The Role of Educational Games in Enhancing the Motivation and Learning of English Language Learners

Motivation is one of the most important factors contributing to success in second language learning, particularly in English, and its decline can significantly challenge the learning process. In recent years, the use of educational games and gamification has attracted researchers’ attention as an innovative approach to enhancing learners’ engagement and motivation. The present article aims to examine the role of educational games in improving the motivation of English language learners through a systematic review of studies conducted in this field. In this study, articles published in reputable academic databases in recent years were reviewed and analyzed using keywords related to “educational games,” “motivation,” and “English language learning.” The findings of the review indicate that the use of educational games has a positive impact on learners’ intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Educational games also improve learners’ attitudes toward the learning process. However, the effectiveness of games depends on factors such as appropriate design, alignment with learners’ proficiency level, the teacher’s role, and the educational context. Overall, the results of this study emphasize the importance of the purposeful integration of educational games in English language classrooms and provide suggestions for future research and pedagogical applications.

کلیدواژه ها:

: Educational games ، motivation ، learning ، English language learners ، second language education.