@article{article_1756902, title={The role of picture-based speaking activities in first-year Turkish language teaching students’ willingness to communicate in English}, journal={Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Journal of Education Faculty}, pages={1–17}, year={2026}, DOI={10.21764/maeuefd.1756902}, url={https://izlik.org/JA42ZF82GT}, author={Hunutlu, Şadıman}, keywords={Resim Temelli Konuşma Etkinlikleri, İletişim Kurma İsteği, İngilizce}, abstract={Considering the significant role of willingness to communicate (WTC) in the development of speaking skills in foreign language learning, this study investigates the role of picture-based speaking activities in students’ WTC in English. The sample consisted of 30 first-year students enrolled in the Turkish Language Teaching Program at a Turkish state university. These students attended two hours of compulsory English classes per week, as they were not exempted from the course based on the placement test administered at the beginning of the semester. The course lasted 14 weeks, during which students participated in picture-based speaking activities once every two weeks, with activities corresponding to each unit. This quasi-experimental study employed a questionnaire administered as a pretest and posttest to collect data. Data were analysed using SPSS 20, employing descriptive and inferential statistics, including paired-samples and independent-samples t-tests. The results indicated a statistically significant increase in students’ WTC scores following the implementation of the picture-based speaking activities. Descriptive comparisons also indicated some variation across subgroups. Specifically, male participants had higher posttest WTC scores than female participants, while students aged 20 and above obtained higher scores than younger participants. However, the absence of a control group and the relatively small sample size should be considered when interpreting the findings, as these factors may limit their generalisability. The findings are discussed in terms of theoretical implications, implications for classroom practice, and recommendations for future research.}, number={79}