Digital Storytelling with Puppet Pals to Generate Freshmen's Enjoyment in English Speaking

Abstract

Foreign language enjoyment (FLE), or positive emotions (PE) in foreign language learning (FLL), has been proven beneficial to foreign language (FL) learners in their FL acquisition process. However, over the past decade, few pieces of research have emphasized the relationship between Mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) applications and FLE. This research aims to investigate whether Digital Storytelling (DST) with Puppet Pals app, a short form of digital media production, brings about freshmen’s enjoyment in English speaking. Sixty-nine freshmen at Van Lang University (VLU), Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam participated in this project for seven weeks. A mixed-method was used in combination with three data collection instruments: The Foreign Language Enjoyment Scale (FLES), video recordings observation notes, and a semi-structured interview. The results indicate that DST with Puppet Pals results in FLE. The findings contribute to research on FLE in practice and on MALL by demonstrating how to generate freshmen’s FLE in English oral practice in Vietnam context and offering strategies for learners to reach FLE with Puppet Pals and DST.