Enhancing EFL Competence via Mediation: A Vygotskian Approach with a Focus on Picture Books

As globalization accelerates, the value of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) education has increased notably. In recent years, Vygotskys Sociocultural Theory (SCT) has been widely employed in EFL teaching, establishing itself as a core framework for instructional practice. As a result, the paper investigates how the key concepts of SCT are used in EFL teaching and demonstrates, through specific cases, their effectiveness in enhancing language proficiency. In particular, it focuses on the application of picture books as an innovative cultural tool in language input, cultural understanding, and emotional development. The results indicate that picture books, with their multimodal forms (such as text, images, and design),effectively boost students language input, vocabulary acquisition, and cultural understanding. While research highlights the significance of picture books in reading comprehension and vocabulary, their impact on speaking and writing remains underexplored. Teachers should leverage the multiple functions of picture books and apply specific teaching strategies to enhance students overall language proficiency. In addition, more attention should be given to the specific applications and practical strategies for using picture books in speaking and writing instruction.