Title:
THE APPLICATION OF TELEGRAM-BASED SHORT STORY TASKS ON IRAQI INTERMEDIATE EFL LEARNERS' READING COMPREHENSION ABILITY AND THEIR CRITICAL THINKING: A CASE STUDY OF KUFA UNIVERSITY

Authors:
Ahmed Rahi Alhelal*, Iraq

Abstract:
This research aims to examine the impact of Telegram-based short story activities on the reading comprehension skills and critical thinking abilities of intermediate EFL learners. This research included 60 Iraqi EFL learners aged 19 to 25 enrolled at Kufa University at an intermediate level. They were randomly allocated into two homogeneous groups: the experimental group and the control group. Five short stories were presented to both groups throughout ten treatment sessions, with the sole distinction being that the experimental group received instruction via Telegram (a public social network), whereas the control group was taught using conventional classroom methods. A researcher-developed reading comprehension assessment comprising 40 multiplechoice questions was administered to both experimental and control groups as a pre-test and posttest, alongside the Watson Glaser critical thinking questionnaire, which was also utilized as a pretest and post-test. The post-test was conducted immediately after the conclusion of teaching, and subsequently, participants completed a standardized critical thinking questionnaire from Watson Glaser. The mean scores of both groups' pre-and post-tests were ultimately compared using an independent sample t-test. The results demonstrated the substantial impact of Telegram-based short story assignments on learners' reading comprehension skills and critical thinking abilities.