Abstract

CALLE URGILEZ, Lorena Yadira; QUITUISACA BARZALLO, Carmen Marlene; BRITO TENESACA, Elsa Marlene  and  RIERA HERMIDA, Fernando Patricio. The Use of Gamification to Foster Vocabulary in 8th Grade Students in a Private Educational Institution. Revista InveCom [online]. 2024, vol.4, n.2, e040247.  Epub July 20, 2024. ISSN 2739-0063.  https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10641924.

This study examines the implementation of gamification strategies to enrich English vocabulary learning in 11-12-year-old students who are in 8th grade of Basic General Education at a private school in Ecuador. Adopting a mixed-methods design, the research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of gamification in increasing motivation and improving vocabulary retention. Thirty students participated in the study, engaging in a series of gamified activities carefully integrated into their regular English curriculum over an educational term, with additional follow-up to measure long-term vocabulary retention. The results show an average increase of 25% in vocabulary retention and a significant rise in student motivation, demonstrating the efficacy of gamification as an essential tool in the Ecuadorian educational context. These findings highlight the potential of gamification in improving English language teaching, especially in environments requiring innovative and motivational approaches. This study opens new perspectives for the application of gamification in education and suggests possibilities for future research in similar areas.

Keywords : gamification; vocabulary; technology.

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