Author(s): Dr. Lina Fathi Sidig

Abstract: Gamification in language learning has become a trend to enhance the learner's engagement and motivation. The research paper explores the effect of gamified online learning on the motivation and the performance of EFL learners in writing. Incorporating the game features in writing activities, in the form of points, badges, leaderboards, and instant feedback, helps to empower the learners to engage in the process, take risks, and improve their writing capabilities. The study design was a mixed-methods research study where 60 EFL learners in the intermediate level were divided into experimental and control groups. The writing performance was measured quantitatively, and the qualitative data were considered to examine the motivation, engagement, and perception of gamified learning among the learners. The results refer to the fact that gamified platforms can greatly improve writing performance, promote intrinsic motivation, and encourage regular engagement. The paper provides didactic remarks on how to apply gamification in the teaching of EFL writing to facilitate learning more by making the process engaging.

Keywords: Gamification, EFL writing, motivation, digital platforms, learner engagement.

Article Info: Received: 05 Jan 2023; Received in revised form: 02 Feb 2023; Accepted: 15 Feb 2023; Available online: 22 Feb 2023

DOI: 10.22161/ijels.81.44