The Effectiveness of Interactive Storytelling in Enhancing ESL Learners' Speaking Fluency

This study investigates the impact of interactive storytelling on the speaking fluency of intermediate ESL learners in a university context. Forty learners were divided into an experimental group, which engaged in interactive storytelling activities, and a control group following a traditional speaking curriculum over eight weeks. Speaking fluency was assessed pre-and post-intervention through measures of speech rate, mean length of run, and pause frequency. Results revealed that the experimental group significantly improved in all fluency measures compared to the control group, indicating that interactive storytelling effectively enhances spontaneous oral communication. The findings suggest that the collaborative and engaging nature of storytelling reduces speaking anxiety and increases learner motivation, contributing to improved fluency. Limitations include the small sample size and short intervention duration. Implications for TESOL pedagogy highlight the value of incorporating interactive storytelling to foster oral proficiency. Future research should explore long-term effects andbroader learner populations