The Role of Short Story in Teaching and Learning Grammar: Grade Ten Jidda Secondary School EFL Teachers and Students in Focus.

Abstract

This research was conducted to explore the role of short stories in teaching and learning grammar for tenth-grade students in an EFL class at Agaro Jida Secondary School. In this study, the researcher employed a quasi-experimental research design. The independent variable of the study is the use of short stories, while the dependent variable is the grammar skills of the students. Students were randomly selected from the tenth grade and assigned to experimental and control groups. The target population of the study consisted of 356 students. The researcher selected sections A and B of the tenth-grade students from Jidda Secondary School using a lottery method. Section A (control group) comprised 60 students, while section B (experimental group) included 51 students. A mixed-methods approach was utilized in this study. Pre- and post- lesson tests, questionnaires for students, and interviews with teachers were the data collection instrument methods for the experimental group. The experimental group was taught English grammar through short stories and was provided with different kinds of tasks, whereas the control group was taught using only their textbook. Finally, to observe the outcome of the experiment, both groups took pre- and post-lesson tests. The results obtained by the experimental group were better than those of the control group. The responses of the students in the questionnaire also indicated that teaching English grammar through short stories helped motivate them and elevated their grammar skills. Based on the findings, it was concluded that teaching English through short stories helped teachers teach students more easily and increased students' motivation to learn grammar. The study recommended that teachers should use short stories, in order to enhance students' grammar skills. Textbook designers should include short stories in the content of the book. Teachers should also help students practice grammar through short stories in order to develop learners’ grammar skills.