Short story writing experiences and perceptions of Saudi female university students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32674/00g6qf65Keywords:
creative writing, experiences, EFL learners, fictional, non-fictional, perceptions, short storyAbstract
This study investigates how writing short stories can be integrated into the curriculum of teaching English as a foreign language (EFL) to consolidate students’ knowledge of the language and promote their creative writing skills. It aims to understand students’ experiences writing fiction and nonfiction short stories. Data were obtained from students’ short stories written electronically during an English course and their responses to a post-task questionnaire. A mixed-method explanatory sequential research approach was adopted. Qualitative and quantitative data were derived from the themes explored and descriptive statistics of the short stories written by the participants. Qualitative data were obtained from students’ perceptions gauged from their post-task questionnaire responses. The findings indicate that writing short stories effectively reinforced students’ prior English knowledge and encouraged creative and imaginative writing while breaking the monotony of typical classroom procedures.
References
Al-Jarf, R. S. (2007). Online instruction and creative writing by Saudi EFL freshman students. Asian EFL Journal, 22. https://www.asian-efl-journal.com/monthly editions-new/online-instruction-and-creative-writing-by-saudi-efl-freshman-students/index.htm
Alsaadi, I. A., Alshehry, Y. M., Saaty, A. A. ., & Alhaj, F. M. (2025). Scientific knowledge and fourth-generation learning skills among university students in Saudi Arabia. Journal of International Students, 15(5), 179-200. https://doi.org/10.32674/afxxt759 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32674/afxxt759
Anderson, M., & Anderson, K. (1997). Text types in English. 2. Macmillan Education Australia.
Anis, M. Y., Arifuddin, & Farhah, E. (2020). Bahan ajar panduan menulis kreatif bahasa Arab pengembangan tema dalam buku Al-Qira’ah Ar-Rasyidah [Teaching materials guide to creative writing in Arabic theme development in Al-Qira’ah Ar-Rasyidah book]. Deepublish.
Applebee, A. N. (2000). Alternative models of writing development. In R. Indrisano & J. Squire (Eds.), Perspectives on writing: Research, theory and practice (pp. 90–110). International Reading Association. https://doi.org/10.1598/0872072681.4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1598/0872072681.4
Asri, Y., Taufiq, M. A., Jasril, J., Mana, L. H. A., & Putri, R. E. (2022). Analyzing students’ needs in creative writing course: An exploratory case study in an Indonesian Higher Education. AL-ISHLAH: Jurnal Pendidikan, 14(2). https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v14i2.1977 DOI: https://doi.org/10.35445/alishlah.v14i2.1977
Bartan, Ö. Ş. (2017). The effects of reading short stories in improving foreign language writing skills. The Reading Matrix: An International Online Journal, 17(1), 59–74.
Canagarajah, A. S. (2014). “Blessed in my own way:” Pedagogical affordances for dialogical voice construction in multilingual student writing. Journal of Second Language Writing, 27, 122–139.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2014.09.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2014.09.001
Chamcharatsri, P. B. (2013). Poetry writing to express love in Thai and in English: A second language (L2) writing perspective. International Journal of Innovation in English Language Teaching and Research, 2(2), 141.
Council of Europe. (2001). Common European framework for reference of languages: Learning, teaching, assessment.
https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages/level-descriptions
Creswell, J. W. (2013, November 14). Steps in conducting a scholarly mixed methods study. Discipline-Based Education Research Group. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dberspeakers/48
Cummins, J. (2008). BICS and CALP: Empirical and theoretical status of the distinction. Encyclopedia of Language and Education, 2(2), 71–83. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-30424-3_36 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-30424-3_36
Demir Ayaz, A., & Erten, İ. H. (2021). DMC and individual differences: A path analytical investigation in Turkish EFL context. Cukurova University Faculty of Education Journal, 50, 663–676.
https://doi.org/10.14812/cuefd.949967 DOI: https://doi.org/10.14812/cuefd.949967
Dyer, B., & Friederich, L. (2002). The personal narrative as cultural artifact: Teaching autobiography in Japan. Written Communication, 19(2), 265–296. https://doi.org/10.1177/074108830201900202 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/074108830201900202
Fitria, T. N. (2024). Creative writing skills in English: Developing student’s potential and creativity. EBONY: Journal of English Language Teaching, Linguistics, and Literature, 4(1), 1–17.
https://doi.org/10.37304/ebony.v4i1.10908 DOI: https://doi.org/10.37304/ebony.v4i1.10908
Garvin, R. T. (2013). Researching Chinese history and culture through poetry writing in an EFL composition class. L2 Journal, 5, 76–94. https://doi.org/10.5070/L25116033 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5070/L25116033
Ghasemi, P. (2011). Teaching the short story to improve L2 reading and writing skills: Approaches and strategies. International Journal of Arts & Sciences, 4(18), 265–273. https://proxy-
iup.klnpa.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly journals/teaching-short-story-improve-l2-reading-writing/docview/938070970/se-2.
González, F. O. (2015). Personal narratives: A pedagogical proposal to stimulate language students’ writing. HOW, 22(1), 65–79.
https://doi.org/10.19183/how.22.1.134 DOI: https://doi.org/10.19183/how.22.1.134
Graham, S., Berninger, V., & Fan, W. (2007). The structural relationship between writing attitude and writing achievement in first and third grade students. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 32(3), 516–536. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cedpsych.2007.01.002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cedpsych.2007.01.002
Hanauer D. I. (2010). Poetry as research: Exploring second language poetry writing. John Benjamins. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1075/lal.9
Hanauer, D. I. (2012). Meaningful literacy: Writing poetry in the language classroom. Language Teaching, 45(1), 105–115.
doi:10.1017/S0261444810000522 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261444810000522
Hanauer, D. I. (2015). Measuring voice in poetry written by second language learners. Written Communication, 32(1), 66–86. https://doi.org/10.1177/0741088314563023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0741088314563023
Hanauer, D. I. & Bauerle, C. (2012). Facilitating innovation in science education through assessment reform. Liberal Education, 98(3), 34–41.
Holmes, J., & Marra, M. (2011). Harnessing storytelling as a sociopragmatic skill: Applying narrative research to workplace English courses. TESOL Quarterly, 45(3), 510–534. doi:10.5054/tq.2011.256796 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5054/tq.2011.256796
Huang, S. (2019). Struggle between the real and the fictive: The development of Chinese EFL learners’ voice construction in short story writing. English Language Teaching, 12(9), 22–32. doi:10.5539/elt.v12n9p22 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v12n9p22
Iida, A. (2012). The value of poetry writing: Cross-genre literacy development in a second language. Scientific Study of Literature, 2(1), 60–82. https://doi.org/10.1075/ssol.2.1.04iid DOI: https://doi.org/10.1075/ssol.2.1.04iid
Irayanti, I., Sapriya, S., Suryadi, K., Komalasari, K., & Hastowohadi, H. (2025). A narrative inquiry of international students’ experiences in Indonesia: Language appraisal and transitivity analysis. Journal of International Students, 15(2), 87–107. https://doi.org/10.32674/v6nmpj51 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32674/v6nmpj51
Israfilovna, S. G. (2023). The most helpful prompts in writing tasks for adult learns. Web of Synergy: International Interdisciplinary Research Journal. 2(3). https://univerpubl.com/index.php/synergy/article/view/593/
Jaashan, H. M. S. (2022). Teaching figures of speech as a productive skill and its influence on EFL learners’ creative writing. Journal of Language and Linguistic Studies, 18(Special Issue 1), 423–433.
Jubhari, Y., Sasabone, L., & Nurliah, N. (2022). The effectiveness of contextual teaching and learning approach in enhancing Indonesian EFL secondary learners’ narrative writing skill. REiLA: Journal of Research and Innovation in Language, 4(1), 54–66. https://doi.org/10.31849/reila.v4i1.8633 DOI: https://doi.org/10.31849/reila.v4i1.8633
King, I. (2001). Beyond Cinderella: sing stories with secondary and adult learners. Language and Linguistic Studies, 4(2), 94–106. http://www.beta-iatefl.org/813/blog-publications/beyond-cinderella-using-stories-secondary-adult-learners.
Kırkgöz, Y. (2012). Incorporating short stories in English language classes. Novitas-ROYAL (Research on Youth and Language), 6(2).
Krashen, S. D. (1982). Principles and practice in second language acquisition. Pergamon Press.
Kurdi, S. M. & Nizam, L. (2022). The advantages of teaching short stories in ESL classrooms: A critical evaluation. International Journal of Social Sciences & Educational Studies, 9(3), 93–100. doi:10.23918/ijsses.v9i3p93 DOI: https://doi.org/10.23918/ijsses.v9i3p93
Loukia, N. (2006). Teaching young learners through stories: The development of a handy parallel syllabus. The Reading Matrix, 6(1), 25–40.
MacMillan (1985). Literature series: Introducing literature (signature ed.). Glencoe/McGraw Hill.
Maibodi, A. H. (2008). Learning English through short stories. Iranian Journal of Language Studies (IJLS), 2(1), 41–72.
Martínez Lirola, M. (2015). The use of genre theory for improving writing proficiency skills in explanations. Ikala, revista de lenguaje ycultura, 20(2), 189–204. https://doi.org/10.17533/udea.ikala.v20n2a04 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17533/udea.ikala.v20n2a04
Mo, Y. N., & Ko, K. S. (2024). Motivation and experiences of studying creative arts therapy among Chinese doctoral students in South Korea. Journal of International Students, 14(4), 1029–1048.
https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v14i4.6814 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v14i4.6814
Muir, C., & Dörnyei, Z. (2013). Directed motivational currents: Using vision to create effective motivational path-ways. Studies in Second Language Learning and Teaching, 3, 357–375.
https://doi.org/10.14746/ssllt.2013.3.3.3 DOI: https://doi.org/10.14746/ssllt.2013.3.3.3
Murdoch, G. (2002). Exploiting well-known short stories for language skills development. IATEFL LCS SIG Newsletter, 23(9–17).
Nicholes, J. (2015). Short story analysis and writing in English composition in China. The Journal of Literature in Language Teaching, 4(1), 8–20. http://liltsig.org/wp content/uploads/2015/07/LiLT-4_1-Nicholes.pdf
Nicholes, J. (2017). Measuring ownership of creative versus academic writing: Implications for interdisciplinary praxis. Writing in Practice, 3(1). https://www.nawe.co.uk/DB/current-wip-edition-2/articles/measuring-ownership-of-creative-versus-academic-writing-implications-for-interdisciplinary-praxis.html DOI: https://doi.org/10.62959/WIP-03-2017-08
Nicholes, J. (2020). Science fiction prototyping’s features and impact on college students’ perceptions of writing: An applied literariness study. Scientific Study of Literature, 10(1), 128–164. https://doi.org/10.1075/ssol.20002.nic DOI: https://doi.org/10.1075/ssol.20002.nic
Nicholes, J. (2022). An exploratory study of fiction writing’s relationship to additional-language narrative performance and ownership. International Journal of TESOL Studies, 4(4), 6–20.
https://doi.org/10.46451/ijts.2022.04.02 DOI: https://doi.org/10.46451/ijts.2022.04.02
Niemi, H., & Multisilta, J. (2015). Digital storytelling promoting twenty-first century skills and student engagement. Technology, Pedagogy and Education, 25(4), 451–468.
https://doi.org/10.1080/1475939X.2015.1074610 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1475939X.2015.1074610
Pardede, P. (2011). Using short stories to teach language skills. Journal of English Teaching, 1(1), 14–27. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33541/jet.v1i1.49
Perry, N. E., & VandeKamp, K. J. (2000). Creating classroom contexts that support young children’s development of self-regulated learning. International Journal of Educational Research, 33(7-8), 821–843. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0883-0355(00)00052-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0883-0355(00)00052-5
Pierson, S. J. (2014). The power of story: Using personal narrative, computer technology and podcasting with young adult English language learners. Teaching English with Technology, 14(4), 3–16.
Rahman, S., & Arju, S. (2008). Exploiting short stories in the EFL classroom. Stamford Journal of English, 4, 124–141. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3329/sje.v4i0.13493
Rakhmanbergenova, Y. (2022). Teaching creative writing as a strategy of cognitive activity. International Journal of Language and Literary Studies, 4(1), 273–281. http://doi.org/10.36892/ijlls.v4i1.841 DOI: https://doi.org/10.36892/ijlls.v4i1.841
Readable. (n.d.). What is the Flesch‒Kincaid grade level? Readable. https://readable.com/readability/flesch-reading-ease-flesch-kincaid-grade-level/
Roberts, J. W. (2013). Theorizing on the advantages of the fiction writing workshop in the EFL classroom, part 1. The Journal of Literature in Language Teaching, 2(2), 19–26.
http://liltsig.org/journal/2_2/LiLT2_2_FA_Roberts.pdf
Saaty, A. A. (2015). Utilizing Facebook in language classrooms: Social constructivist and affective filter approaches. Arab World English Journal, 6(4), 113–127. doi:10.13140/RG.2.1.5050.2005 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2843931
Saaty, A. A. (2019). Task-based meaningful literacy for language learners. Arab World English Journal, 10(4) 356–373.
doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol10no4.26 DOI: https://doi.org/10.24093/awej/vol10no4.26
Saaty, A. A. (2023). Correlations between expressing feelings, conveying thoughts, and gaining confidence when writing personal narratives in one’s first and second language. World Journal of English Language, 13(1), 390–404. https://doi.org/10.5430/wjel.v13n1p390 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5430/wjel.v13n1p390
Saka, Ö. (2014). Short stories in English language teaching. International Online Journal of Education and Teaching, 1(4), 278–288.
http://iojet.org/index.php/IOJET/article/view/59/77
Sagita, D. S., Mertosono, S. R., & Arid, M. (2019). Using short story strategy to develop reading comprehension of grade eight students. e-Journal of ELTS (English Language Teaching Society), 7(1), 1–7.
Sareen, A. (December 9, 2019). Flesch reading ease: What it is and why it matters. Content Writers. https://contentwriters.com/blog/flesch-reading-ease-what-it-is-and-why-it-matters/
Savova, L., & Azarnoosh, M. (2024). Who do learners of English as a lingua franca want to sound like? English speaker role models and envisioned selves in imagined communities. TESOL Journal, e809. https://doi.org/10.1002/tesj.809 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/tesj.809
Zulaeha, I. (2011). Kebutuhan guru, siswa, materi ajar, dan strategi dalam pengembangan pembelajaran menulis kreatif konteks multikultur. [Teachers’, students’ needs, teaching materials, and strategies in developing creative writing learning in multicultural contexts]. Lembaran Ilmu Kependidikan, 37(2). https://doi.org/10.15294/lik.v37i2.505
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of International Students

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) [year] [author]
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0












