Game-based learning in the speaking skill

Abstract

Game-based learning is a current tendency in the teaching-learning process that involves different games to practice and reinforce the English language. The principal purposes were to analyze and identify which aspects of Game-based learning could improve students’ speaking skills and its advantages to the learning process. Besides, twenty-two students from third semester “B” of Pedagogía de los Idiomas Nacionales y Extranjeros major at Universidad Técnica de Ambato were the subjects of this study. This research applied a pre-experimental methodology and qualitative/quantitative approach to collect the results. Furthermore, the researcher applied pre-test and posttest of PTE general Level 2 (B1) which is validated by Pearson. In this part, it was chosen just the speaking section of the test. In the beginning, the pre-test was applied in order to know students speaking level and then apply the games emphasized in speaking. Based on the pedagogical intervention and post-test findings, students improved communicative aspects such as interaction, turn-taking, and vocabulary. The results pointed out GBL contributes to the motivation and active participation in the teaching-learning process