A Systematic Review of Digital Storytelling in Improving Speaking Skills for Young Learners

Abstract

Digital storytelling is a concise variant of digital media creation that enables regular individuals to craft and distribute their narratives on the internet. This approach is frequently applied in educational institutions, museums, libraries, as well as social work and healthcare contexts, along with community settings. Numerous applications, web-based applications, and tools designed for digital storytelling are available for use with young learners. The primary objective of this study is to examine the utilization of digital storytelling among young learners and to identify the benefits they derive from incorporating digital storytelling into English language learning tasks. The method used for this study was a systematic literature review. The data was sourced from a research paper that had been published in a journal listed in both the Sinta and Scopus databases. The information was gathered using a lens database, with the references centered around the keyword "enhancing speaking skills through digital storytelling for young learners." Following an extensive review of numerous research articles addressing the digital storytelling approach, the researcher identified 10 articles (comprising 3 from Sinta and 7 from Scopus) that aligned with the criteria of this study. The collected data was then scrutinized through coding, utilizing the research questions as the basis for analysis. The findings of this research analysis indicate that a range of educational activities tailored for young learners can be effectively incorporated using digital storytelling. In response to the initial inquiry of the research, it is evident that educators possess multiple avenues for instructing young learners through the utilization of digital storytelling. These avenues encompass diverse activities such as audio listening, participation in video-based speaking exercises, reading and writing texts, engaging in communication and discussions, undertaking examinations, submitting assignments, as well as offering, explaining, and disseminating learning materials. In relation to the outcomes stemming from the second research query, it was determined that the utilization of digital storytelling brings about advantages in enhancing the speaking capabilities of young learners. Additionally, young learners also reap supplementary benefits, which encompass heightened self-assurance, enhanced peer interaction, augmentation of vocabulary, and the cultivation of proficient pronunciation skills. Keywords: Digital Storytelling, Speaking Skills, and Young Learners