Enhancing Learners' Reading Comprehension Skills through Short Stories
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20144617Keywords:
Reading Comprehension; Short Stories; Experimental Study; English Majors; Filipino LiteratureAbstract
This study examined the effect of using short stories on the reading comprehension performance of second-year Bachelor of Secondary Education English major students. Using an experimental design, 28 students were divided into control and experimental groups. A validated researcher-developed reading comprehension test was administered as pre-test and post-test. The experimental group was exposed to selected short stories, while the control group received conventional instruction. Data were analyzed using mean scores, independent samples t-test, and dependent samples t-test at a 0.05 level of significance. Results revealed no significant difference between groups in the pre-test, indicating baseline equivalence. However, a significant difference was found in the post-test, with the experimental group showing significantly higher performance. Furthermore, only the experimental group demonstrated significant improvement from pre-test to post-test. The findings suggest that short stories are an effective instructional tool for enhancing reading comprehension.
References
Ali, S.H.H., & Nizam, L. (2024). The advantages of teaching short stories in ESL classrooms: A critical evaluation. International Journal of Social Sciences & Educational Studies, 9 (3), 93-100.
Casa, V., Celiz, J., & De Pedro, J. (2021). Factors affecting the reading comprehension of Grade III pupils [Unpublished undergraduate thesis]. West Visayas State University–Calinog Campus.
Centina, P. (2021). Digital–based instructions: Fostering and enhancing reading comprehension through Philippine literary pieces. Unpublished Master’s Thesis. West Visayas State University - Calinog Campus, Calinog, Iloilo
Chusniawati, T., Sibarani, A., & Rohmana, W. (2025). Promoting students' reading comprehension through short stories in ELT classroom. JETLEE: Journal of English Language Teaching, Linguistics, and Literature, 5, 334–346. https://doi.org/10.47766/jetlee.v5i2.5050
Collom, O. C. N., & Senaratne, C. D. (2024). The schema theory and its application in teaching reading skills: A mixed methods study based on an online English as a second language classroom for adult learners at a private institution in the Western Province. Kalapaya, 32, 43–56. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/387663618
Hasanayn Ali, S., Abdullatif, A. R., & Iskandr Oyed, S. (2024). The role of short stories in developing reading and writing skills among EFL learners (Graduation project, Department of General Education, Chan University). Supervised by Asst. Lect. Shwana Qadir Perot. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED648960.pdf
Irhamni, M.N., Nuzula, N.F., &Rohmana, W.I.M. (2025). The use of short stories in improving reading skills. Lililacs Journal, 5 (1), 52-63.
Putra, D.C., Atmowardoyo, H., & Talib, A. (2024). Teaching reading through short stories towards students’ reading improvement and perceptions at SMAN 9 Makassar. Journal of Excellence in English Education, 3 (1).
Suito, N. C., Dejito, M. A., & Bautista, M. A. (2024). Learners’ proficiency in reading. International Multidisciplinary Journal of Research for Innovation, Sustainability and Excellence (IMJRISE), 2(6), 325. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15646714
Taye, T., & Teshome, G. (2025). The efficacy of extensive reading strategies for enhancing reading comprehension among 4th year EFL students at Mizan Tepi University. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 11, 101616. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101616
Zubair, A. M. (2023). Experimental research design: Types & process (Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Dhaka). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/367044021_Experimental_Research_Design-types_process






