Emoji Story Prompts: LLPx 2025 Symposium Post-Conference Publication

Key insights

5 takeaways

01
The Emoji Story Prompt Generator is an open-source, browser-based tool that uses a randomized set of nine emojis to facilitate collaborative oral storytelling in language classrooms.See it on page 1
02
The tool functions as a digital alternative to physical storytelling dice, providing structured narrative constraints that encourage creative interaction and lower barriers to entry for language learners.See it on page 2
03
Collaborative storytelling with the generator promotes linguistic acquisition by prompting learners to engage in cumulative talk, request clarifications, and utilize corrective feedback.See it on page 1
04
The software’s text-based output allows educators to easily document, assess, and create follow-up extension activities based on student narratives.See it on page 3
05
The tool was developed through an iterative process using ChatGPT to provide a low-stakes, adaptable framework for integrating ludic elements into educational curricula.See it on page 1

Summary

The Emoji Story Prompt Generator is an open-source digital tool designed to facilitate collaborative oral storytelling in language classrooms. Developed through an iterative process using ChatGPT, the software serves as a digital adaptation of physical storytelling dice, providing users with a randomized set of nine emojis that function as both creative inspiration and narrative constraints. By requiring participants to weave disparate images into a coherent, often humorous, and absurd narrative, the tool encourages communicative interaction and lowers the barrier to entry for creative writing and speaking exercises.

The primary pedagogical value of the tool lies in its ability to foster collaborative dialogue and support language acquisition. Through the process of co-constructing stories, learners engage in cumulative talk, request clarifications, and seek vocabulary assistance, all of which create natural opportunities for corrective feedback and linguistic recasting. Because the output is text-based, it is easily reproducible, allowing teachers to use the prompts for digital documentation, assessment, or follow-up extension activities. The tool is designed to be flexible, free, and accessible via modern web browsers, making it a practical alternative to physical game sets.

The implementation of this tool is particularly effective for oral storytelling, a genre that promotes empathy and personal connection. By providing a structured yet open-ended framework, the generator helps students navigate the challenges of narrative structure and target-language production. The methodology behind the tool’s creation and its classroom application emphasizes the importance of scaffolding in collaborative learning environments. Ultimately, the software provides a low-stakes, highly adaptable resource for educators seeking to integrate ludic elements into their curriculum to enhance student engagement and communicative competence.