The Role of Interactive Visual Media in Improving English Language Understanding in Elementary School Students
Keywords:
Interactive visual media, English learning, Elementary school, Student engagement, Systematic literature reviewAbstract
Background: English plays a crucial role as a global language and is introduced at the elementary school level to build foundational language skills. However, young learners often face difficulties in understanding English due to its abstract nature and their cognitive characteristics, which favor concrete and visual learning. In response, interactive visual media has emerged as an innovative approach that integrates images, animation, audio, and interactivity to enhance students’ comprehension and engagement. Despite numerous studies on this topic, a comprehensive synthesis is needed to understand the overall role and effectiveness of such media in elementary English learning.
Method: This study employed a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) with a descriptive qualitative approach. Relevant articles published within the last five years (2021–2025) were systematically collected from scientific journals using specific inclusion criteria. The selected studies were analyzed to identify patterns, trends, and key findings related to the use of interactive visual media in elementary school English learning.
Results: The findings indicate a significant shift from conventional visual media to digital interactive media, such as animated videos and multimedia applications. Interactive visual media has been consistently shown to improve students’ vocabulary acquisition, comprehension of simple sentences, and understanding of English instructions. Additionally, the use of such media enhances student engagement, including attention, enthusiasm, and active participation. The combination of visual and auditory elements supports dual processing, making learning more effective and meaningful. However, challenges such as limited technological facilities, insufficient teacher competence, and time constraints remain barriers to optimal implementation.
Conclusion: Interactive visual media plays a vital role in improving English language understanding among elementary school students by bridging abstract language concepts with concrete representations. It not only enhances cognitive learning outcomes but also increases student engagement. Therefore, integrating interactive visual media into English instruction is highly recommended, supported by adequate infrastructure, teacher training, and effective instructional planning.
Downloads
References
Abshari, I. N., Yurisma, D. Y., & Karsam. (2023). Media Pembelajaran Interaktif Bahasa Inggris bagi Siswa Kelas III dan IV SD. Jurnal Desain Komunikasi Kreatif, 59-73.
Agustina, M., Pramono, S. E., Yulianto, A., Sumartiningsih, S., & Yuwono, A. (2025). Penggunaan Media Pembelajaran Interaktif Dalam Mata Pelajaran Bahasa Inggris Di Sekolah Dasar. JOEAI (Journal of Education and Instruction), 126-136.
Aurellia, C., & Saputra, E. R. (2025). Media Pembelajaran ICT Berbasis Video Animasi Interaktif Bahasa Inggris di Kelas III SD. Jurnal Pendidikan dan Pembelajaran Dasar, 71-86.
Bulu, M. M., Dewi, N. P., & Fatmawan, A. R. (2025). Integrating Learning Media to English Vocabulary Acquisition in Elementary School. Original Article, 4113-4127.
Gayatri, N. N., Suarjana, I. M., & Antara, P. A. (2025). Interactive Learning Media Based on Educational Games to Improve the Reading Skills of First-Grade Elementary School Students. Jurnal Pedagogi dan Pembelajaran, 334-344.
Harahap, M. K., & Harahap, D. K. (2024). Media Pembelajaran Interaktif Bahasa Inggris Untuk Siswa Sekolah Dasar. JKIP: Jurnal Keguruan Dan Ilmu Pendidikan, 54-60.
Hidayat, T. &. (2021). Digital Learning Media and Student Engagement in Primary School English Classrooms. International Journal of Instruction, 657–672.
Kholisoh, N., Rahmawati, E., Al-Aidrus, F. M., & Fauziah, G. E. (2024). Pengembangan Media Audio Visual Berbasis Powerpoint untuk Meningkatkan Kemampuan Menghafal Kosakata Bahasa Inggris di Sekolah Dasar. SITTAH: Journal of Primary Education, 87-102.
Lestari, M. &. (2023). Interactive Video-Based Learning to Improve Listening Skills of Young Learners. Journal of Primary Education Research, 45-56.
Nur, K. K., & Ratri, D. (2025). Comparative Study of Two English Storytelling Learning Media for 4 to 5 Grader Primary School Students with Eric Hill’s Picture Book ‘Spot Goes to the Beach’. J. Vis. Art & Des, 175-187.
Palupi, L., Simanjuntak, E. B., Batubara, M. A., Situmorang, D. G., Ginting, P. R., Turnip, T. T., & Lubis, A. P. (2025). Efektivitas Penggunaan Media Visual dalam Pembelajaran Kosakata Jobs Pada Siswa Sekolah Dasar. Jurnal Pendidikan Tambusai, 9685-9688.
Putra, I. G. (2022). Multimedia-Based Learning in Elementary English Education: A Systematic Review. Journal of Educational Technology, 305-318.
Putri, Z. E., Cahyanti, D. N., Aida, N., & Hidayani, S. (2025). Listening Made Fun: How Short English Cartoons Enhance Young Learners' Comprehension. ELEMENTARY: Jurnal Inovasi Pendidikan Dasar, 346-353.
Rahmawati, F. &. (2024). The Use of Animated Media in Enhancing English Learning Motivation for Elementary Students. JUrnal Pendidikan Bahasa, 210-220.
Sabrina, S., Herlina, H., & Hasanah, U. (2025). Pengembangan Multimedia Interaktif Genially Berbasis Guided Reading Pada Pembelajaran Bahasa Inggris Kelas V Sekolah Dasar. Jurnal Pendidikan Sekolah Dasar, 205-221.
Sangian, F. M., Kaunang, S. T., & Rumagit, A. M. (2024). Development of Interactive Multimedia Learning English for Primary School Grade 6. Jurnal Teknik Informatika, 239-250.
Sari, N. P. (2022). The Effect of Interactive Multimedia on Elementary Students’ English Vocabulary Mastery. Journal of English Language Teaching and Learning, 101-110.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Tiarnita Maria Sarjani Br. Siregar, Nadya Tesalonika Simbolon, Rahmayani Rahmayani, Ernita Pasaribu (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
