Utilizing Duolingo in TEFL Classrooms: Enhancing Language Acquisition Through Gamified Learning

This study explores the integration of Duolingo, a widely used language-learning app, into Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) classrooms to assess its impact on language acquisition and learner engagement. As digital tools become increasingly prominent in educational settings, Duolingo offers a gamified and interactive approach that may help motivate students and enhance their language skills. Fifty intermediate-level TEFL students aged ۱۸ to ۲۱ were selected from Yazd University to participate in a three-month intervention. Before the intervention, participants took a pre-test to measure their baseline proficiency in listening, reading, speaking, and writing. Following the Duolingo-based lessons, a post-test was administered to gauge improvements. A paired-samples t-test revealed a statistically significant increase in overall language proficiency (p < .۰۰۱), with a mean score improvement of ۱۰.۴ points and a large effect size (Cohen's d = ۱.۰۱). These findings indicate that Duolingo has a substantial positive effect on learners' language development and promotes sustained learner engagement through its gamified design. This research fills a gap in the literature regarding the application of digital tools like Duolingo in formal TEFL contexts and provides practical insights for educators aiming to leverage technology in language instruction. Future research is suggested to prove the long-term benefits of digital platforms and their application across varied educational settings.

کلیدواژه ها:

Duolingo ، Gamified Learning ، Language acquisition