On the role of short films in enhancing reading comprehension skills: Critical discourse analysis of perceptions of EFL students

The historical background of using technology in EFL classrooms has an important role for the development of 21st century perspectives. This study aimed to investigate whether short films have a role in improving English reading comprehension skills of preparatory school students in a state university in Turkey. Also, this research aimed to analyse the students' perceptions on the effects of short films which were integrated into the classes for 12 weeks. This study employed an experimental research design based on a mixed approach. For quantitative data, a reading test which was given as pre-test and post-test was benefitted to investigate whether the students enhance their English reading comprehension skills and do better after the treatment, namely watching short films during the targeted period. For qualitative data, semi-structured interviews including a set of open-ended questions were conducted with randomly selected 13 students at the end of the treatment period. The analysis results of the quantitative data collected through pre-test & post-test which had been applied to both control group and experimental group demonstrated that there was a statistically significant difference between the experimental group and the control group (t=-13.805; p=.000). Besides, the critical discourse analysis of the qualitative obtained from semi-structured interviews made with randomly selected 13 participants at the end of the 12-week treatment period revealed that integration of short films was an effective and useful method in enhancing English reading comprehension skills of EFL learners. Key Words: Reading comprehension, short films, EFL classrooms, critical discourse analysis