THE EFFECTIVENESS OF STORYTELLING IN ENHANCING VOCABULARY RETENTION AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS IN ONDO STATE

This study examined the effectiveness of storytelling in enhancing vocabulary retention among primary school pupils in Ondo State, Nigeria. The objectives were to identify categories of vocabulary taught through storytelling, examine factors influencing vocabulary retention, explore strategies used to improve retention, and assess teachers’ perceptions of storytelling as a teaching method. A descriptive survey design was adopted, involving 200 pupils selected through simple random sampling from six public and private primary schools. Data were collected using a self-constructed questionnaire titled Effectiveness of Storytelling in Enhancing Vocabulary Retention Questionnaire (ESV-RQ), validated by experts and tested for reliability (r = 0.76). Descriptive statistics (frequency counts, percentages) and inferential statistics (t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation) were used for analysis. Findings revealed that storytelling significantly improved vocabulary retention compared to traditional teaching methods, with pupils recalling more nouns, verbs, adjectives, and emotion-related words. Strategies such as repetition, use of visual aids, dramatization, and learner participation were most effective. No significant gender difference was observed in retention, but socio-economic background had a slight positive influence. Teachers reported that storytelling increased pupils’ interest, comprehension, and long-term recall of vocabulary. The study concluded that storytelling is a powerful instructional approach for vocabulary development in primary schools, promoting active learning, engagement, and long-term retention. It recommended that schools integrate storytelling into English language teaching, train teachers in effective storytelling techniques, provide adequate learning resources, incorporate multimedia tools, encourage parental involvement, and allocate more instructional time for interactive language activities.