Gamification in Digital Language Learning: Enhancing Student Engagement and Vocabulary Acquisition in English Language Teaching
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: This study investigates the effectiveness of gamification in digital language learning environments and its impact on student engagement and vocabulary acquisition in English language teaching. The research aims to examine how game-based digital tools such as Kahoot and Quizlet influence learners’ motivation, participation, and retention of lexical items in comparison with traditional instructional approaches. Adopting a mixed-method research design, the study integrates theoretical analysis with a quasi-experimental classroom intervention, in which learners are exposed to structured gamified activities over a defined instructional period. The findings indicate that gamification significantly enhances learners’ engagement, increases their active participation in classroom tasks, and improves vocabulary retention through repetition, competition, and immediate feedback mechanisms. The results also suggest that gamified learning environments reduce language anxiety and foster a more interactive and learner-centered atmosphere, thereby contributing to more effective language acquisition. This study provides pedagogical implications for integrating gamification into English language teaching and highlights its potential as a strategic instructional tool in digital education contexts.
Author: Abduxafizovna, Yusupova Shahnoza
Institution: Samarkand State Institute of Foreign Languages
Language: English
Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7219931947