Using digital web forms as a tool for interactive stories to promote second language reading

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the context of online stories and games, web forms can be an excellent instrument for generating interactive narratives. Using web forms, authors can enable readers to make decisions that influence the story’s progression. Additionally, web forms can be used for interactive reading tasks, not only to increase reading but also to promote foreign language reading comprehension. The purpose of this study is to determine whether foreign language learners prefer using interactive narratives on web forms to read traditional texts. This was tested across 32 participants between the ages of 18 and 35 years with varying linguistic backgrounds. The participants were foreign language learners of English, and they were asked to read a version of Shakespeare’s Hamlet that was adapted to an interactive narrative using Microsoft Forms. The participants were divided into three groups (low-, medium-, and high-frequency readers) to see whether their reading habits influenced their reading motivation at the conclusion of the study. The results show that all three groups were equally motivated. Additionally, the participants reported they enjoyed reading the text in this manner, and they generally showed a preference for reading the interactive digital narrative over traditional texts.