Storytelling and Picture Description as Effective Techniques for Developing Speaking Skills in Primary EFL Learners
Abstract
Developing speaking skills among young learners is one of the main objectives of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) education in primary schools. Young learners require engaging and meaningful activities that stimulate communication and support language production. Storytelling and picture description have become widely used strategies that provide visual and narrative support for oral language development. This article examines how storytelling and picture description activities contribute to the development of speaking skills in primary EFL classrooms. The study reviews theoretical perspectives on language acquisition and recent research findings related to narrative-based instruction. The paper argues that storytelling combined with picture-based activities improves learners’ vocabulary, fluency, sentence formation, and confidence in oral communication. The findings suggest that integrating narrative and visual approaches can significantly enhance speaking competence in young EFL learners.