The Effect of Applying Language Picture Books in Reciprocal Teaching on Students’ Language Learning Motivations

Abstract

The research nature of this study is to examine the priority of English as a foreign language in many non-English speaking countries in the context of globalization with a focus on the importance of English for cross-linguistic communication and interpersonal communication. The research purpose is to understand the effects of language picture books applied to interactive teaching methods on English language learning motivation, learning performance, and language and reading ability of elementary school students in southern Taiwan. The research method used herein is an experimental design model. In total, 192 students in eight classes in Grade Six of two elementary schools in southern Taiwan, each with four classes of 24 students, who used the same picture book materials are taken as the research subjects for an experimental study. The research method includes the application of language picture books to interactive teaching methods, combined with a variety of teaching activities, to create a fun and enjoyable learning atmosphere. The study observes students’ active participation and learning performance in the classroom and evaluates the impacts of these activities on their learning motivation, language ability, and reading ability were evaluated. The findings of this study are as follows. 1) The use of the interactive teaching method with language picture books has a significant effect on students’ motivation to learn English, by observing students’ active participation in the classroom. 2) The English picture books inspire children’s curiosity and interest in reading, increase their motivation for English learning, and make them quite interested in reading. 3) The course incorporated a variety of teaching activities to create a happy learning atmosphere, so that students can continue to work toward their English learning goals after the course is over. We also present the conclusions and discussions based on the results in the hope that language picture books can develop students’ capacity for listening and concentration and contribute to the development and improvement of their language ability and reading ability.