The Impact of Gamification on EFl Students’ Reading Comprehension

Abstract

The 21st century has witnessed significant educational changes, primarily driven by technological advancements. These changes triggered the new learning systems and methods, marking the transition from the era of globalization to the age of Society 5.0. However, traditional teaching methods often fail to align with these technological developments, resulting in passive and unmotivated students. It highlights the need for new strategies that leverage technology and promote active student engagement. Reading comprehension is crucial in EFL education, enabling students to comprehensively grasp and analyze written content. Developing strong reading comprehension skills empowers students to gather, organize, and interpret information effectively. In this context, gamification has emerged as a powerful strategy. Based on that problem, this research aims to investigate the impact of gamification on EFL students' reading comprehension. This research used a library research method and analysis of ten selected empirical research articles on internet search engines such as Google Scholar, Mendeley, and ERIC websites. The study addresses fundamental questions regarding the effective game elements for enhancing EFL students' reading comprehension, the school levels at which gamification strategies can be effectively applied, and the impact of gamification on student engagement and motivation. The findings of this research provides references for teachers with evidence-based practices and valuable insights for designing and implementing gamified reading comprehension activities that maximize learning outcomes. By integrating gamification strategies into EFL classrooms, teachers can create dynamic and enjoyable learning environments that foster active student participation and promote improved reading comprehension skills.

Keywords: Technological advancements, gamification, game elements, EFL students, reading comprehension