Investigating Teachers’ and Learners’ Perceptions: Utilizing Gamification-based Techniques to Promote Speaking Performance.

Abstract

development of speaking skills. Language learners thrive in environments where they are actively engaged and motivated to participate in speaking activities. Recognizing the significance of these factors, the current study attempts to investigate the teachers’ and learners’ perceptions of the use of gamification-based techniques to improve speaking skills. Accordingly, three research questions are raised: (1) What are the views of EFL teachers and learners at Mila University Center regarding the integration and the effectiveness of gamification in their teaching and learning process, particularly in enhancing speaking skills? (2) According to teachers' and learners' views, Does the use of gamification affect students’ motivation and engagemenet in the classroom, and how does this impact their speaking proficiency and confidence? (3)What are the most commonly used gamification activities by teachers at Mila University Center, and how are these activities specifically linked to the development of students’ speaking skills? To answer the research questions, the data are gathered through two questionnaires administered to Sixty First-year students of English and Ten EFL teachers at the Department of Foreign Languages, Mila University Centre. The results show that both teachers and learners believe that it is useful to use gamification for enhancing speaking abilities. They consider it a valuable tool for enhancing various aspects in the speaking like motivation, engagement, fluency, learning environment, and self-confident.Teachers also show that the most frequently used gamification techniques are vocabulary games and role-playing games. Based on the study findings, it is recommended that teachers strategically integrate gamification techniques into their Oral Expression classes to enhance students’ motivation, engagement, and speaking proficiency.