Vocabulary is a fundamental component of English proficiency, serving as the foundation for listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills, and underpinning overall reading comprehension. Learners can express ideas effectively only through the words they know, and a broad, varied vocabulary enables more precise and complex communication. Consequently, vocabulary knowledge has a direct impact on achievement in both reading and writing.
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted traditional learning delivery, generating anxiety and disengagement among students, particularly in subjects taught in a second language, such as English. This concern is further underscored by the 2018 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) results, which revealed low performance among Filipino students in reading. The Philippines ranked 79th globally, with over 80% of students failing to reach the minimum proficiency level and a mean score of 340 compared to the OECD average of 487—one of the largest proportions of low performers among participating countries and economies.
In response to these challenges, integrating games into lesson delivery has emerged as an effective strategy to enhance engagement and facilitate learning. Whether implemented interactively, online, or offline, game-based activities function as both instructional tools and formative assessment methods, promoting active participation and sustained motivation. There is, therefore, a pressing need to enhance English vocabulary instruction through game-based approaches. By employing interactive, engaging, and contextually meaningful games, teachers can help learners expand their vocabulary, improve comprehension, and strengthen language production, equipping students with the skills required to succeed in 21st-century learning environments.
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