YAPAY ZEKÂ DESTEKLİ DİJİTAL HİKÂYELER İLE MİLLİ KÜLTÜR EDİNİMİ
NATIONAL CULTURE ACQUISITION THROUGH AI-ASSISTED DIGITAL STORYTELLING

Summary/Abstract: The inclusion of cultural elements in foreign language teaching enhances students' cultural acquisition and competencies in addition to their language skills. In this context, utilizing national culture themes in English lessons boosts students' motivation and 21st-century skills while supporting intercultural communication. This research aims to implement national culture themes through AI-supported digital stories in English classes and to evaluate student opinions regarding this process. The study was conducted during the 2025-2026 academic year with 11 secondary school students studying at the Science and Art Center in the Tavşanlı district of Kütahya. Action research, a qualitative research method, was preferred, and participants were determined through purposive sampling. The implementation process spanned three weeks: in the first week, the concept of digital storytelling and the application were introduced; in the second week, stories were created and multimedia elements were integrated; and in the third week, the stories were reviewed, presented, and evaluated. Following the implementation, semi-structured interviews were conducted with volunteer students, and the data were analyzed using content analysis. According to the research results, students found the AI-supported storytelling process fun, enjoyable, and satisfying. Participants stated that they recognized the importance of national culture through the process and concretized cultural elements by expressing them in English. However, it was found that AI occasionally remained "superficial" in reflecting cultural elements and that technical limitations were experienced regarding visual consistency. The results reveal that AI-supported digital stories are powerful tools for increasing motivation and cultural awareness; however, they also indicate that the process must be conducted under teacher guidance and reviewed in accordance with cultural codes to ensure cultural depth. In line with the findings, it is recommended that AI-supported digital stories be utilized with various methods and age groups for the presentation and acquisition of different themes.

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