Gamification in the non-compulsory English foreign language classroom targeted at adults

Abstract

[EN] School dropout and absenteeism are two of the main concerns for Official Language Schools. Hence, teachers should reflect on the methodology being used over lessons that last no less than two hours and fifteen minutes per session. Motivation of students who decide to devote their free time to learn a language becomes a crucial matter. That is why, the main aim of this research is to show how absenteeism could be drastically reduced by means of gamification while enhancing students’ engagement at the same time. Promoting an innovative teaching approach like the one just mentioned could have a decisive impact on the way adult students learn a second language in their free time. This study has been based on the assumption that the involvement of a gamified experience, lasting a whole course, could intensify students’ motivation and fight absenteeism while helping them to learn how to learn and promoting long-life learning at the same time.