Effects of Game-Based learning on Learners’ Motivation and Engagement in EFL Classroom

Abstract

The research at hand aims to investigate the effects of game-based learning on learners’ motivation and engagement in the EFL classroom. The main problem behind this research is that many learners and especially teenagers may face many difficulties such us disengagement and demotivation in learning English as a foreign language. The present study aims at shedding light on using the game-based learning to actively engage the learners and foster their motivation to learn English. The researcher adopts a mixed methodology, which is both qualitative and quantitative using two instruments of collecting data, which are: a questionnaire and a classroom observation. The classroom observation was conducted in a high school with the second year foreign languages stream class; and the questionnaire was administered also to the pupils. The findings show that the use of educational games to teach English is a very effective method to engage the learners in the lesson and it allows them to learn in an environment full of fun, entrainment, challenges, and interest, which fosters their motivation to learn. Thus, the study confirmed the hypotheses that the use of game-based learning enhances learners’ motivation and engagement in the EFL classroom. Generally speaking, learners need to be taught with an appropriate technique to foster their motivation and engagement in the English class. Therefore, the researcher recommends the teachers to use game-based learning to increase motivation and engagement in the English class.