THE EFFECTS OF USING GAMES TO IMPROVE THE ENGLISH SPEAKING SKILL FOR JUNIOR STUDENTS: A CASE STUDY AT LE LOI SECONDARY SCHOOL

Tóm tắt

Speaking English is one of the most important yet challenging skills for secondary school students in the Vietnamese EFL context. Although students have learned English for several years, many of them still face difficulties in speaking English. Therefore, this study investigates the effects of using games to improve students’ English speaking skills. It aims to identify students’ speaking difficulties and examine how games can support the development of their speaking skills. A mixed-method design was employed. Quantitative data were collected through questionnaires, while qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with English teachers. The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented through tables and figures, while the qualitative data were used to support and explain the questionnaire findings. The findings revealed that students experienced speaking difficulties related to language factors, psychological factors, and the learning environment. The results also showed that games had positive effects on students’ speaking development by increasing motivation, encouraging active participation, supporting the memorization of vocabulary and sentence structures, and improving quick responses in communication. Overall, the study suggests that games can be an effective pedagogical tool for creating a more engaging, supportive, and communicative speaking environment for secondary school students.