Creative Writing in English and EFL Students: Finding Motivation in Self-expression

Abstract

This article details an investigation of the application of creative writing to English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students at two universities, one in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the other in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It asks three questions: (1) do EFL students perceive creative writing in English as motivational in their English studies, (2) does creative writing in English encourage EFL students to write in English outside of the classroom, and (3) does creative writing in English motivate EFL students to be better users of English? The answers to these questions have universal applications to other English programs, in other settings, in other countries. The study outlined in this article will demonstrate that introducing creative writing to EFL programs can serve as a powerful motivational force in the classroom, benefiting the students academically, emotionally, and linguistically.