The incidence of pictorial aids in the development of EFL productive skills

Abstract

In order to achieve a proficient English language level, students are required to master communicative competences which are related to productive skills that will help them to produce longer detailed written and oral tasks. Nevertheless, most learners have difficulty developing these language abilities since English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teaching still focuses on applying traditional resources and methodologies. This research synthesis aims to analyze the role of pictorial aids in the development of productive skills, identify the effects of including visual cues in the EFL classroom, and determine teachers and students’ viewpoints regarding the use of visual aids to enhance writing and speaking proficiency. Hence, twenty - two research studies from different databases have been selected and examined as a means to identify the usefulness of pictorial aids in foreign language teaching and learning. Findings reveal that (1) visual cues have a motivational role in the teaching - learning process, (2) their use significantly improves aspects concerning writing and speaking criteria, and (3) the perceptions of applying pictorial aids are favorable, as both language instructors and learners consider visual materials as encouraging and supportive tools for their English lessons.