The Role of Story-Based Instruction for Enhancing English Language Learning among Young Learners in Libyan Primary Schools
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65405/y1kd2x65Keywords:
Young Learners; Storytelling; English as a Foreign Language (EFL); Communicative Language Teaching; Vocabulary Development; Primary Education; Libya, Language Learning Motivation.Abstract
The main aim of teaching and learning English in Libyan primary and nursery schools is to enhance and develop children's ability to communicate effectively in English. Therefore, the present project seeks to explore the role of story-based language teaching in enhancing English language learning among young learners in Libyan primary schools. The study aims to promote communicative competence, vocabulary acquisition, listening comprehension, and positive attitudes toward learning English as a foreign language. In other words, it is designed for beginner-level learners aged seven to eight years.
It's Mine! is the selected storybook, providing an engaging and meaningful context through which young learners can interact with language in an imaginative and enjoyable environment. The project integrates a range of pedagogical activities, including Total Physical Response (TPR), storytelling, games, songs, flashcards, drama, and self-assessment tasks. These activities are grounded in established theories of second language acquisition and young learner pedagogy, emphasizing meaningful input, learner engagement, and social interaction.
The project demonstrates how story-based teaching can create a learner-centred classroom environment that supports language development while fostering active participation, motivation, and creativity. The findings suggest that the integration of stories and interactive activities can contribute significantly to the development of children's communicative skills and enhance the overall effectiveness of English language teaching in Libyan primary education.
Downloads
References
Alsuhaibani, Z. (2020). Developing EFL students’ pragmatic competence: The case of compliment responses. Language Teaching Research, 26(5). https://doi.org/10.1177/1362168820932313
Alsaeh, F., Alriteemi, A., Kasheem, M., Shalghoum, N., Yahya, N., Hmouma, M., Masuwd, M., & Alouzi, K. (2026). Sustainable education practices and their impact on student learning outcomes in Libyan higher education. Cigarskruie. Journal of Educational and Islamic Research, 3(2), 203–301. https://doi.org/10.65190/cigarskruie.v3i2.473
Bachman, L. F. (1990). Fundamental considerations in language testing. Oxford University Press.
Bardovi-Harlig, K. (2001). Evaluating the empirical evidence: Grounds for instruction in pragmatics. In K. R. Rose & G. Kasper (Eds.), Pragmatics in language teaching (pp. 13–32). Cambridge University Press.
Barron, A. (2003). Acquisition in interlanguage pragmatics: Learning how to do things with words in a study abroad context. John Benjamins Publishing.
Bykova, L., Lanskaya, J., Perova, T., Remaeva, J., & Voinova, A. (2021). Exploring the potential of Web 2.0 technologies for teaching second/foreign language writing in higher education. Journal for Educators, Teachers and Trainers, 13(1), 276–287.
Chomsky, N. (1965). Aspects of the theory of syntax. MIT Press.
Deda, N. (2013). The role of pragmatics in English language teaching. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 2(2), 225–240.
Derakhshan, A., & Shakki, F. (2021). A meta-analytic study of instructed second language pragmatics: A case of the speech act of request. Research in Applied Linguistics, 12(12), 15–32.
Eslami, Z. R., & Eslami-Rasekh, A. (2008). Enhancing the pragmatic competence of non-native English-speaking teacher candidates (NNESTCs) in an EFL context. Instructional Pragmatics: State of the Art, 178–197.
Fraser, B. (1983). The domain of pragmatics. In J. C. Richards & R. W. Schmidt (Eds.), Language and communication (pp. 29–59). Longman.
Fulcher, G., & Davidson, F. (2007). Language testing and assessment: An advanced resource book. Routledge.
Furniss, E. (2016). Teaching the pragmatics of Russian conversation using a corpus-referred website. Language Learning & Technology, 20(2), 38–60.
García-Gómez, A. (2022). Learning through WhatsApp: Students’ beliefs, L2 pragmatic development, and interpersonal relationships. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 35(5–6), 1–19.
Grundy, P. (2000). Doing pragmatics (2nd ed.). Arnold Publishers.
Haghighi, H., Jafarigohar, M., Khoshsima, H., & Vahdany, F. (2018). Impact of the flipped classroom on EFL learners’ appropriate use of refusal: Achievement, participation, perception. Computer Assisted Language Learning, 32(3), 1–33.
Jacobs, G. M., & Farrell, T. S. (2001). Paradigm shift in second language education. TESL-EJ, 5(2), 1–17.
Jiang, X. (2020). Trends in usage-based and pragmatic language processing and learning: A bibliometric analysis on psycholinguistics and second-language acquisition studies. In Second language acquisition - pedagogies, practices and perspectives. IntechOpen.
Kasper, G., & Schmidt, R. (1996). Developmental issues in interlanguage pragmatics. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 18(2), 149–169.
Alkarkhi, S. I., & Hmouma, M. A. A. (2025). The effects of well-being, resilience, work environment and job satisfaction on foreign language teaching enjoyment in Libyan context. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 30(11), 49–68.Leech, G. N. (1983). Principles of pragmatics. Longman.
Klimanova, L. (2021). The evolution of identity research in CALL: From scripted chatrooms to engaged construction of the digital self. Language Learning & Technology, 25(3), 186–204.
Lin, M. F., Chen, Y., & Lai, Y. T. (2022). Promoting the sustainable development of rural EFL learners’ email literacy through a Facebook project. Sustainability, 14(10), 6209.
Mey, J. L. (2001). Pragmatics: An introduction (2nd ed.). Blackwell.
Murray, N. (2011). Conceptualising English as an international language: A pragmatic perspective. Multilingual Matters.
Nguyen, T. T. M. (2018). Pragmatic development in the instructed context. Pragmatics. Quarterly Publication of the International Pragmatics Association (IPrA), 28(2), 217–252.
Olshtain, E., & Blum-Kulka, S. (1985). Degree of approximation: Nonnative reactions to native speech act behavior. In S. M. Gass & C. G. Madden (Eds.), Input in second language acquisition (pp. 303–325). Newbury House.
Richards, J. C. (2000). Longman dictionary of language teaching and applied linguistics. Longman.
Rose, K. R., & Kasper, G. (2001). Pragmatics in language teaching. Cambridge University Press.
Shakki, F., Naeini, J., Mazandarani, O., & Derakhshan, A. (2020). Instructed second language English pragmatics in the Iranian context. Journal of Teaching Language Skills, 39(1), 201–252.
Sykes, J., & González-Lloret, M. (2020). Exploring the interface of interlanguage (L2) pragmatics and digital spaces. CALICO Journal, 37(1), 1–15.
Vandergriff, I. (2013). Emotive communication online: A contextual analysis of computer-mediated communication (CMC) cues. Journal of Pragmatics, 51, 1–12.
Yousefi, M., & Nassaji, H. (2023). The impact of corrective feedback on L2 pragmatics production in face-to-face and technology-mediated settings. Language Teaching Research Quarterly, 39, 305–328.
Yule, G. (1996). Pragmatics. Oxford University Press.
Yule, G. (2006). The study of language (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Comprehensive Journal of Science

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.










