Effects of Theatrical Film-Based Instruction Integrated Leadership Training on International School Students’ Learning Motivation and Creativity

Theatrical films are gradually applied to education field in past years, especially in courses of business administration, psychology, and linguistics. Being a visualized and situated teaching tool, films could effectively deliver abstract concept as well as induce students’ emotional resonance and enhance deep learning. Students could promote the problem-solving skills and creativity through observing and imitating movie characters’ behaviors. This study examined a cohort of 172 international school students in Shaanxi Province. The intervention comprised a 16-week program (48 sessions) that combined theatrical film-based pedagogy with leadership development. Analysis of the data demonstrated three significant relationships: the integrated film-leadership instruction positively influenced student learning motivation; this instructional approach enhanced student creativity; and increased learning motivation corresponded with higher creativity levels. These findings contribute to both the theoretical framework and practical applications of film-based methodologies in leadership education, offering implications for future pedagogical design.