TITLE:
English Through Art—Incorporating Art in the ESL/EFL Classroom through Peer Collaboration to Encourage Language Production, Acquisition and Learning Outcomes
AUTHORS:
Sohani Gandhioke, Chanchal Singh
KEYWORDS:
Peer Collaboration, Vocabulary Building, Artwork Through Drawing, Creative Expression, Critical Thinking, Artifacts Showing Creativity, Spoken English Skills Enhancement
JOURNAL NAME:
Creative Education,
Vol.15 No.9,
September
23,
2024
ABSTRACT: This study explores the innovativeness of Task-Based-Learning (TBL) through different strategies, rapidly being implemented by practitioners in ESL/EFL (English as a Second Language English as a Foreign Language) classrooms around the world. In the current study, 200 university students, as a part of the English Program, were brought together to demonstrate the use of Art, as in drawings or paintings, in the process of learning English. This mixed-method study showed that through the practice of Art as a methodology used for language acquisition, many co-related aspects of language learning could be achieved along the way, namely vocabulary building, confidence enhancement, storytelling, cultivating team spirit, peer to peer bonding/cooperation, to name a few of the benefits accomplished. The participants demonstrated their ability to create stories in an artistic manner, while using English language as a tool to convey meaning, which generated curiosity and sensitivity towards the use of the target language, English. Keen observation of the artwork was the key element in the analysis of data collected. This empirical study, using Art as a TBL methodology, contributed towards generating pathways clearly demonstrating participants’ intense eagerness to achieve creative excellence in the application of English as a language of communication, among other positive outcomes of this form of language acquisition.