The Use of Pictures and Its Effectiveness in English Language Teaching
The Use of Pictures and Its Effectiveness in English Language Teaching
Rizka Juliana Pribadi, Nayla Fadlia Chozin, Sajidah Qurotu Aini, Ida Yulianti,
Naf’an Tarihoran
Faculty of Tarbiyah and Tacher Training, UIN Sultan Maulana Hasanuddin Banten
[email protected], [email protected],
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
INTRODUCTION
Our access to a wealth of learning tools is crucial for improving students' language
and general knowledge. Relying only on one kind of material or instruction might
seriously impede the mastery process given the constrained amount of time in the
METHOD
For the methodology to be employed in this study, the authors conducted a systematic
review. According to (Sinha et al., 2022) a systematic review is an analysis of the evidence
pertaining to a clearly formulated questions that pulls information from studies that are
included in the reviews by using systematic and explicit procedures to find, pick, and analyze
pertinent primary research. The methods section of a systematic review should offer readers
with enough information to comprehend the techniques draw conclusions by detailing the
actions conducted and their motives (Tassinari et al., 2023).
Figure1. PRISMA flow chart used to choose sources for this review.
This study bases its analysis on a review of several articles published between 2019
and 2023. To strengthen the substance of their writing, the author conducted thorough
research by referring to journal references and articles from key platforms such as Google
Scholar, ERIC, and Mendeley. The phases of this study are gathering data, analyzing data,
and drawing conclusion. Primary studies published by indexed publishers make up the
collected data. The acquired articles are then screened using the predetermined inclusion
criteria.
The following criteria were used to help choose the items for the review
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Peer-reviewed journal articles
2. Only studies published in English will be included.
3. Studies investigating the use of pictures or as a teaching tool in English language
instruction.
4. Studies published between 2019 and 2023
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Non-peer-reviewed sources such as opinion pieces, editorials, and gray literature.
2. Studies published in languages other than English.
3. Studies where pictures or visual aids are not the primary focus of the intervention.
4. Studies that were published before 2019 will be excluded.
2 Chen, T.-I., Chung, The Effect of Applying The study found that using
H.-C., & Lin, S.-K Language Picture language picture books in
(2023) Books in Reciprocal interactive teaching methods
Teaching on Students' significantly increased students'
Language Learning motivation to learn English.
Motivations
4 Julaiha, S., Syahputri, The Effect of Pictures The study found out a significant
D., & Prihatini, S. as Media on Students' effect of using pictures as a
(2022) Achievement in medium for teaching vocabulary
Vocabulary to seventh-grade students.
5 Khafidoh, & Carolina, Using Pictures for The study found that using
A. (2019) Teaching Vocabulary to pictures as a teaching medium
the Junior High School significantly enhanced
Students vocabulary acquisition among
seventh-grade students.
6 Kilapong, F., Samola, Using Pictures to The study found that using
N., & Andries, F. Improve Students’ pictures significantly improved
(2022) Reading students' reading comprehension.
Comprehension of
Descriptive Texts at 8th
Grade Students of
SMPN 1 Siau Timur
Selatan
7 Manurung, F. W., & The Effectiveness of The study found that using
Sirait, D. (2023) Using Picture as Media pictures as a media significantly
Towards Students’ improved students' English
English Speaking Skills speaking skills.
8 Na, D., & Nguyen, T. The Effects of using The study found out that students
(2022) Pictures on EFL exposed to vocabulary instruction
Learners’ Vocabulary with pictures had higher scores
Retention on tests compared to those taught
without visual aids.
9 Navidinia, H., Ozhan, Using Pictures in EFL The study found out that using
A. R., & Armin, Y. Classrooms: Exploring pictures in EFL classrooms can
(2019) Its Potential significantly improve students'
Contribution for writing performance by
Developing Students' enhancing writing length,
Writing Skill accuracy, and the use of cohesive
devices.
10 Oktarina, P., Hari, N., The Effectiveness of The study found out picture
& Ambarwati, N. Using Picture Book to books can improve and motivate
(2020) Motivate Students young learners to enhance their
Especially Young reading skills and preferences .
Learners in Reading The study also demonstrated that
aligning picture selection with
learning goals is crucial to
maximize instructional
effectiveness.
11 Pratiwi, Z. F., & Ayu, The Use of Describing The study found that using the
M. (2020) Picture Strategy to describing picture strategy
Improve Secondary improved students' speaking
Students' Speaking skills, particularly in fluency and
Skills confidence.
12 Putri, A., Rahmawati, The Effect of Pictures The study found that the use of
M. I., & Indra, A. D. as Media to Improve pictures as a media significantly
(2023) Students’ English- improved students' English-
Speaking Ability speaking ability.
13 Sarmila, Tenny, M., Utilizing the Picture The use of pictures as speaking
Angga, P. N., Aida, A. Describing Strategy for prompts can effectively enhance
N., Muhammad, S., Enhancing Speaking pronunciation, vocabulary
Adiakarti, F. M. R., & Skills in Skills in retention, and overall language
Tribuana, K. G. Teaching. confidence.
(2023)
Discussion
offering visual aids such as pictures increases students' engagement in the learning process as
they can construct and develop ideas based on the images.
A study conducted by (Oktarina et al., 2020) highlights the motivational significance of
pictures as visual imagery, demonstrating their ability to evoke emotional responses and
sustain interest throughout the learning process. Besides, by utilizing pictures in interactive
teaching, educators can create a joyful learning environment that enhances student
engagement and happiness. This positive atmosphere can increase students' motivation to
study English long after the program concludes (Chen et al., 2023). Furthermore, pictures
facilitate contextualized learning by offering visual stimuli that encourage engagement. When
familiar places, people, or circumstances appear in learning materials, students are more
likely to feel connected to the subject and inspired to actively participate in learning
activities. This personalization promotes a stronger emotional connection to the subject
matter which increases overall engagement.
In summary, the use of pictures in English language education not only promotes
cognitive development but also significantly improves students’ motivation and interest. By
creating engaging and relatable content, teachers can build a good and encouraging learning
environment.
• Improving Students’ Speaking, Writing, and Reading Skills
Integrating pictures strategically enhances two language skills, those are speaking and
writing. Pictures provide learners with contextual cues that facilitate comprehension and
communication across different language modalities. In speaking activities, pictures serve as
prompts for language production and comprehension, encouraging learners to express
themselves fluently and interpret spoken language more effectively. Using pictures assists
students to articulate their ideas more easily by providing visual stimuli they can reference.
Students can absorb the visual material and then express their thoughts spontaneously by
using pictures (Pratiwi & Ayu, 2020). Additionaly, pictures enable students to imagine
scenarios, making abstract topics more accessible and approachable. This visualization aid
helps in communicating ideas more creatively and precisely (Putri et al., 2023).
Visual stimuli like pictures stimulate creativity and imagination, fostering language
fluency and confidence in learners' oral expression. Using pictures makes learning more
enjoyable and accessible, as students are naturally drawn to the bright colors and familiar
contexts depicted in the images. Additionally, pictures assist students in forming connections
between words and real-life objects, which helps to make language more understandable and
concrete. This, in turn, increases students' confidence when speaking (Sarmila et al., 2023). A
study by (Manurung & Sirait, 2023) highlights the transformative impact of pictures-based
instruction on speaking skills, demonstrating its efficacy in promoting communicative
competence and language autonomy among learners.
In writing activities, pictures serve as inspiration for generating ideas, organizing
thoughts, and elaborating on content. The integration of pictures helps students generate more
content within a given timeframe and use cohesive devices more effectively. This
improvement is attributed to the way pictures make the input more realistic and engaging,
thus helping students concentrate better on their tasks and form connections between
classroom activities and real-world experiences (Navidinia et al., 2019). Pictures can attract
students' attention and make the learning experience more relevant to the actual world by
presenting knowledge in a visually appealing manner. This enhanced involvement
encourages students to participate more actively in the writing process, as they are more
motivated to express their ideas and thoughts clearly and creatively when they can visualize
what they are writing about (Firdaus, 2020).
Morover, picture series as one of the way to integrate pictures in English Language
Teaching also particulary beneficial. Picture series are chosen because they are interesting
and contain chronological sequences that make it easier for students to generate and organize
their ideas in writing. By encouraging students' creativity and giving them a tangible
foundation on which to generate ideas, the use of picture series can greatly improve their
writing abilities. It helps students improve their writing abilities in a number of areas,
including grammar, vocabulary, and coherence. Picture series help students progress from
simple sentence structures to more intricate paragraphs by leading them through exercises
like picture descriptive type, short sentence type, and picture sequence description dype.
Story aspects such as orientation, complication, resolution, and reorientation are visually
represented in picture series, which make them useful for teaching narrative or recount text
(Khafidoh & Carolina, 2019). In addition to aiding with mental organization, this visual
stimuli also makes writing less intimidating and more enjoyable (Susanti, 2021). Students
gain enhanced writing proficiency and confidence as a result of being better equipped to
overcome typical writing challenges.
Similarly, pictures can enhance students' reading comprehension in several ways.
Firstly, pictures aid students in comprehending the setting and context of a story, which is
essential for successful comprehension. The reason for this is that pictures can offer extra
information that isn't presented in the text explicitly, enabling students to make inferences
and link the material to their prior knowledge. Additionaly, the use of picture can encourage
students to engage more actively with the text, as they are motivated to explore and analyze
the visual elements to better understand the narrative. This active engagement leads to a
deeper processing of the information, which enhances comprehension and retention (Alqy &
Mukminatus, 2022). When students are interested and engaged, they are more likely to pay
attention and absorb the material being read. It is also supported by (Kilapong et al., 2022),
they stated that visual aids like pictures can help students understand the text's content and
maintain their interest in learning. When students are engaged and interested, they are more
likely to stay focused and continue their learning activities with enthusiasm. This sustained
interest is crucial for ongoing reading development and comprehension skills.
CONCLUSION
Using pictures in English Language Teaching (ELT) effectively improves vocabulary
comprehension and retention by involving both visual and verbal channels, strengthening the
link between language and real-world topics. This strategy improves cognitive processing,
resulting in better recollection and comprehension of vocabulary terms, while also enhancing
student interest and engagement, generating a stronger zest for learning. Visual stimuli, such
as pictures, pique students' interest and create emotional responses, ensuring ongoing
engagement and motivation throughout the learning process. Strategically using pictures
improves speaking, writing, and reading skills by serving as cues for language production and
comprehension, assisting with idea formation and organization in writing, and offering
contextual clues in reading. For best outcomes, the selection and integration of images should
consider variables including quality, relevance, contextualization, and alignment with
learning objectives and styles, ensuring they are sequenced and scaffolded effectively within
lesson plans. As a result, the use of pictures is extremely effective in English language
teaching.
SUGGESTIONS
Based on the result of this study, it is recommended that teachers focus on including a
variety of high-quality and relevant pictures into their English language teaching procedures
to improve student engagement and learning outcomes. Furthermore, teachers should
consider scaffolding the appropriate use of pictures in lesson plans to guarantee alignment
with learning objectives and styles. Potential problems include the requirement for
comprehensive training on how to pick and integrate pictures appropriately, as well as
ensuring that the chosen pictures meet the different needs and interests of students. Teachers
can improve the effectiveness of picture-based English language teaching by addressing these
recommendations and potential problems.
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