Speaking is one of the essential English skills that students need to communicate effectively. However, many EFL students still face difficulties in speaking due to limited vocabulary, lack of confidence, inaccurate pronunciation, and insufficient opportunities to practice English. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether there was any significant difference in students’ speaking achievement before and after being taught through storytelling with narrative texts, whether there was any significant difference in students’ speaking aspects, whether there was any significant mean difference between students taught using storytelling with narrative texts and those taught using the conventional method, and to explore students’ feedback toward the use of storytelling with narrative texts in improving their speaking achievement. This study employed a quantitative approach using a quasi-experimental design supported by descriptive analysis of questionnaire data. The sample consisted of tenth-grade students of SMK Negeri 2 Palembang in the 2025/2026 academic year, selected through purposive sampling. The instruments were speaking tests (pre-test and post-test) and a questionnaire. The data were analyzed using paired sample t-test, independent sample t-test, and descriptive statistics. The findings revealed a significant improvement in students’ speaking achievement after the implementation of storytelling with narrative texts. The experimental group’s mean score increased from 42.59 to 83.03, while all speaking aspects improved, with vocabulary showing the highest improvement. The independent sample t-test also showed a significant mean difference between the experimental and control groups (Sig. = 0.000 < 0.05). Furthermore, students gave positive feedback, particularly regarding their motivation and confidence in speaking English. In conclusion, storytelling with narrative texts is an effective strategy for improving EFL students’ speaking achievement and generating positive feedback toward English speaking.
Keywords: storytelling, narrative texts, speaking achievement, students’ feedback, EFL learners.