Teaching Short Stories in the EFL Classroom: Myanmar Context

Abstract

This quantitative and qualitative research investigates the use of short stories
in the EFL classroom. It examined students’ general attitudes towards using
short stories in the EFL classroom. Moreover, it evaluated if short stories
enhance learners’ language skills, develop their personal reflection and
facilitate their cultural tolerance. The study included second year to fourth
year students of English specialization enrolled in the academic year 2018-
2019 in selected Universities. The number of the questionnaire filled was
135 students where eighty percent of the respondents are females and the
rest are males. The results showed that students held positive attitudes
towards using short stories in the EFL classes. In this research, students
proved that they have neutral opinion on contribution of short story-based
language teaching towards atmosphere of the classroom. It means that it may
sooner or later change that short stories can be used for developing language

skills, cultural knowledge, and personal development. Teachers’ responses
to the interview questions also prove that using literature in the language
classroom is vital and recommended. Thus, this research shows that using
literature in language teaching is beneficial as it motivated students,
enhanced critical thinking skills and led to developing linguistic knowledge
and cultural awareness.