From anxiety to engagement: Transforming an English for specific purposes classroom through digital storytelling

This mixed-methods study investigated the impact of integrating digital storytelling into an English for Specific Purposes (ESP) course for second-year undergraduate Landscape Architecture students at a Taiwanese university. The intervention aimed to mitigate speaking anxiety among these students an...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Shu-wen Lin, David Hugh Bollen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universitas Syiah Kuala 2025-05-01
Series:Studies in English Language and Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://jurnal.usk.ac.id/SiELE/article/view/40286
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850211681919041536
author Shu-wen Lin
David Hugh Bollen
author_facet Shu-wen Lin
David Hugh Bollen
author_sort Shu-wen Lin
collection DOAJ
description This mixed-methods study investigated the impact of integrating digital storytelling into an English for Specific Purposes (ESP) course for second-year undergraduate Landscape Architecture students at a Taiwanese university. The intervention aimed to mitigate speaking anxiety among these students and enhance their ESP learning. A modified version of the Foreign Language Speaking Anxiety Scale was used to quantitatively measure changes in students’ anxiety levels before and after the intervention. Qualitative data were collected through open-ended survey questions to explore students’ perceptions and experiences with digital storytelling. The quantitative results revealed a statistically significant decrease in students’ self-reported speaking anxiety levels after the intervention, particularly in relation to unprepared group interactions and conveying important information orally. Qualitative findings illuminated the mechanisms behind this reduction, emphasizing the positive impact of the iterative and collaborative nature of digital storytelling on language development, self-expression, and peer learning. Students reported increased engagement, enjoyment, and confidence in their speaking abilities. The study also identified challenges related to technical skills, language proficiency, and content integration, offering recommendations for addressing these issues in future implementations and research. This paper underscores the potential of digital storytelling as an effective pedagogical strategy in ESP courses, providing valuable insights into its educational benefits and practical challenges.
format Article
id doaj-art-3b10de9e58454cc3b67e71f251f281c3
institution OA Journals
issn 2355-2794
2461-0275
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Universitas Syiah Kuala
record_format Article
series Studies in English Language and Education
spelling doaj-art-3b10de9e58454cc3b67e71f251f281c32025-08-20T02:09:31ZengUniversitas Syiah KualaStudies in English Language and Education2355-27942461-02752025-05-0112257959310.24815/siele.v12i2.4028620572From anxiety to engagement: Transforming an English for specific purposes classroom through digital storytellingShu-wen Lin0David Hugh Bollen1Fu Jen Catholic UniversitySojo UniversityThis mixed-methods study investigated the impact of integrating digital storytelling into an English for Specific Purposes (ESP) course for second-year undergraduate Landscape Architecture students at a Taiwanese university. The intervention aimed to mitigate speaking anxiety among these students and enhance their ESP learning. A modified version of the Foreign Language Speaking Anxiety Scale was used to quantitatively measure changes in students’ anxiety levels before and after the intervention. Qualitative data were collected through open-ended survey questions to explore students’ perceptions and experiences with digital storytelling. The quantitative results revealed a statistically significant decrease in students’ self-reported speaking anxiety levels after the intervention, particularly in relation to unprepared group interactions and conveying important information orally. Qualitative findings illuminated the mechanisms behind this reduction, emphasizing the positive impact of the iterative and collaborative nature of digital storytelling on language development, self-expression, and peer learning. Students reported increased engagement, enjoyment, and confidence in their speaking abilities. The study also identified challenges related to technical skills, language proficiency, and content integration, offering recommendations for addressing these issues in future implementations and research. This paper underscores the potential of digital storytelling as an effective pedagogical strategy in ESP courses, providing valuable insights into its educational benefits and practical challenges.https://jurnal.usk.ac.id/SiELE/article/view/40286digital storytellingenglish for specific purposespedagogical innovationspeaking anxiety
spellingShingle Shu-wen Lin
David Hugh Bollen
From anxiety to engagement: Transforming an English for specific purposes classroom through digital storytelling
Studies in English Language and Education
digital storytelling
english for specific purposes
pedagogical innovation
speaking anxiety
title From anxiety to engagement: Transforming an English for specific purposes classroom through digital storytelling
title_full From anxiety to engagement: Transforming an English for specific purposes classroom through digital storytelling
title_fullStr From anxiety to engagement: Transforming an English for specific purposes classroom through digital storytelling
title_full_unstemmed From anxiety to engagement: Transforming an English for specific purposes classroom through digital storytelling
title_short From anxiety to engagement: Transforming an English for specific purposes classroom through digital storytelling
title_sort from anxiety to engagement transforming an english for specific purposes classroom through digital storytelling
topic digital storytelling
english for specific purposes
pedagogical innovation
speaking anxiety
url https://jurnal.usk.ac.id/SiELE/article/view/40286
work_keys_str_mv AT shuwenlin fromanxietytoengagementtransforminganenglishforspecificpurposesclassroomthroughdigitalstorytelling
AT davidhughbollen fromanxietytoengagementtransforminganenglishforspecificpurposesclassroomthroughdigitalstorytelling