Tell me a story: A United Arab Emirates Case of Engaging Pre-Service Teachers in Interactive Read-Alouds

Abstract

Reading aloud is a valuable technique that teachers utilize to develop students’ literacy skills, improve comprehension skills, expand imagination, and increase text engagement. This strategy also helps English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students to master key elements of successful reading in English, like prosody, vocabulary, and comprehension. This research examined Emirati pre-service teachers’ experiences and perceptions of an interactive read-aloud activity, using post read-aloud guided reflections. Common themes emerged and were reported. Participants (n=20) had a positive experience with read-aloud lessons despite minor challenges. Additionally, they recognized the importance of using read-aloud in an EFL context to support learning. Recommendations are made about running a successful read-aloud activity while highlighting its value for pre-service teachers and their trainers. Finally, this paper offers a platform for future researchers in pre-service teaching in similar settings.