The implementation of drama in language teaching: Exploring its effects on EFL learners' attitudes and self-efficacy at the high school level

Drama, a form of artistic expression with roots in antiquity, is frequently utilized in educational contexts for diverse purposes and is widely regarded as a means to enhance students' learning experiences. This study investigates the potential impact of drama-based activities on high school students' attitudes toward learning English and their self-efficacy beliefs regarding English language acquisition. Employing a mixed-methods research design, the study integrates both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Quantitative data were collected through the administration of two pre-test and post-test questionnaires: one measuring attitudes toward learning English as a foreign language and the other evaluating self-efficacy beliefs across the four language skills. Qualitative data were gathered using face-to-face semi-structured interviews, student diaries, and observation forms, aiming to explore how drama-based activities influence the attitudes and self-efficacy beliefs of the experimental group. A purposive sampling method was used to select 36 students from a private high school, who were subsequently divided into experimental and control groups. The intervention spanned an eight-week period. The quantitative results indicate that drama-based activities positively influence high school students' attitudes and self-efficacy beliefs toward English language learning when comparing the experimental and control groups. However, within the experimental group, while improvements in attitude levels were observed between pre-test and post-test measurements, these changes were not statistically significant. In contrast, the qualitative findings derived from semi-structured interviews and student diaries reveal overwhelmingly positive perceptions of drama-based activities among participants. In summary, the findings suggest that drama-based activities can foster a positive transformation in students' attitudes and self-efficacy beliefs regarding English language learning. The study highlights the potential of drama as an effective pedagogical tool in language education, advocating its inclusion in curricula to enhance learning outcomes.