Teaching English Language

Teaching English Language

Creating Emotionally Safe EFL Classrooms: Teachers’ Experiences with Storytelling as a Pedagogical Approach

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 School of Advanced Studies, Saint Louis University, Baguio, Philippines
2 Center for Language Teaching and Learning, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
10.22132/tel.2026.561198.2040
Abstract
Emotions play a key role in language teaching and learning, affecting how students engage, participate, and succeed. Storytelling is one teaching method that has gained attention for creating positive classroom environments. Yet, there is not much research on how teachers view storytelling to boost emotional engagement and support language learning in EFL classrooms. This study looks at how Thai EFL teachers use storytelling to build supportive learning spaces and help students develop their language skills. The researchers interviewed 11 university EFL teachers in Thailand. The results show that teachers see storytelling as more than just a way to present language. They believe it helps lower students’ anxiety, increases motivation, and encourages active participation. Teachers also said that storytelling gives students meaningful ways to learn vocabulary and grammar, and helps them improve listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Storytelling was also seen to build stronger classroom relationships and a sense of community. This study points to storytelling as a teaching practice that connects emotional engagement with language development and discusses what this means for language teaching and teacher training.
Keywords

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Volume 20, Issue 2
July 2026
Pages 335-366

  • Receive Date 21 November 2025
  • Revise Date 17 September 2026
  • Accept Date 19 October 2026