Integration of Skills: A Blueprint for Language Acquisition through Short Stories

Abstract

This paper is the result of an observational experiment that critically outlines the benefits of integrating the four skills of language acquisition based on Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) through short stories. The idea of integrating the four language skills into a single inter-connected component was derived from the author's classroom experience of teaching short stories through a specific format that enhanced the motivation level of learners in the class. This paper consists of two parts. The first part describes the blueprint of the experiment, and the second part outlines the blueprint's implementation. The experiment was carried out in a post-foundation class at Dhofar University in which short stories were included as part of the syllabus. The “Arabian Night Stories” was used for the experiment because these stories are culturally relevant in the Arabian context. Moreover, the learners are familiar with the settings of the stories. Although the focus of the study is on the methodology of teaching short stories to enhance the communicative competence of L2 learners in the Arabian Peninsula, this experiment is beneficial to all L2 learners around the world. Moreover, the proposed blueprint is modeled on the theoretical foundations (CLIL). The blueprint ensures minimum teacher intervention for creating conducive learning environment for enhancing learners' language skills by utilizing stories of appropriate levels. Implementing this integrated learning process in the classroom revealed that short stories are effective tools for acquiring language skills by sustaining longer spans of learner motivation.

Keywords: acquisition, blueprint, integration, language skills, short stories.