigation of preservice teachers’ and primary school students’ views about online digital storytelling. European Journal of Contemporary Education, 15(1), 51-64. DOI: https://doi.org/10.13187/ejced.2016.15.51
16. Karpenko, Y. M., Ajtay-Horváth, M. (2021). Digital Storytelling as an Educational Technology for Activating Cognitive Activity of Primary School Pupils in Foreign Language Lessons. Information Technologies and Learning Tools, 81(1), 36-45. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33407/itlt.v81i1.3149
17. Leshchenko, M., Ruban, L., Tymchuk, L. (2017). Digital Storytelling in a Foreign Language
Classroom of Higher Educational Establishments. International Conference on Information and Communication Technologies in Education, Research, and Industrial Applications, 428-439. URL: https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-1844/10000428.pdf
18. Mirza, H.S. (2020). Improving university students’ English proficiency with digital storytelling. International Online Journal of Education and Teaching (IOJET), 7(1). 84–94. URL: http://iojet.org/index.php/IOJET/article/view/668
19. Mnisi, T. (2015). Digital storytelling: Creating participatory space, addressing stigma, and enabling agency. Perspectives in Education, 33(4), 92–107.
20. Morra, S. (2024). Digital Composition, Storytelling & Multimodal Literacy: Create. URL: http://guides.library.stonybrook.edu/digitalstorytelling/create
21. Ogawa, A., Tsuchiya, Y. (2016). Designing Digital Storytelling Workshops for Vulnerable People: A Collaborative Storyweaving Model from the “Pre-story Space”. Journal of Socio-Informatics, 7(1), 25–36, 2016. URL: https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jsi/7/1/7_25/_pdf
22. Panchenko, L. F. (2020). Digital Storytelling in Adult Education: Barriers and Ways to Overcome Them. Information Technologies and Learning Tools, 79(5), 109-125. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33407/itlt.v79i5.3362
23. Pieterse, G. (2018). To see someone else’s perspective: A case for digital stories in schools. Independent Journal of Teaching and Learning, 13(1), 41–56.
24. Robin, B. (2024). What is Digital Storytelling? Educational Use of Digital Storytelling. URL: http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/page.cfm?id=27.
25. Robin, B. R. (2016). The power of digital storytelling to support teaching and learning. Digital Education Review, 30, 17–29. URL: https://revistes.ub.edu/index.php/der/article/view/16104/pdf
26. Sarıtepeci, M. (2017). Ortaokul düzeyinde dijital hikâye anlatımının yansıtıcı düşünme becerisi üzerindeki etkisinin incelenmesine yönelik deneysel bir çalışma [An Experimental Study on the Investigation of the Effect of Digital Storytelling on Reflective Thinking Ability at Middle School Level]. Bartin University Journal of Faculty of Education/ Bartın Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 6(3), 1367-1384. DOI: https://doi.org/10.14686/buefad.337772
27. Shelton, C. C., Archambault, L. M., Hale, A. E. (2017). Bringing digital storytelling to the elementary classroom: Video production for preservice teachers. Journal of Digital Learning in Teacher Education, 33(2), 58-68.
28. Shkola, І., Saliuk, B. (2022). Enhancing Students’ Speaking Skills by Using Digital Storytelling in Teaching English Language at The University. Scientific Notes of Berdiansk State Pedagogical University. Pedagogical sciences, 3, 398-405.
29. Sintonen, S., Kumpulainen, K., Vartiainen, J. (2018). Young children’s imaginative play and dynamic literacy practices in the digital age. in G Oakley (ed.), Mobile Technologies in Children’s Language and Literacy: Innovative Pedagogy in Preschool and Primary Education. Emerald, Bingley, UK,
15-28. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-78714-879-620181002
30. Stanley, N., Dillingham, B. (2023). Making Learners Click with Digital Storytelling. Improving Literacy and Communication. Language Magazine. 10 (6), 24–29. URL: https://www.languagemagazine.com/making-learners-click-with-digital-storytelling
31. Sylvester, R., Greenidge, W.L. (2009). Digital Storytelling: Extending the Potential for Struggling Writers. The Reading Teacher, 63, 284-295.
32. Tymoshchuk, N. (2022). The Implementation of E-Learning to Support Learning and Teaching Foreign Language: a Case Study in Ukrainian Higher Education. Arab World English Journal (AWEJ) 2nd Special Issue on Covid 19 Challenges (2), 233–244. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/covid2.15
33. Tymoshchuk, N. (2024). Digitalization of Philological Education in Ukraine: Opportunities and Perspectives. Baltic Journal of Legal and Social Sciences, (1), 135–142. https://doi.org/10.30525/2592-8813-2024-1-15
34. Tymoshchuk, N.M. (2009). Komunikatyvnyi pidkhid do vykladannia inozemnykh mov u vyshchykh ahrarnykh zakladakh osvity [Communicative approach to teaching foreign languages in higher agricultural educational institutions]. Visnyk Zhytomyrskoho derzhavnoho universytetu, 43, 92–95
[in Ukrainian].
35. Wahyuni, W., Sujoko, S., Sarosa, T. (2017). Improving students’ speaking skill through project-based learning (digital storytelling). English Education, 6(2), 161-168.
36. Walsh, M. (2010). Multimodal literacy: What does it mean for classroom practice. Australian Journal of Language and Literacy. 33(3), 211–239.
37. Yang, Y. T. C., Wu, W. C. I. (2012). Digital storytelling for enhancing student academic achievement, critical thinking, and learning motivation: A year-long experimental study. Computers & Education, 59(2), 339–352.
38. Zahorodna, O., Saienko, V., Tolchieva, H., Tymoshchuk, N., Kulinich, T., Shvets, N. (2022). Developing Communicative Professional Competence in Future Economic Specialists in the Conditions of Postmodernism. Postmodern Openings, 13(2), 77-96. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18662/po/13.2/444
39. Zamkova, N., Tymoshchuk, N., Havryliuk, N. (2023). Ukrainian EFL Learners’ Use and Views of Electronic Dictionaries: a Case Study in Higher Education. Arab World English Journal (AWEJ). Special Issue on Communication and Language in Virtual Spaces, 49-61. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/comm1.4